BRUSH RESTORATION

Producing artwork will take a toll on even the best brushes, with time they can become damaged and lose their contour. While not every brush may be salvageable, many can be given a new lease of life by following a few simple steps.

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This guide will show you the method we now employ after many years of testing.

• Winsor and Newton Brush Cleaner

• Artist's brush holder

• The Masters Brush Cleaner

• A cup of boiling water

• Water Soluble artists gum arabic

• Suspend the brush in a jar of Winsor and Newton Brush Cleaner until any dried paint has softened or dissolved.

• Use a brush holder and be sure that the tip does not touch the bottom.

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• Resting a brush tip down for even the shortest length of time, in any medium, risks damage to both the point and the shape of the brush

• Rinse the brush in warm water and then use some Master Artists Brush cleaner on the end. 

• This is a bit like soap, so work in through the hairs or bristles removing any loose dried on paint.

• Now rinse the brush once again.

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• Paint that has dried in the base of a brush near the ferrule is particularly problematic and removing it is not always successful. This can lead to a less than satisfactory outcome.

• Now place the tip of the brush into a cup of boiling water.

• After a few seconds the hairs should spring back towards their original shape.

• you may need to repeat this a second time.

• Finally dip the brush in a little Gum arabic and smooth the brush with your fingers back into its proper shape.

• If there is an odd hair that still refuses to co-operate, carefully trim it. However, this should be avoided if at all possible.

• Let the gum dry and store the brush safely for a week before using it again.

• You should now have a much-improved brush. Just remember to rinse the gum arabic out of the brush before use.