Loadsa arty stuff, the June McEwan way: How to: Care for your Paintbrushes

June McEwan 8 Mitchell St Crieff PH7 3AG

www.junemcewan.biz

Mob: 0777 187 5443

HOW-TO : Care for your Paint Brushes

When you've finished a painting session, you should always wash your brushes! However I find that I quite often think I'll be returning to my latest 'masterpiece'...soon.. then, of course, life gets in the way. By the time I've returned, the brushes, even if I've wrapped them in plastic, will need reviving.

This method always works, whether for immediate cleaning or for hardened paint:

1. Wipe of as much excess paint as you can using a rag. (Dip your brush into white spirit if you've been using oil based paint, (this is only useful for fresh paint) and wipe again. Squeeze the paint from the bristles from the ferrule outwards, then rub the bristles into the rag.

2. Put your brushes into a soap solution. (See photo illustrations). If the brushes have gone hard, you may need to leave them in the solution for days. In this case, make sure the solution is the consistency of blancmange / crème caramel. This will ensure the brushes will 'stand' within the mix and not drop to the bottom of the container which puts pressure on the bristles.

3. Check the brushes later to assess their softness. When you're happy they're softening, wash them.

4. This is best done using a circular rubbing motion in the palm of your hand. (See illustration).

   Skin is compatible with all natural fibre bristles – Hogs hair, from pigs – Sable, from mink – Ox, from cattle and so on. Synthetic brushes also respond to skin, while they dont benefit from any of the natural oils our skin contains, they do respond to the gentle approach the physical handling requires.

5. Repeat until the brushes are clean. If you have let acrylic paint dry on the bristles the process should be repeated over a few days because only a few brisles will release at a time. The soap needs to seep into the spaces between the bristles, bit by bit. You'll need patience!

6. Once you're satisfied, to regain any shape lost, wrap toilet tissue round the bristles, lie the brush flat on a work surface and leave to dry.

   The oils from the soap, whether olive or lanolin will revive the bristles and the drying in tissue process will re-tighten the shape.

   Notes: The best soap to use is Marseilles / Florentine Olive Oil. Next best is hand washing soap, usually lanolin based. Dish washing liquid will clean brushes, but it contains detergent and so will affect the flexibility of natural fibres.