No matter what your preferred medium is, you probably have a nice collection of paint brushes already and a wishlist for some of those harder to find brushes. Your brushes may be synthetic or natural, camel hair or boar bristle, they each have their own benefits and applications. The one thing they all have in common is that if you take proper care of them, they can last for years. When you look at the cost of new brushes it only makes sense to spend the few extra minutes to treat your brushes with some extra care.
Clean your brushes well
When the medium you have been using with a brush is oil based or solvent based, the brush needs to be cleaned with a solvent too. You probably buy thinners where you buy your paints and for most of us, those small containers of thinner will clean your brushes just fine. After cleaning with thinner or mineral spirits it is best to wash them out with soap and water and then rinse, rinse, rinse until no residue shows in a glass of clear water. Water based paints and acrylics make for easier clean up, but again rinse them until the water stays clear, and then shake them dry, straightening the bristles if that last shake left them bent as often happens with longer and softer bristles.
The final step is what a lot of us skip: roll or wrap the bristles in a few layers of newspaper, folding the outer tip over just past the tip of the brush. This ensures that the brush can air dry overnight without fraying or losing its shape. The brush will stay neat and clean until you unwrap it to use next time.
To economize on brushes it is best to buy in bulk, maybe not alone but in a group such as a club. Even if your circle of creative friends is online you can agree to pool your resources and save by buying a dozen paint brushes at a time. Depending on the size and bristle type you can sometimes save enough for one more brush!
