Brush Care

By Terry Martin - April 2004

The care of one's paintbrushes is one of the most neglected tasks of miniature painters. It is very difficult to apply paint with an item that has been neglected and stored improperly. If you take care and time in cleaning and storing a brush, you will add many brush strokes to its life expectancy.

I. Products for Cleaning Paint Brushes

A…. Brush Plus, Cleaner and Conditioner - Stock # 20480 -The product can be found at Michael's, Pearl's, Dick Blick, art supply stores… -The substance is off blue and the consistency of a dishing washing liquid. -Comes in a plastic bottle in 2 oz. or large bottle in 10 oz. -Made by Plaid Enterprises of Norcross, GA.

B…. The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver, Original B&J -Product can be found at Michael's, Pearl's. Dick Blick, art supply stores… -Product comes in a round tan color plastic container. -Container is about 1 inch in height and the size of a coffee mug top. -Made by B& J Inc of Calabasas, CA.

C…Dish Washing Liquid is suitable for cleaning a brush. -Dawn, Joy, etch are good if no brush cleaner is available. -Make sure to wash the brush in tap water to get the entire cleaning residue out of the brush.

II. Caring for Paint Brushes

-If brush has been used for a period of time without cleaning, wash brush in cleaner a couple times before rinsing in tap water. -Rinse brushes in thinner, to loosen oil residue, wipe of paint with a paper towel or napkin. -Rinse the brush in warm tap water to clean the brush of paint particles/residue. -When washing brushes, never stand/store the bristles on end. This will bend the bristles

III. Storing of Paint Brushes

-After brush has been rinsed/cleaned, store the brush in a tall glass. Stand the brush up. -Cleaned olive/pickle jars are good for storing brushes. -Brush bristles should be shaped to a point. -For further preserving of the bristles, dip the brush in a hair care product (shampoo conditioner) to further moisten and shape the bristles. -Small plastic bottles of shampoo/hair care products for travel are great for this practice and are also very inexpensive. Check Walmart, Target, etch.

IV. Closing thoughts…

-Once a brush is no longer able to retain a point, no longer use the brush for detail painting. Set it aside and use it for applying paint, groundwork or smoothing A&B Putty. -Never use an unclean brush. You must clean the brush prior to changing the painting mediums. If not, you will mix mediums and cause lifting of paints, mudding colors as well as effects. -Store brushes for use in painting ground work in a different jar than brushes used for painting metallic so as not to mix up your brushes.

Terry Martin