Being an artist is no easy task. In addition to having a talent for art, one must also have a thorough knowledge about a number of things such as mixing paints, light techniques and of course, paintbrushes. Here are a few tips when it comes to paint brushes.
1. All Paintbrushes Have 4 Things in Common
If you want to get your break into Sri Lanka art, and one day get your work displayed at the Sri Lankan Art Gallery; you need to know the basics first. The anatomy of all brushes has 4 features which are bristles, ferrule, crimp and handle. Bristles are the hairs and they can be natural or synthetic. The handle is either made of acrylic or wood. The ferrule is the tiny silver part that connects the handle and the bristle. Finally, the crimp is the part of the ferrule that locks it to the handle.
2. Loading the Brush
When you’re loading the brush with paint, take care to only dip the bristles 1/3 of the way into the paint. Dipping way more than that not only wastes paint but also makes a mess not to mention makes it hard to clean the brush as well.
3. Hold it Right
Photo by Karen Arnold on publicdomainpictures
Remember the ferrule? The tiny silver part we talked about earlier. Well, the right way of holding a paintbrush is to hold it by the ferrule.
4. Applying The Paint
When you’re applying paint, the brush should ideally be kept at a 45º angle to the surface. Also, make sure that the bristle should flex slightly.
5. A Clean Brush is a Happy Brush!
photo by Emily Hopper on pexels
Cleaning your brush is very important because cleanliness contributes to the longevity of your brush, and we all know how expensive some of paint brushes can be. Take care to clean the brush as soon as you finish painting, not like a week later 😛 And DO NOT leave your brush in the water as that results in your bristles bending or falling out.
Filled with wanderlust that seeks to explore distant shores and captivated by the colors and vibrancy of exotic cultures, Kanya Mae writes on the beautiful, exciting, and enchanting wonders of the world. She is a writer who not only has a passion for travel, but also has a background in fashion, art and media. Google+
