How to… Look after your paint brushes
There’s no point investing in a quality sable if you don’t take care of it. Artist Siân Dudley presents her guide to good brush etiquette and recommends the best cleaning products
L
ike many artists, I am very attached to my brushes. I love them all individually and I’m
very familiar with their individual characteristics. I can distinguish between brushes of the same make, series and size. I know their degree of spring, their shape, their balance, and, most importantly of all, the marks I can make with each of them. I rely on my brushes to behave
consistently in producing marks that are indicators of my style and individuality as a painter. My brushes are precious to me and my main reason for looking after them with the
utmost of care is to prolong the unique qualities of each for as long as possible. The most frequently quoted reason
BELOW Looking after your brushes as you paint is always the best policy and saves time and money in the long run
for caring for your brushes is the cost of replacing them. However, I find it bizarre to pride cost over function. Finding oneself without the correct brush at a critical point in a painting process is almost unendurable, especially when the reason for being without it is one’s own stupidity. The essence of brush care is simple
– don’t damage them in the first place! Brushes don’t ruin themselves and so caring for them properly as
you paint can save hours spent on rescue attempts that are usually futile in the long run.
CLEANING PRODUCTS
The best method for cleaning brushes depends on the medium you are using – and there are a confusing number of products on the market that all claim to help. Watercolour brushes are the easiest to clean – in my experience cold, clean water is perfectly adequate. Don’t give paint the opportunity to dry on your brushes. I swish them about vigorously in a jar of water (taking
74 Artists & Illustrators
PHOTOS: STUART LEECH
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