I know this is an old post now, but you make a great point of recommending a simple mild hand soap. In the UK we have one called "Pears Soap" which is a transparent mild soap. I have always washed my hair in the shower with it and it works great on brushes. One thing I have found important in reducing the amount of paint being drawn up into the ferrule, is to make sure that the brush is properly pre wet with clean water before starting to paint and that includes allowing water time to penetrate the hair in the ferrule. If you just take a dry brush out of your pot and give it a good waggle in the water pot and start to paint, the hair in the ferrule is still dry and will wick up the pigment as you start to paint. After wetting a clean brush, I gently dab the tip on a clean section of my palette and you will see the brush "dry out" as the water is pulled into the ferrule. I re wet and repeat a couple of times before I load the brush. I find doing this helps keep most of the colour in the tip and body and clear of the ferrule.
I have to say that as a beginner watercolorist, there's not many people out there talking about how to care for these wonderful brushes that we purchase. Thank you for your video. I used to use the Master's stuff after every painting session, but then stopped that because I got lazy. Now I just use it when I've used a phthalo color that will not come out with just water. Now I have new information to work with and will try and find a travel size bar of ivory (personally, my skin doesn't like Ivory, but the brushes won't care). Thanks again.
Thank you so much for this video! I had no idea The Master's cleaner had an abrasive in it. Thankfully I don't clean my watercolor brushes often. For hairs that are bent or a little tweaked, I saw someone on TH-cam (for the life of me I can't remember who) who suggested dipping the hairs in hot water. My 2yo got hold of one of my synthetic travel brushes that have a little cap and when she put the cap back on she crushed the bristles against the handle. I boiled water, poured it in a mug, and dipped the brush just past the bends in the hairs for about 10 seconds (not up to the ferrule). It worked to straighten them out and the brush is good as new! I don't know that I'd recommend that for real hair brushes though. Sorry for the long comment. Thanks again for another great video. :)
For cleaning brushes, try baby shampoo. You can find the small travel size in most big box and drug stores. Much less messy than a bar of soap and easier to carry around. Works great.
Baby shampoo is really great stuff. Got it when I had dyed hair, as it's so mild and doesn't wash the colour out as quickly. It's so good for brushes, but also other things you need to be gentle with. Definitely good to have for whatever.
Thanks Steve for another fun, informative and entertaining presentation. Since this is all about brush care, I thought I would share a few useful tips that I have learned. First, using a shallow water source, basically about an inch deep, helps to prevent you from accidentally dipping your brush too deep in the water which allows water to get under the handle end of the ferrule which weakens the glue that holds the brush together as well as causes the wooden handle to swell and later contract and eventually results in a loose connection and ruins the brush. Also, it is advised to not store wet brushes to dry vertically with the bristle end up as that allows water to drain back under the bristle end of the ferrule which over time weakens the glue which holds the bristles hairs / fibers in place. And finally, a great inexpensive precaution to prevent even accidental water from getting under the handle end of the ferrule is to wrap the ferrel / handle end connection with 0.25 " waterproof florist's tape.
Hello, as you've probably guessed, I'm binge watching these videos, I love water color, and I've collected a few Daniel Smith watercolors along with a few Silver Velvet brushes. I will definitely start water coloring by the weekend. I will start with a wash first and work my way up to painting a simple flower & go on from there eventually. Praying I receive a few more supplies (like Arches cold press paper) by the weekend. So grateful for you & these videos, the Lord is using you in an awesome way! Blessings!!!
I found (on Amazon) a pen holder for displaying your fancy pens that works great for storing my commonly used brushes. It’s free-standing, arched, has 6 curved areas that each can hold multiple brushes-horizontally. I love it. Example: AdirOffice Horizontal 6 Slot Display Stand in Pack of 2
Just have to thank you 😊 for this... I'm a beginner and someone early on gave me the gentle soap on palm tip... maybe it was you!!! HA!!! I wait for the very end for a blessing! From a California Gramma ❤
Thanks, Steve. I had been wondering about this. Especially my mop brushes and petit gris and thick quills seem to need extra cleaning, but I don't want to harm my expensive Isabey and Escoda and Silver Black Velvets. Now, I know how. I love using the hand to check for color in the water. I always learn from you!
I'm glad I am not the only person to shape their brushes with hair gel. I do that when I travel so they don't get too mashed in a case. I wash them occasionally with Dr. Bronner's Castile soap.
Wow! Thank you so much for this info. I had no idea about the abrasive qualities of the Master's cleaner. I clean my brushes after every time I paint with that. I don't have super expensive brushes, but have several that you showed here...especially the squirrel hair brushes. I thought I was doing the right thing! So glad you did this video! Thanks!
Yeah, don't use it after every painting session for sure. You'll wear them out in no time flat. Just a tiny bit of soap is all you need for watercolor.
Great, informative video--thanks for the tips! Prior to getting good watercolor brushes, I bought expensive natural hair makeup brushes (they're very soft and blend powders beautifully) and always used plain ole Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo to clean them and it was very gentle on the bristles--I figured if it was gentle enough for a baby, it would be gentle enough for such delicate bristles. I've had my makeup brushes for almost 15 years and they still look like new. That said, your video reminded me of this process so I'm going to use the J&J shampoo for my watercolor brushes as well, thank you!
Two strips of plastic (mens shirt collar stiffeners work well) with a single wind of sellotape part way up taping them together make a great protector for brushes. The fiddly narrow plastic tubes protecting a new brush cannot be replaced safely over used brushes because the bristles spread out. Squeeze the pair of shirt collar stiffeners to create a gap between them. Slide the handle of the brush down into the shirt collar stiffener holder until the ferrule and bristles are protected. If you have slots in a wooden brush box, the stiff plastic slots into them and the brushes cannot roll about either! Brilliant especially for vulnerable rigger brushes.
Another really helpful video. I have been using a hand soap by Olivella on my brushes. Used to use shampoo with conditioner but I started using this liquid hand soap on my hands and my skin stopped getting dried out. It has a mild moisturizer. So now I use it on my brushes as well and it seems to make them very happy. Why is green the hardest to get out!?!?!?!?!
Thanks for the tips. I rarely have issues with my watercolor brushes. My acrylic brushes are another story though. My teacher also suggested hand soap for shaping. Love Psalm 31! Enjoy this balmy weather we're having.
Well, kind sir, I got the Silver Black Velvet brush set for Christmas and LOVE them! They've been on my bucket list since seeing your recommendation and watching you paint with them - especially the 3/4" oval! They're a dream! So naturally I looked for your recommendation on cleaning and storing. Thanks, as always, for your thoroughness. I hope your Christmas was a merry one and 2018 is a successful one for you and your loved ones.
Big thumbs up for Reese! Was he on vacation? Steve, thanks for this video topic. I've been cleaning my watercolor brushes in a similar way. It's always amazing that you can rinse and rinse, but still get more paint out of a brush with a bit of soap. The brush shaping is something I'll be doing from now on.
I have some cheap golden taklons that I picked up at walmart that work well for me. They came with plastic tubes that came around the brushes, I've just kept them and put them on the end of the brush while I'm using it much like you would a pen cap. Then once I've rinsed my brush really well and shaped it I put the tube back over the brush. Since I keep my brushes in a plastic pouch all together. I want to invest in some better brushes soon, I like to ink and had heard about Kolinsky Sable brushes but that price though.
I use Savon de Marseilles or Aleppo soap or Greek Papoutsanis Olive oil soap to wash my brushes as they are very very pure soap (usually just 3 ingredients) with a very high Olive oil content (72% plus). They are fairly expensive to buy, starting at around $7 per bar...but one bar will last you for many many years, and expensive sable brushes are worth taking good care of, some of mine are over 35 years old and still look good! I also store my brushes in a jar but ALWAYS put that jar in a cupboard when not in use...first it stops my cat stealing them/chewing them, but also it prevents dust settling into the hairs, which is a sure way to eventually ruin your brushes by separating out the hairs. Also, I use hair conditioner on my natural brushes once in a while, sometimes storing them with a little hair conditioner on, which really helps them stay silky smooth :)
I find shaping my brushes mainly happens as a bit of protection and insurance when I know they'll be travelling somewhere. No matter how sturdy the brush wallet is, travel always seems to dislodge a couple. If they're shaped, they are less likely to emerge with serious kinks or half splayed. Also it reminds me which brush I last used in a painting session- if it's still shaped and hard, it wasn't that one! The fact that masters is somewhat abrasive was news to me, I'll switch to little travel soaps I think. Thanks, great episode!
I never seem to tire of watching your demos here on YT......as a matter of fact, I cannot get any painting done because I spend all of my time watching (and re-watching) your channel. As a very, very new beginner (with WC, anyway), I remain in awe at what you can achieve with what sometimes seems to me a big mess (or mistake) running amock over your Wc paper. This old architect would like to meet you sometime - if ever I get back to the Carolinas. Two of my favorite places are Ashville, NC, and Wilmington, NC - I know, I know, but you and Reese are not far from Ashville, right? ~ jerry
OMG! I have been taking care of my brushes all wrong. I've been washing them every time I use them as well as storing them in a canvas brush roll. I am hoping they are not ruined. I have a few Silver brushes in my stash and I hope they will forgive me for my transgressions. Thanks Steve for steering me on the right path.
Many hand soaps have moisturizers and oils in them to make your skin soft. Personally, I don't want any kind of oil residue in my watercolor brushes. I have used plain, blue Dawn dishwashing liquid for cleaning my watercolor brushes for decades, and it has served me well. I have a Grumbacher 6142 that I bought in college in the mid 1980s that I have used almost weekly (if not more often) since I got it, and it is still as nice as the day I bought it, not only in the way it feels and performs, but it still LOOKS new--hardly any staining at all on the bristles. Same goes for the Cotman blends and Windsor & Newton sables I've bought over the years. I occasionally will use "The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver" if I know I'm not going to use a particular brush for a while, or if I've been using a brush a lot and it is really dirty, and needs cleaned and set a side to "rest" for a while. Not only does it clean just about any pigment effortlessly--even from natural hair brushes--but it also conditions and points brushes wonderfully...
Oil in hand soaps is emulsified which means it completely rinses out. Never had any issues. But Dawn works great too. I don't like to use it personally because I use my hand to swirl the brush and Dawn will dry out my hands too much.
Baby soap works as a great cleanser. I've been using that forever with acrylics. I have also used castile soap. The gel doesn't harm the bristles in any way, does it?
Thanks for another very informative video Steve. I always rinse my brushes in clean water after painting and let them dry horizontally before storing them upright in an old coffee mug. Sounds like I should put some coffee beans in there.
Thanks Steve, I didn't know about brush shapers. I have always wondered about hair gel but too chicken to try it. I think if i ever use a product like you mentioned I put a little piece of tape on it so I will remember that i need to clean it before use and keep that out of my water bucket.
Finally!!! Someone who makes sense. I started watercolor 2 weeks ago. I know I'm not using the correct brushes but it's what I have. What should I do with the brushes that have a few more than 10 stray hairs to fix it? Now to see if I happen to have some ivory soap. If I don't, I have bath soap that doesn't have perfumes, can I use that? Oh, what about soap buildup? When you use soap you get that strange soap film, will that happen to the brush? Thank you for this informative video.
Does the Mona Lisa brush shaper rinse out quick? I use my kitchen or bathroom sink to clean brushes and let the clean water run over them. I know its weird but since they are actual hair, once is a great great while when I know they are very dirty and clean water just wont do it all, I use the gentlest shampoo or Dove soap because both are at a PH level that does not open up the hair follicles fraying it. High Alkaline soaps cause the individual hair shafts follicles to spread out and is very damaging to any hair. Lower, more Acid PH will cause the hair shaft follicles to stay closed and remain conditioned and healthy. Once is a great while, a little oil free hair conditioner works wonders too. ;-) . The Hair gel is a great idea for shaping!
I'm very new to watercolor, but I just use water and it seems to work fine. I imagine anything else for cleaning brushes is for other mediums (oil/acrylic). But like I said, I'm quite new and use somewhat cheap ($7 average) brushes, but so far haven't had any issues.
I have a princeton velvetouch round that I put away wet while traveling. It no longer has a really nice point. It has more of a hook. Will these techniques work to fix my brush or did I ruin it. Thank you for sharing. I love your videos.
Cleaning won't fix the hook problem unfortunately. I've heard boiling water will but I've not tried it. I actually tried ironing a tip once between fabric. It sort of worked. Princeton is not the only one by the way. Many synthetic tips will hook. Not sure why.
I found you a couple days ago and I must say, I binge watch your videos. You are the first watercolor artist that I found who goes over the different techniques and ways to create art with that medium. It is really nice to finally find an artist who has the same passion for watercolor and where I can learn new things as well as improve. Besides that, amaizing video. This is a really important topic even if watercolor artist don't have so much trouble as e.g. oil artist. But thanks for showing your ways of cleaning your brushes. I guess I have to to improve my care. Short question: does the brush shaper also work for damaged brushes? I have an 4/0 brush that is really badly shaped. Every single hair has another direction. I am wondering if i can repair this brush.
I got brush shaper today I'm going to try on my detail brushes. My princeton brushes haven't needed anything. I tried the hot water and bar soap and it isn't fixing my cheap brushes
Such a great discussion topic, Steve, thank you! I'm curious as to how you store your brushes? Currently, I've been storing them tip-up in a jar, which I know is bad for the ferrule; any thoughts or suggestions on how you store yours? Also, I've read about folks using gum arabic to shape their brushes, too. Would you recommend that? I love your suggestions and despite a busy week at work, I'm looking forward to cleaning my brushes... it's been far, far too long! Thank you for the fantastic insight, as always! Cheers!
Thanks Mark. I let my brushes dry flat then store them either flat or in a vertical jar like you do. You can see in the video the little rack that is on my water bucket. Most of my brushes dry there after a painting session. I've heard of using gum arabic for forming but the idea just never appealed to me. Not sure why. I don't keep extra gum arabic so, I've not tried it. Seems like it would be slow to dry and gooey to get off but maybe not if you thinned it a bit. Most of my brushes I just shape with the soap I wash with unless it needs some serious reforming then I'll use the shaper formula.
Glad to know I'm drying correctly. I have a neat little vase (said as "vahz," of course) filled with coffee beans that I keep my brushes in after I dry them flat. I love it because everytime I paint, my brushes smell like delicious dark roast! lol! Glad to know you don't use the GA to form. I'll go with you lead on that and just use soap. I don't have enough hair anymore to justify hair gel. I'd get looks from the store clerk, for sure. Lastly, famed Japanese artist/animator, Hayao Miyazaki, recommends using a lighter and burning off the stray hairs from a watercolor brush. I've always just used nail clippers. I guess his idea might be better to keep them from growing back. I don't know. (sorry, my humor!). Anyhow, thank you again. GREAT video!!
I'd be afraid to get fire near brushes but used that same technique for finishing home made boat dock lines. I'm using Tweezerman cuticle nippers for a close cut, then store less used brushes in a box like this is.gd/SMoCNH which was about $11. The rest are standing in a square highball glass from a set I never used with favorite marbles in the bottom but I like your scented coffee bean idea too!
The worry with that is leaving one hair out. It gets broken back and that can’t be fixed. For travel protection, I’ve split that plastic tube and pull it up from bottom of handle until it protects the tip. Pull it on up and off when it’s time to use it.
Steve: great channel with lots of useful information. I've commented on one or two of your other lessons. One question/thought: I've always been taught to avoid handling the brush tips with my fingers, due to the oil on the fingertips. The palm of the hand or the edge of the palm is OK (I clean my brushes as you do: by swirling them on the palm). The I do the final shaping by giving them a twist on a piece of clean paper towel. Do you or any viewers have thoughts on this?
Well, I wouldn't go handling my brushes constantly, but I've never found shaping to be a problem. It doesn't damage the brush or affect painting performance. The water handling ability of the brush has nothing to do with absorbency, its the shape and taper of the hairs.
Steve, I recently purchased a Mat Cutter so I can cuts Mats for my Watercolor pictures. Question is. Do you have a suggestion on what to do with the center part that you cut out? Any suggestions would be appreciated, thank you
Some people paint on them but it doesn't make very good watercolor board. Great for colored pencil or pastel drawings though. Of course if the center piece is large enough you can cut a smaller mat. I'll also use mat scraps as frame backing boards if they are large enough.
Wow, never thought about not washing my brushes after every use, but of course, I'm used to Acrylics in the past, so the thought not to never occurred to me. (Just like not cleaning wc off the palette wells after use because it can be used again) I know! right? Thanks again for the tips.
So glad you made a video on this. It can be confusing for watercolorists since we don't need to wash as often as other mediums. What's the brand of paint brush tub you use? I know it's in one of your vids somewhere ;) Like how you can lay paintbrushes sideways on it, most have holes so brushes only stored vertically.
Thank you for this valuable information. I was wondering if you have had any experience with Escoda brush and hand soap with olive oil and if this is an acceptable product for watercolor brushes?
Is there A specific kind of metal polish to wipe the silver part of the brush with so that it stays shiny, and new? I tried rubbing alcohol, and it doesn't work as well.
Disclaimer: I’ve never washed a brush w soap BUT I have had my hair washed w soap - when shampoo was a luxury in the ‘old country’ - and soap leaves your hair nasty and dull. It’s hard to rinse out of hair so I wonder if it wouldn’t be good to use shampoo on hair paint brushes? I see some commenters do mention their use of shampoo.
Thats because shampoo is designed to not strip your hair of all natural bodily oils keep your hair moisturized and shiny. Not necessary for brush hair which is different. In fact you don't want any oily residue or conditioners left in your brush. Those hairs just need to be cleaned on occasion and mostly just rinsed. I don't use soap very often at all just a couple times a year on any one brush. I just rinse them. I use a mild handsoap when I do.
That was a great video on brush care, but I find that Quinacridone colors are very hard to remove the stain on the brush. Synthetic brushes stain the most. What kind of cleaner would you use?
Thanks! I wouldn't use anything different from the video. Staining is really not detrimental to painting unless of course you just don't like the way it makes your brush look. If the water and suds from brush washing come out clean then you're good and can paint on. Brushes stain I'm afraid, its a fact of life for artists.
Hi Steve.... I was told to hang brushes to dry, to make sure the water doesn’t gather in the ferrule ... what are your thoughts on that...say after a painting session, you rinse out the colour.... then what would you do? And wondering how on earth you hang your brushes?
do you store wet pure kazan mop brushes in a sealed container for example a wooden box?? does the prolonged wetness of the bristles weaken the strands and will loose when used again?
Any idea how to fix a hooked end of a brush? I have SEVERAL brushes that I love that have a hooked end and I don't want to repurchase them. I believe I damaged them bc I didn't know as a beginner how to correctly care for them. Especially when they arrived new. Anyways, I'm praying for a fix bc this is a lot of money I'll have to invest again. 😔
This is an old video but hopefully someone will answer me. Can I use the same method with natural hair brushes? They are very delicate, but I want to take care of them
to put back my brushes to a perfect form, I use very diluted shellac. VERY diluted... I just deep them in pure alcohol before I use them back to entirely remove the shellac.
Don't need expensive brush cleaner/soap. Dawn dish-washing liquid soap is the better than anything else - hands down. Using same techniques it gets the paint out fast. Works on oils, enamels, acrylics, watercolors, gouache, and any other type of paint. Even gets out dried paints if they haven't been there too long.
It works great on synthetics with oil and acrylic agreed. I don't ever use it on watercolor brushes with fine natural hairs though, pretty severe stuff. I figure if it takes all the oils off your hands (not a good thing) it may not be the best for sables and squirrel. But I know many people use it, a preference I suppose.
@@mindofwatercolor Hi Steve, Thanks for the video. Dawn dishwashing liquid has detergent or "grease cutters". It is chemically different than good old Dr Bonners (probably the purest simplest soap one can buy )or something like an ivory soap bar. You problably like it because it would cut through any gum arabic or honey residue instanly but the good ol' ivory works fine too. I've gone to reading the labels of nearly everything I buy these days. Thanks for the tips everyone.
I find that M.Graham paint tends to stay in the brush sometimes after rinsing...must be the honey? Don't forget the Solar Eclipse on Aug 21st. You are very close to the path of totality.
Yeah we're actually right in the path. Most hotels in the area are booked solid already. Got my viewing glasses and ordered a solar filter for my telescope.
The Mind of Watercolor Excellent! Traveling to TN for totality. Booked a campsite last year. Using an 8 in Celestron SE with a homemade solar filter. Enjoy!
I think thats exactly what it was. The fan sound I thought I could live with but I did not expect the static sounds. The mic was shielded from it I though but apparently not.
Yes, with soap. Ive seen people cleaning with soap once or twice in a month. i wonder if it would harm the expensive brushes. So you just clean them with water after every painting, right?. Sorry, ive watched the video but english is not my first language so i couldnt catch those answers:)
I know this is an old post now, but you make a great point of recommending a simple mild hand soap. In the UK we have one called "Pears Soap" which is a transparent mild soap. I have always washed my hair in the shower with it and it works great on brushes. One thing I have found important in reducing the amount of paint being drawn up into the ferrule, is to make sure that the brush is properly pre wet with clean water before starting to paint and that includes allowing water time to penetrate the hair in the ferrule. If you just take a dry brush out of your pot and give it a good waggle in the water pot and start to paint, the hair in the ferrule is still dry and will wick up the pigment as you start to paint. After wetting a clean brush, I gently dab the tip on a clean section of my palette and you will see the brush "dry out" as the water is pulled into the ferrule. I re wet and repeat a couple of times before I load the brush. I find doing this helps keep most of the colour in the tip and body and clear of the ferrule.
Thanks! This is a great tip!
I remember seeing them in a lot of commercials and they look so fun to use
I have to say that as a beginner watercolorist, there's not many people out there talking about how to care for these wonderful brushes that we purchase. Thank you for your video. I used to use the Master's stuff after every painting session, but then stopped that because I got lazy. Now I just use it when I've used a phthalo color that will not come out with just water. Now I have new information to work with and will try and find a travel size bar of ivory (personally, my skin doesn't like Ivory, but the brushes won't care). Thanks again.
The soap brand doesn't really matter. If its mild enough for human hands its fine for brushes.
Thank you so much for this video! I had no idea The Master's cleaner had an abrasive in it. Thankfully I don't clean my watercolor brushes often. For hairs that are bent or a little tweaked, I saw someone on TH-cam (for the life of me I can't remember who) who suggested dipping the hairs in hot water. My 2yo got hold of one of my synthetic travel brushes that have a little cap and when she put the cap back on she crushed the bristles against the handle. I boiled water, poured it in a mug, and dipped the brush just past the bends in the hairs for about 10 seconds (not up to the ferrule). It worked to straighten them out and the brush is good as new! I don't know that I'd recommend that for real hair brushes though. Sorry for the long comment. Thanks again for another great video. :)
For cleaning brushes, try baby shampoo. You can find the small travel size in most big box and drug stores. Much less messy than a bar of soap and easier to carry around. Works great.
Baby shampoo is really great stuff. Got it when I had dyed hair, as it's so mild and doesn't wash the colour out as quickly. It's so good for brushes, but also other things you need to be gentle with. Definitely good to have for whatever.
Thanks Steve for another fun, informative and entertaining presentation. Since this is all about brush care, I thought I would share a few useful tips that I have learned. First, using a shallow water source, basically about an inch deep, helps to prevent you from accidentally dipping your brush too deep in the water which allows water to get under the handle end of the ferrule which weakens the glue that holds the brush together as well as causes the wooden handle to swell and later contract and eventually results in a loose connection and ruins the brush. Also, it is advised to not store wet brushes to dry vertically with the bristle end up as that allows water to drain back under the bristle end of the ferrule which over time weakens the glue which holds the bristles hairs / fibers in place. And finally, a great inexpensive precaution to prevent even accidental water from getting under the handle end of the ferrule is to wrap the ferrel / handle end connection with 0.25 " waterproof florist's tape.
Thanks for the useful input J.P.
Hello, as you've probably guessed, I'm binge watching these videos, I love water color, and I've collected a few Daniel Smith watercolors along with a few Silver Velvet brushes. I will definitely start water coloring by the weekend. I will start with a wash first and work my way up to painting a simple flower & go on from there eventually. Praying I receive a few more supplies (like Arches cold press paper) by the weekend. So grateful for you & these videos, the Lord is using you in an awesome way! Blessings!!!
I’ve got some Rosemary and Co brushes and I love them so much!
Thank you for showing how you care for your brushes. God bless you!
I found (on Amazon) a pen holder for displaying your fancy pens that works great for storing my commonly used brushes. It’s free-standing, arched, has 6 curved areas that each can hold multiple brushes-horizontally. I love it. Example: AdirOffice Horizontal 6 Slot Display Stand in Pack of 2
Just have to thank you 😊 for this... I'm a beginner and someone early on gave me the gentle soap on palm tip... maybe it was you!!! HA!!! I wait for the very end for a blessing! From a California Gramma ❤
Thanks, Steve. I had been wondering about this. Especially my mop brushes and petit gris and thick quills seem to need extra cleaning, but I don't want to harm my expensive Isabey and Escoda and Silver Black Velvets. Now, I know how. I love using the hand to check for color in the water. I always learn from you!
That was so easy and enjoyable! Thank you so much xxxx
Thank you! As a beginner watercolorist, this type of instruction is really useful. Much appreciated.
I'm glad I am not the only person to shape their brushes with hair gel. I do that when I travel so they don't get too mashed in a case. I wash them occasionally with Dr. Bronner's Castile soap.
Wow! Thank you so much for this info. I had no idea about the abrasive qualities of the Master's cleaner. I clean my brushes after every time I paint with that. I don't have super expensive brushes, but have several that you showed here...especially the squirrel hair brushes. I thought I was doing the right thing! So glad you did this video! Thanks!
Yeah, don't use it after every painting session for sure. You'll wear them out in no time flat. Just a tiny bit of soap is all you need for watercolor.
Great, informative video--thanks for the tips! Prior to getting good watercolor brushes, I bought expensive natural hair makeup brushes (they're very soft and blend powders beautifully) and always used plain ole Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo to clean them and it was very gentle on the bristles--I figured if it was gentle enough for a baby, it would be gentle enough for such delicate bristles. I've had my makeup brushes for almost 15 years and they still look like new. That said, your video reminded me of this process so I'm going to use the J&J shampoo for my watercolor brushes as well, thank you!
Two strips of plastic (mens shirt collar stiffeners work well) with a single wind of sellotape part way up taping them together make a great protector for brushes. The fiddly narrow plastic tubes protecting a new brush cannot be replaced safely over used brushes because the bristles spread out. Squeeze the pair of shirt collar stiffeners to create a gap between them. Slide the handle of the brush down into the shirt collar stiffener holder until the ferrule and bristles are protected. If you have slots in a wooden brush box, the stiff plastic slots into them and the brushes cannot roll about either! Brilliant especially for vulnerable rigger brushes.
what a great idea! Thank you!
I use straws cut to any length i needfrom dunkin doughnuts ( just the right size for up to an8 or 10..
Another really helpful video. I have been using a hand soap by Olivella on my brushes. Used to use shampoo with conditioner but I started using this liquid hand soap on my hands and my skin stopped getting dried out. It has a mild moisturizer. So now I use it on my brushes as well and it seems to make them very happy. Why is green the hardest to get out!?!?!?!?!
Thanks for this Steve. I can cut back on the number of times I'm cleaning my brushes. Like your shaper tips also.
thank you very much for this video! very straightforward
Thanks for the tips. I rarely have issues with my watercolor brushes. My acrylic brushes are another story though. My teacher also suggested hand soap for shaping. Love Psalm 31! Enjoy this balmy weather we're having.
Yes. The weather has been great. If all our summers were like this one we'd have little to complain about.
Well, kind sir, I got the Silver Black Velvet brush set for Christmas and LOVE them! They've been on my bucket list since seeing your recommendation and watching you paint with them - especially the 3/4" oval! They're a dream! So naturally I looked for your recommendation on cleaning and storing. Thanks, as always, for your thoroughness. I hope your Christmas was a merry one and 2018 is a successful one for you and your loved ones.
Love the hand thing as my hands are permanently altered in color so a little more is ok! I use this Mona Lisa looking stuff to clean them
Big thumbs up for Reese! Was he on vacation? Steve, thanks for this video topic. I've been cleaning my watercolor brushes in a similar way. It's always amazing that you can rinse and rinse, but still get more paint out of a brush with a bit of soap. The brush shaping is something I'll be doing from now on.
I have some cheap golden taklons that I picked up at walmart that work well for me. They came with plastic tubes that came around the brushes, I've just kept them and put them on the end of the brush while I'm using it much like you would a pen cap. Then once I've rinsed my brush really well and shaped it I put the tube back over the brush. Since I keep my brushes in a plastic pouch all together. I want to invest in some better brushes soon, I like to ink and had heard about Kolinsky Sable brushes but that price though.
I use Savon de Marseilles or Aleppo soap or Greek Papoutsanis Olive oil soap to wash my brushes as they are very very pure soap (usually just 3 ingredients) with a very high Olive oil content (72% plus). They are fairly expensive to buy, starting at around $7 per bar...but one bar will last you for many many years, and expensive sable brushes are worth taking good care of, some of mine are over 35 years old and still look good! I also store my brushes in a jar but ALWAYS put that jar in a cupboard when not in use...first it stops my cat stealing them/chewing them, but also it prevents dust settling into the hairs, which is a sure way to eventually ruin your brushes by separating out the hairs. Also, I use hair conditioner on my natural brushes once in a while, sometimes storing them with a little hair conditioner on, which really helps them stay silky smooth :)
Wow! In greece Greek papoutsanis is about 1 euro the most! :) I'm gonna use papoutsanis myself then
Thanks Steve, been hoping you would do a video on brush care, great job, very helpful.
That Steve. Love your advice about shaping.
I find shaping my brushes mainly happens as a bit of protection and insurance when I know they'll be travelling somewhere. No matter how sturdy the brush wallet is, travel always seems to dislodge a couple. If they're shaped, they are less likely to emerge with serious kinks or half splayed. Also it reminds me which brush I last used in a painting session- if it's still shaped and hard, it wasn't that one! The fact that masters is somewhat abrasive was news to me, I'll switch to little travel soaps I think. Thanks, great episode!
This is the best video I've seen on this topic - thank you!
I never seem to tire of watching your demos here on YT......as a matter of fact, I cannot get any painting done because I spend all of my time watching (and re-watching) your channel. As a very, very new beginner (with WC, anyway), I remain in awe at what you can achieve with what sometimes seems to me a big mess (or mistake) running amock over your Wc paper. This old architect would like to meet you sometime - if ever I get back to the Carolinas. Two of my favorite places are Ashville, NC, and Wilmington, NC - I know, I know, but you and Reese are not far from Ashville, right? ~ jerry
Right, we're only an hour away in the Greenville, SC area. Thanks for the kind comments!
OMG! I have been taking care of my brushes all wrong. I've been washing them every time I use them as well as storing them in a canvas brush roll. I am hoping they are not ruined. I have a few Silver brushes in my stash and I hope they will forgive me for my transgressions. Thanks Steve for steering me on the right path.
Soap probably won't hurt every time but an abrasive would.
Very good basic info. Thanks for sharing!
All good information, just would add telling folks never to let your brushes stay/stand in water. Thank you again.
Thank you for a very helpful video. My hubby will now be looking for his hair gel. Lol.
Great video about products that I was unfamiliar with.
Many hand soaps have moisturizers and oils in them to make your skin soft. Personally, I don't want any kind of oil residue in my watercolor brushes. I have used plain, blue Dawn dishwashing liquid for cleaning my watercolor brushes for decades, and it has served me well.
I have a Grumbacher 6142 that I bought in college in the mid 1980s that I have used almost weekly (if not more often) since I got it, and it is still as nice as the day I bought it, not only in the way it feels and performs, but it still LOOKS new--hardly any staining at all on the bristles. Same goes for the Cotman blends and Windsor & Newton sables I've bought over the years.
I occasionally will use "The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver" if I know I'm not going to use a particular brush for a while, or if I've been using a brush a lot and it is really dirty, and needs cleaned and set a side to "rest" for a while. Not only does it clean just about any pigment effortlessly--even from natural hair brushes--but it also conditions and points brushes wonderfully...
Oil in hand soaps is emulsified which means it completely rinses out. Never had any issues. But Dawn works great too. I don't like to use it personally because I use my hand to swirl the brush and Dawn will dry out my hands too much.
Thank you so much! This is exactly what I was looking for. I have some velvets that have furred out!
Wonderful! Thank you so very much!
Baby soap works as a great cleanser. I've been using that forever with acrylics. I have also used castile soap. The gel doesn't harm the bristles in any way, does it?
Nope, shouldn't be a problem.
Thank you, you gave me a couple of ideas...
Good to know about the shaping, thanks.
I had that same teacher, the one that taught you to use your palm to clean brushes...that was more than 60 years ago..lol.......
Thanks for another very informative video Steve. I always rinse my brushes in clean water after painting and let them dry horizontally before storing them upright in an old coffee mug. Sounds like I should put some coffee beans in there.
I know right?! Its a pretty cool idea.
I just stick mine upright between the folds of a toilet paper roll
Great video Steve! 😁 Lots of wonderful information. I hope you are staying nice & cool my friend. 🤗
Hi Val. Yep, actually not too bad right now. Thanks!
Thanks for the tips. Good video.
Thank you for sharing your very informative video.
Thanks Steve, I didn't know about brush shapers. I have always wondered about hair gel but too chicken to try it. I think if i ever use a product like you mentioned I put a little piece of tape on it so I will remember that i need to clean it before use and keep that out of my water bucket.
Yeah, just remember if you would use it on yourself or your own hair, its more than fine for a brush. 😉
Finally!!! Someone who makes sense. I started watercolor 2 weeks ago. I know I'm not using the correct brushes but it's what I have. What should I do with the brushes that have a few more than 10 stray hairs to fix it? Now to see if I happen to have some ivory soap. If I don't, I have bath soap that doesn't have perfumes, can I use that? Oh, what about soap buildup? When you use soap you get that strange soap film, will that happen to the brush? Thank you for this informative video.
You can also use a makeup brush cleaning mat. Using your hands can get exhausting and prune your hands
Fantastic
Good info!
Amen, brother,.. cleeean brushes!!! Nice one Steve,.. speak later, The Blue : )))
Thank you Steve!
Greetings from Utah. Very helpful, THANKS!
I use shampoo for cleaning~The hair keep in good condition. :D
Does the Mona Lisa brush shaper rinse out quick? I use my kitchen or bathroom sink to clean brushes and let the clean water run over them. I know its weird but since they are actual hair, once is a great great while when I know they are very dirty and clean water just wont do it all, I use the gentlest shampoo or Dove soap because both are at a PH level that does not open up the hair follicles fraying it. High Alkaline soaps cause the individual hair shafts follicles to spread out and is very damaging to any hair. Lower, more Acid PH will cause the hair shaft follicles to stay closed and remain conditioned and healthy. Once is a great while, a little oil free hair conditioner works wonders too. ;-) . The Hair gel is a great idea for shaping!
The shaper does seem to come out fairly easily. I hate rinsing out all the gum arabic that brush makers put it. Takes forever.
Really helpful video
HEY! Thanks for the - wait for it - GREAT TIPS!! lol
Thank you for sharing , I always look forward to your advice .
I'm very new to watercolor, but I just use water and it seems to work fine. I imagine anything else for cleaning brushes is for other mediums (oil/acrylic). But like I said, I'm quite new and use somewhat cheap ($7 average) brushes, but so far haven't had any issues.
Yep, thats primarily all use too. Shaping is really the more important task.
Thanks! Very helpful.
I have a princeton velvetouch round that I put away wet while traveling. It no longer has a really nice point. It has more of a hook. Will these techniques work to fix my brush or did I ruin it. Thank you for sharing. I love your videos.
Cleaning won't fix the hook problem unfortunately. I've heard boiling water will but I've not tried it. I actually tried ironing a tip once between fabric. It sort of worked. Princeton is not the only one by the way. Many synthetic tips will hook. Not sure why.
@@mindofwatercolor I tried the boiling water and it worked. Thank you so much.
I found you a couple days ago and I must say, I binge watch your videos. You are the first watercolor artist that I found who goes over the different techniques and ways to create art with that medium. It is really nice to finally find an artist who has the same passion for watercolor and where I can learn new things as well as improve.
Besides that, amaizing video. This is a really important topic even if watercolor artist don't have so much trouble as e.g. oil artist. But thanks for showing your ways of cleaning your brushes. I guess I have to to improve my care.
Short question: does the brush shaper also work for damaged brushes? I have an 4/0 brush that is really badly shaped. Every single hair has another direction. I am wondering if i can repair this brush.
The brush shaper might help with a damaged brush. Just depends on how far gone it is. Give it a try.
I'm nervous about acrylic in the brush and on the palette, not as much with watercolour, but I do shape them often and soap them now and then though.
I just use gum arabic to shape my brushes when I need a hard point.
I got brush shaper today I'm going to try on my detail brushes. My princeton brushes haven't needed anything. I tried the hot water and bar soap and it isn't fixing my cheap brushes
Such a great discussion topic, Steve, thank you! I'm curious as to how you store your brushes? Currently, I've been storing them tip-up in a jar, which I know is bad for the ferrule; any thoughts or suggestions on how you store yours? Also, I've read about folks using gum arabic to shape their brushes, too. Would you recommend that? I love your suggestions and despite a busy week at work, I'm looking forward to cleaning my brushes... it's been far, far too long! Thank you for the fantastic insight, as always! Cheers!
Thanks Mark. I let my brushes dry flat then store them either flat or in a vertical jar like you do. You can see in the video the little rack that is on my water bucket. Most of my brushes dry there after a painting session. I've heard of using gum arabic for forming but the idea just never appealed to me. Not sure why. I don't keep extra gum arabic so, I've not tried it. Seems like it would be slow to dry and gooey to get off but maybe not if you thinned it a bit. Most of my brushes I just shape with the soap I wash with unless it needs some serious reforming then I'll use the shaper formula.
Glad to know I'm drying correctly. I have a neat little vase (said as "vahz," of course) filled with coffee beans that I keep my brushes in after I dry them flat. I love it because everytime I paint, my brushes smell like delicious dark roast! lol! Glad to know you don't use the GA to form. I'll go with you lead on that and just use soap. I don't have enough hair anymore to justify hair gel. I'd get looks from the store clerk, for sure. Lastly, famed Japanese artist/animator, Hayao Miyazaki, recommends using a lighter and burning off the stray hairs from a watercolor brush. I've always just used nail clippers. I guess his idea might be better to keep them from growing back. I don't know. (sorry, my humor!). Anyhow, thank you again. GREAT video!!
Hah! Yeah lol! Now coffee beans, I like that idea.
I'd be afraid to get fire near brushes but used that same technique for finishing home made boat dock lines. I'm using Tweezerman cuticle nippers for a close cut, then store less used brushes in a box like this is.gd/SMoCNH which was about $11. The rest are standing in a square highball glass from a set I never used with favorite marbles in the bottom but I like your scented coffee bean idea too!
The worry with that is leaving one hair out. It gets broken back and that can’t be fixed. For travel protection, I’ve split that plastic tube and pull it up from bottom of handle until it protects the tip. Pull it on up and off when it’s time to use it.
Steve: great channel with lots of useful information. I've commented on one or two of your other lessons. One question/thought: I've always been taught to avoid handling the brush tips with my fingers, due to the oil on the fingertips. The palm of the hand or the edge of the palm is OK (I clean my brushes as you do: by swirling them on the palm). The I do the final shaping by giving them a twist on a piece of clean paper towel. Do you or any viewers have thoughts on this?
Well, I wouldn't go handling my brushes constantly, but I've never found shaping to be a problem. It doesn't damage the brush or affect painting performance. The water handling ability of the brush has nothing to do with absorbency, its the shape and taper of the hairs.
Thanks for the quick reply. Your opinion and expertise is much appreciated! Cheers, Steve L.
Steve, I recently purchased a Mat Cutter so I can cuts Mats for my Watercolor pictures. Question is. Do you have a suggestion on what to do with the center part that you cut out? Any suggestions would be appreciated, thank you
Some people paint on them but it doesn't make very good watercolor board. Great for colored pencil or pastel drawings though. Of course if the center piece is large enough you can cut a smaller mat. I'll also use mat scraps as frame backing boards if they are large enough.
Hello Steve, where did you get that big water bucket that you are resting the brushes on?
Check the Amazon Store link in the description. You'll find it there.
The Mind of Watercolor thanks so much sir. Very informative video btw. Love all your videos.
Wow, never thought about not washing my brushes after every use, but of course, I'm used to Acrylics in the past, so the thought not to never occurred to me. (Just like not cleaning wc off the palette wells after use because it can be used again) I know! right? Thanks again for the tips.
To be clear, I do rinse my brush thoroughly after every use. I just don't clean them with soap each time.
Oh ok, I misunderstood. :)
So glad you made a video on this. It can be confusing for watercolorists since we don't need to wash as often as other mediums.
What's the brand of paint brush tub you use? I know it's in one of your vids somewhere ;) Like how you can lay paintbrushes sideways on it, most have holes so brushes only stored vertically.
Mijello. amzn.to/2v5rw6a
The Mind of Watercolor Thanks!
Ty for your video very helpful. Could you please tell me where you got your water bucket please....i am looking for one
This is the one. amzn.to/3QQzBUR
Thank you for this valuable information. I was wondering if you have had any experience with Escoda brush and hand soap with olive oil and if this is an acceptable product for watercolor brushes?
I have and love Escoda brushes. I would not use any soap product that has an oil in it though. It might affect the performance of the brush.
Is there A specific kind of metal polish to wipe the silver part of the brush with so that it stays shiny, and new? I tried rubbing alcohol, and it doesn't work as well.
you got a AMEN brother!
Disclaimer: I’ve never washed a brush w soap BUT I have had my hair washed w soap - when shampoo was a luxury in the ‘old country’ - and soap leaves your hair nasty and dull. It’s hard to rinse out of hair so I wonder if it wouldn’t be good to use shampoo on hair paint brushes? I see some commenters do mention their use of shampoo.
Thats because shampoo is designed to not strip your hair of all natural bodily oils keep your hair moisturized and shiny. Not necessary for brush hair which is different. In fact you don't want any oily residue or conditioners left in your brush. Those hairs just need to be cleaned on occasion and mostly just rinsed. I don't use soap very often at all just a couple times a year on any one brush. I just rinse them. I use a mild handsoap when I do.
Wherever did you get your water bucket? I love, love, love it!
Amazon. amzn.to/2vSHJ0W
THANK YOU!!!
Same way I wash my makeup brushes and I’ve had them for over 12-13 years
That was a great video on brush care, but I find that Quinacridone colors are very hard to remove the stain on the brush. Synthetic brushes stain the most. What kind of cleaner would you use?
Thanks! I wouldn't use anything different from the video. Staining is really not detrimental to painting unless of course you just don't like the way it makes your brush look. If the water and suds from brush washing come out clean then you're good and can paint on. Brushes stain I'm afraid, its a fact of life for artists.
Hi Steve.... I was told to hang brushes to dry, to make sure the water doesn’t gather in the ferrule ... what are your thoughts on that...say after a painting session, you rinse out the colour.... then what would you do? And wondering how on earth you hang your brushes?
Laying flat to dry is usually fine. Thats what I do. On a paper towel works well because it wicks the moisture away from the bristles.
do you store wet pure kazan mop brushes in a sealed container for example a wooden box?? does the prolonged wetness of the bristles weaken the strands and will loose when used again?
I always let them completely air dry. Either flat or hanging point down. I never store brushes in sealed containers. They are in open jars.
Reese Reese Reese. Glad to see him back.
Any idea how to fix a hooked end of a brush? I have SEVERAL brushes that I love that have a hooked end and I don't want to repurchase them. I believe I damaged them bc I didn't know as a beginner how to correctly care for them. Especially when they arrived new. Anyways, I'm praying for a fix bc this is a lot of money I'll have to invest again. 😔
I've never been able to do it. I've tried boiling, which some have suggested and even ironing it between cloth. No joy!
Thanks for this helpful video. Do you use anything to rinse the sizing out of brand new brushes before using them?
water and hand soap.
@@mindofwatercolor Thank you
This is an old video but hopefully someone will answer me. Can I use the same method with natural hair brushes? They are very delicate, but I want to take care of them
Yes, sure can.
@@mindofwatercolor thank you!
to put back my brushes to a perfect form, I use very diluted shellac. VERY diluted... I just deep them in pure alcohol before I use them back to entirely remove the shellac.
Thank you so much )
I have wondered if putting brushes in mouth to bring tip to a point before storing could be a problem with the enzymes in saliva?? Anybody know?
Good information but when are you going to post some new tutorials on painting?
Thank you for the information Steve! PS why psalm 31:1? I don't recall seeing that before?
No special reason, I just like the confidence the God's refuge gives me.
The Mind of Watercolor awesomeness!
Don't need expensive brush cleaner/soap. Dawn dish-washing liquid soap is the better than anything else - hands down. Using same techniques it gets the paint out fast. Works on oils, enamels, acrylics, watercolors, gouache, and any other type of paint. Even gets out dried paints if they haven't been there too long.
It works great on synthetics with oil and acrylic agreed. I don't ever use it on watercolor brushes with fine natural hairs though, pretty severe stuff. I figure if it takes all the oils off your hands (not a good thing) it may not be the best for sables and squirrel. But I know many people use it, a preference I suppose.
@@mindofwatercolor Hi Steve, Thanks for the video. Dawn dishwashing liquid has detergent or "grease cutters". It is chemically different than good old Dr Bonners (probably the purest simplest soap one can buy )or something like an ivory soap bar. You problably like it because it would cut through any gum arabic or honey residue instanly but the good ol' ivory works fine too.
I've gone to reading the labels of nearly everything I buy these days. Thanks for the tips everyone.
Would anyone know if using a Castile soap would work without damaging the brush ?
AMEN!!!!
I find that M.Graham paint tends to stay in the brush sometimes after rinsing...must be the honey? Don't forget the Solar Eclipse on Aug 21st. You are very close to the path of totality.
Yeah we're actually right in the path. Most hotels in the area are booked solid already. Got my viewing glasses and ordered a solar filter for my telescope.
The Mind of Watercolor Excellent! Traveling to TN for totality. Booked a campsite last year. Using an 8 in Celestron SE with a homemade solar filter. Enjoy!
A little background static on this audio, but you provided great info, as usual.
Yeah it sort of drove me nuts because I don't know where it came from!
it's kinda calming
like a white noise machine
The Mind of Watercolor sounds like a fan you have on that is rotating and blowing over your microphone as it turns 😘
I think thats exactly what it was. The fan sound I thought I could live with but I did not expect the static sounds. The mic was shielded from it I though but apparently not.
Can you use aloe Vera soap?
Yes, but rinse it all out good before painting again.
@@mindofwatercolor ok thank you
Would Dove soap hurt my brushes? I have Mimik synthetic squirrel brushes.
No it's fine.
Thank you!
How often do you clean your brushes?
esra a with soap? Not often, once or twice a year. Frequently rinse them with water though.
Yes, with soap. Ive seen people cleaning with soap once or twice in a month. i wonder if it would harm the expensive brushes. So you just clean them with water after every painting, right?. Sorry, ive watched the video but english is not my first language so i couldnt catch those answers:)
esra a correct.