6 Ways You're Ruining Your Brushes Without Knowing It

00:04 Overfilling water containers
01:28 How to Prevent Peeling Paint from Brush Handles
02:30 Letting Brushes Rest on the Bristles
04:31 Not Cleaning the Bristles Well Enough
08:28 Using the Wrong Brush for the Medium
09:29 Painting on Rough Surfaces
10:02 Bonus Tip
I've wrecked a lot of brushes in my life. I learned the hard way what destroys brushes so hopefully this video can help you to keep your brushes in good condition.
Brushes will eventually wear out no matter what you do but you can definitely extend the life of your brushes.
If the paint on your paint brush handles is peeling, it's probably because you're overfilling your water containers and letting the brushes sit in the water for too long.
You would assume that the paint would protect the wood from the moisture but water has a way of seeping into the wood handles. The moisture makes the wood expand. The repeating cycles of the expansion of contraction causes the paint to crack.
One thing I forgot to mention in the video is you can just buy paint brushes with plastic handles if you want to leave your brushes soaking in water as you paint. The plastic handles aren't affected by the water.
Obviously letting paint dry in the bristles will ruin or damage your brushes but, as I show in the video, you can bring them back to life.
The other point is that you might think that you're cleaning your brushes, but the chances are that you there's still some paint left in the bristles. It helps to use a good brush soap, and to work the soap into the bristles with your hand.
I use the Dawn dish soap for regular cleaning and then use the Master's Brush Cleaner to give them a good cleaning once in awhile.
Rough surfaces can wear down your brushes faster. Painting on brick or cinder block walls is especially rough on brushes. Using pumice mediums or even the clear gesso will wear your brushes down quicker than working on paper or canvas.
SOURCES
Below is a link to more information from Golden about how acrylic paints can affect natural bristle brushes.
justpaint.org/...
These are two quotes about the affect of acrylic paints on bristles:
"Acrylic dispersion paints also contain ingredients that strip natural hair of its natural oils, causing the hair to become brittle."
"Synthetic hair brushes have greater chemical resistance and are therefore more suitable for acrylic dispersion paints, which have an alkaline pH due to the ammonia pH buffer."
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🖌 ART SUPPLIES USED IN THIS VIDEO
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The links that lead to Blick Art Supplies are affiliate links which means that if you make a purchase I earn a commission.
BRUSH WASHING BIN
This is the blue plastic bin that I used in the video that has the grooves in the bottom.
Amazon: amzn.to/4cOKaBt
Blick: shrsl.com/4m5w8
MASTERS BRUSH CLEANER
Removes oil, acrylic and watercolor paints. Can be used to reshape bristles.
Amazon amzn.to/3Shr52H
Blick: shrsl.com/4m5wb
DAWN DISH SOAP
Works as an everyday brush cleaner. It seems to work better than generic dish soap. amzn.to/3zT1RBu
ESCODA OLIVE OIL SOAP
Can be used to clean brushes and is still mild enough to use on your hands.
Amazon: amzn.to/4bSkjaF
Blick: shrsl.com/4m5wf
ESCODA WATERCOLOR BRUSHES
I bought the Alvaro Castagnet set of three brushes. They hold a lot of water and hold a nice point for finer details.
amzn.to/3xX53eO
JACK RICHESON TRAVEL BRUSHES (SHORT HANDLE)
The short handles make it easier to travel with. Works great for watercolor and gouache.
Amazon: amzn.to/4fdGfju
Blick: shrsl.com/4m5wh
CANVAS BRUSH ROLL POUCH
Made from canvas and has 22 slots for brushes, pencils and other supplies.
Amazon: amzn.to/3zQvZNP
Here's a similar one on Blick: shrsl.com/4m5wj
BRUSH BOX SMALL
amzn.to/4cPu1fh
BRUSH BOX MEDIUM
amzn.to/3WcreWj
ARTBIN BRUSH BOX
Amazon amzn.to/3Wg3lNL
Blick shrsl.com/4m5wm
ARTBIN SKETCH BOX
This is nice because it holds brushes but it also holds a pad of paper with a clip. You can sit down, open it up and all of your supplies are ready to go.
Amazon: amzn.to/4f5oEu1
Blick: shrsl.com/4m5wk
NITRILE GLOVES
These are thin and yet they're as strong as the other types of gloves that I've used in the past. They have a fine texture on the fingertips to help you to grip tools. Amazon: amzn.to/3LupIdj

[@LeftBrainedArtist]

You are on a roll with some great videos!

[@obnoxiouspurring]

just what i was thinking about!

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Thank you

[@VermontStrolls]

Thank you