| It is easy to keep a brush clean for many | | | | Allow drying overnight, preferably, but |
| years with simple regular maintenance. The | | | | brushes will usually dry within a few hours |
| most effective way to keep and clean brushes | | | | depending on the temperature. |
| is by using a mild soap. There are some | | | | |
| brush cleaners made especially for cleaning | | | | To dry round brushes you might want to dab |
| brushed but they can be expensive and are | | | | your fingers with a slight amount of wet |
| used up very quickly. Brush cleaners are | | | | soap, then apply to the bristles of the round |
| very good for those really hard to clean | | | | brush and allow to air dry. Soap helps to |
| brushes or for a periodical cleaning if you | | | | shape the brush and discourages the bristles |
| want to recondition your brushes. | | | | from curling out. The soap will not be |
| | | | noticeable when you use it next. But |
| Using 100% pure soap, in bar form is | | | | remember only a dab of soap. |
| probably the easiest method and if you use | | | | |
| chemical products that require chemical clean | | | | After your brushes are dried you will see |
| up, then do so first. These chemicals are | | | | that they almost look new again. It will |
| especially harmful to brushes. | | | | definitely encourage your creative side and |
| | | | will keep you and your brushes going for many |
| Begin by cleaning the brush thoroughly with | | | | years. |
| the required cleaner. Wet the bar of soap | | | | |
| under running water and then wet the brush | | | | This method works well on paintbrushes used |
| bristles. Swirl the brush on the bar. Do | | | | for house painting as well, if you are the |
| this until you see a chemical film being | | | | do-it-yourselfer that loves to paint your |
| released from the bristles. Rinse and repeat | | | | home that is. |
| this process until you no longer see any | | | | |
| discoloration or film on the soap. | | | | Cleaning your brushes this way allows you to |
| | | | create at a moments notice. Next time that |
| If you use oil paints then you will see | | | | creative urge strikes, you will be ready with |
| color on the bar, as chemicals never | | | | clean equipment and no need to make a |
| completely remove color. You will repeat the | | | | creativity defusing run.Maria Britzman has |
| swirl and rinse process until the color is no | | | | taken many art classes throughout her |
| longer visible on the bar of soap. | | | | lifetime. Even after her education in |
| | | | architecture, she found that it was not |
| The brush is clean when you see white sudsy | | | | enough to sit at a drafting table. |
| foam on the soap. Rinse one last time and | | | | |
| lay out for drying. | | | | Classes taken include; basic art, color |
| | | | pencil, 2 dimensional art, ink drawing |
| The final step and the one that will keep | | | | painting, air brush, printmaking, silk |
| the brush bristles straight and even, is | | | | screen, photography, ceramics, Fimo, Precious |
| proper drying. Using an old phone book is | | | | Metal Clay and oil painting. |
| good. This allows flat brushes to dry flat, | | | | |
| retaining their shape. | | | | She is self taught in; quilting, crocheting, |
| | | | embroidery, soap making, candle making, wood |
| Place the brush bristles, between the phone | | | | burning, watercolor, calligraphy, jewelry |
| book pages. The weight of the book flattens | | | | making and wire weaving. |
| the bristles at the same time as absorbing | | | | |
| the excess water. Phone book pages are quiet | | | | Her philosophy is that as long as crafts are |
| absorbent and besides what else do you do | | | | introduced and/or reintroduced and written |
| with an old phone book. | | | | about, then, she will continue to learn and |
| | | | to create. |