BRUSH RESTORATION
RESTORING PAINT BRUSHES
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.
This guide will show you the method we now employ after many years of testing.
MATERIALS
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Winsor and Newton Brush Cleaner
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Artist's brush holder
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The Masters Brush Cleaner
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A cup of boiling water
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Water Soluble artists gum arabic
STEP 1
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Suspend the brush in a jar of Winsor and Newton Brush Cleaner until any dried paint has softened or dissolved.
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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
STEP 2
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Rinse the brush in warm water and then use some Master Artists Brush cleaner on the end.
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This is a bit like soap, so work in through the hairs or bristles removing any loose dried on paint.
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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.
STEP 3
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Now place the tip of the brush into a cup of boiling water.
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After a few seconds the hairs should spring back towards their original shape.
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you may need to repeat this a second time.
STEP 4
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Finally dip the brush in a little Gum arabic and smooth the brush with your fingers back into its proper shape.
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If there is an odd hair that still refuses to co-operate, carefully trim it. However, this should be avoided if at all possible.
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Let the gum dry and store the brush safely for a week before using it again.
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You should now have a much-improved brush. Just remember to rinse the gum arabic out of the brush before use.