Hello All

Can someone please give me some advice. I did write to Daler-Rowney but they never replied to me.

I use very fine paint brushes 00 range or 3/0 types of various makes for acrylic painting.

How do you stop them from splaying (think thats the right word they spread out and dont go back) there bristles after there first use? Its costing me a fortune in brushes. I have various brush cleaners and always use them.

Thank you for your help
Debbie

Debbie, hi. you dont say what kind of brushes you are using and what medium you paint in. Generally, if use good brushes and you rinse well after everytime you use you shouldnt have a problem. Keeping brushes head down in water, or using an abrasive paint like Acrylic with brushes made from delicate hair can cause splitting or allowing paint residue to clog in the furrel can cause this kind of problem. I suspect it may be the latter if you are using watercolour! Try applying a little soap or gum arabic after cleaning and remould the shapes.
There are certain Acyrlic brushes on the market than bend terribly when left in water, I have been told to dip the tip in boiling water for a minute or so then do as I said with soap/gumarabic.

Hope some of that helps.

Hello Carol

I have never posted a message on this site before and was amazed at the speed at which I got a reply.

I am a Decorative Folk Art Painter and paint on wood and terracotta with acrylic paint. The brushes I am having problems with are System 3 Daler-Rowney and Pro Arte miniture both for acrylic. I have a brush cleaner called 'Colourful Arts Brush Cleaner and preserver' for acrylic.

Last year I spoke in person to a Pro Arte man - who asked me to post my brushes back to them for analysis, so I did. Sadly all they did was send me some new ones.

I will give your tips a try tomorrow and see what happens.

Thank you Carol.

Debbie

Hello Debbie! I totally agree with what Carol says. When I clean my brushes, using one of the brush cleaners, I always rinse out the brush cleaner with a little soap and warm water, then re-shape the bristles. I agree with Carol about dipping in boiling water (though not bubbling boiling water!) and when you lift them out, straight up, the bristles should fall straight.
Be careful to put the bristles only - not the Metal Ferrule - into the boiling water as that can disturb the resin that the bristles are set into.
At the risk of lesson on how to suck eggs (?!!) I always work a little soft soap into the bristles after cleaning, as this helps to re-shape them and keep them in shape. This can easily be rinsed out before painting, as any small amount of water will not adversely affect your Acrylics, though if you're using oils, all the water would, of course, need to be dried out.
Best wishes,

Steve Williams
RSC

Thanks Steve, Let us know how you get on Debbie.

Hello Steve and Carol

I washed the brushes and held them in boiling water as you suggested. They did go back in shape but I think I will need to do it again as they still spread out a bit when I went to use them.

You mentioned washing in soap - any particular kind.

Steve what does the RSC I think that was what you put mean.

Thank you to you both
Debbie

Hello Debsut99! I would use a little soap on your fingers from a normal soap bar.
When you've washed out with either Brush Cleaning Fluid or held your brush under boiling water for just a moment, rub some soap onto your fingers and rub it gently into the bristles, then shape the bristles with your (soapy) fingers to the shape you want, ie a good point.
Make sure you leave your brush in a position so that the bristles stay in the shape you made, and as the water dries out, the soap will keep the shape. This should teach the bristles to retain their shape if you persist with the same system.
Very best wishes,

Steve Williams
RSC
(Regional Society Coordinator)

Steve

On a different subject, where are you RSC for?

Debbie

Hello again!
I live at the north end of Warrington, so the area I try to cover as RSC is Wigan, Warrington, St Helens.
Best wishes,
Steve