My brushes are all stored in recycled cans and I have them sorted into size and shape. I like to keep all my angled brushes together and separate from the others. There's a big can that holds all my big brushes...ones I use for backgrounds, brushing off a painting, etc. And then there's a can filled with flat brushes and another one with round brushes.
I'm terrible about taking care of my brushes! I am constantly leaving them in water or just plain leaving them on the worktable. When that happens I put them into a jar with a small chunk of Ivory soap and warm water. Brushes that have dried out will usually come back after this treatment. You may have to leave them in the solution for a day or so but I've had good luck with this. I learned about this treatment during a class I took from Wyanne.
Here are some other tools I like using....
These are a bunch of dowels I bought and had HB cut down to about 5" lengths. They are great for painting dots of different sizes. I also use old paintbrush handles and some skewers that I broke in half and sanded down. You know I like dots!!
And here are some of those faces from the other day. I still haven't finished them but they're now on some backgrounds and I've added the outlines for hair.
One of these days I'll actually finish the faces, the backgrounds and the hair and be able to show you something completed! But don't hold your breath! Lately I'm not moving too fast in the studio.
I love seeing all those faces in progress. I think I'd be too embarrassed to show my brushes. They are a mess.
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Hi Janet...and here I thought I had a lot of brushes, ha! That's a good tip about the Ivory Soap...I wonder if that will work on brushes that have glue left in them over night? I'm always doing that...I've ruined more brushes that way. You'll get your gals done...they are looking good! Have a good weekend!
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Thanks for the brush hints! Gooooo faces!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou really do not want to know about my brushes, I think it would be considerent "Brush Abuse!" I let my grandkids us them sometimes and that is awful to see. Have a great day, Hugs Mary
ReplyDeletesuch organized brushes and some interesting unique tools. good idea for dots. i have some sponges i cut into squares and circles.
ReplyDeletethanks for telling me Zorna back, and about the ivory soap and the brushes, i will get some ivory soap bars tommorow, and I love those faces
ReplyDeletethanks for telling me Zorna back, and about the ivory soap and the brushes, i will get some ivory soap bars tommorow, and I love those faces
ReplyDeleteWell...i think that photo of your paintbrushes is ART!! Happy weekend my friend :D
ReplyDeleteGreat tip about the Ivory soap. The faces are looking great,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great photo of your brushes! I like the dowels too. I didn't know about the ivory soap... I know that oxy-clean diluted in water cleans the acrylic perfectly off my water containers, and I always wondered if it would work on brushes too. Anyway, don't think I'm weird but I really like the faces in the stage they are now. There is something very graphically interesting about them...
ReplyDeletei'm forever leaving my brushes in my water jar, and the wooden handles swell and the paint peels off and the metal part comes loose from the brush. ARGH! going to try the ivory soap for all the times the brush doesn't make it to the jar at all.
ReplyDeletereally really love those faces on the backgrounds.
Wow! You have a lot of brushes! I have to admit, I'm pretty awful at looking after mine too. Every time I buy new ones I vow to take better care of them than the old ones but it never happens lol.
ReplyDeleteI've seen somewhere about leaving paint brushes in warm vinegar for 30 minutes too to revive them, but am not sure if that's just for household paint.
Love seeing the faces in progress.
Don't ask me why, but I love posts like this when people show their supplies! They're my faves! And by the way, those faces are coming VERY well!
ReplyDeleteSomeone told me to try Murphy's Oil soap on my brushes. I have not tried that yet. I do have a sign by my brushes that says "REMEMBER WHAT YOU PAID FOR ME...BE KIND AND CLEAN ME!!!" This seems to work for me especially with my watercolor and sumi brushes. LOL Love your dot selection!!!
ReplyDeleteLove those faces with different do's!!
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing your supplies, Janet! I have used ends of brushes for small dots but never thought of using dowel pieces for larger dots. Great idea!
ReplyDeleteI admit to always being careful with my good brushes when it comes to brush care. I have several jars of water that I use for rinsing thoroughly. I tend to be less precious with the cheap bristle brushes tho.
Thanks so much for the kind, supportive comments you've been leaving on my blog!! Makes my day!
ReplyDeleteLove your backgrounds with your ladies on them - I just got accepted into Mystele's Little Glimpses group and am excited to watch her paint! Thanks for sharing so much of yourself here!
Thanks for the tip about saving brushes...we can all use that tip, I think! I visited Wyanne's site for the first time, and she has the most amazing video of the creation of one of her pieces. Thanks for sending me her way...it was awesome!!
ReplyDeletegood tip on rescuing an abused paintbrush. i have a few of those around. thanks.
ReplyDeleteOooh! WHAT a cool post! I LOVE seeing your brushes and supplies - and think that your polka-dotters are a FABulous idea! So cool. And beautiful wips too, xoxo
ReplyDeleteThis was a fantastic post, very inspiring!! :]
ReplyDeleteThose faces are terrific too, I really like them all.
Thank you for sharing, always. <3
Girl, do yu have enough brushes? Want some more? I can send you a few oldies. Your tip about ivory soap...it works on acrylic? I will have to try this. Thanks! xo
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ReplyDeleteHey Janet,
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea!
I haven't done much blogging lately and feel a bit guilty. lol
Maybe next post will be about my studio.
I've just noticed you have BOD's on your side wall. Fabulous, isn't it.
Creative hugs,
Anna
janet, I LOVE those faces!! they are amazing!
ReplyDeletethank you for your visit to my blog, you are so kind and encouraging:D
I love those faces in progress.
ReplyDeleteThanks,also, for the tip about rejuvenating brushes!
I would love to visit your art studio. So much interesting stuff you have there. And your art, you have such a beautiful talent there.
ReplyDeletePirk
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