Getting the Paint Out of your Brush

[Sandra Strait]

I just got a Da Vinci Casaneo 5598 Round Size 20 brush and I love it.  However, I’m having one problem with it.  The brush (synthetic fiber) is noted ‘an extraordinary elasticity and an extremely high colour absorbing capacity ‘.

Yup.  The problem being that it picks up soooo much paint I can’t easily get it clean in order to switch to another color.  I know about gently twirling the hairs to get color from the beneath the ferrule,  but no matter how much I swish and twirl I’m having trouble getting all the color out.  I don’t want to ruin the brush by reefing on the hairs all the time.

Here’s a photo next to to a mechanical pencil, so you can see the brush is fairly large.  I know some of you out there probably paint large and have used brushes like this.  Any suggestions for quickly getting the paint out the brush?

 

[Anonymous]

No suggestions, but that’s a cool brush.

[Debra “Kate” Powell]

Following.

I have trouble with mop brushes, and so I rarely use them.  I hate transferring and dirtying my paints except in the mixing palette.

[Sandra Strait]

It is a nice brush. I have a size 6 too and it doesn’t have the problem, but does hold a great amount of paint. I think it’s just the sheer size.  The only other brushes I’ve had this kind of problem with are brushes for chinese style painting.

[Sandra Strait]

I don’t use mop brushes very often either, because they shed hairs.  This one doesn’t do that, thankfully.  The problem I’m having with this one is that I’m getting mud because I think I’ve got all the paint out, and then suddenly get streaks or mixed color when I’ve started using the next color.

[Tonya L]

I agree with Sharon! I love big rounds, and that is a smoking hot brush. My largest is a size 16 and I’ve not had any problems cleaning it. I have noticed that all my synthetic brushes are more difficult to clean, which makes no sense because you would think the fibers in natural hair would try to hang onto the paint more. That’s got to be frustrating, so I hope you find a simple solution!

[Tonya L]

I think those plastic ferrules are notorious for holding in moisture and paint. I don’t like them, but it’s what you get if you love mop brushes. But your big size 20 doesn’t have that. So odd that you can’t get it clean. Maybe reach out to the company? We’ve been doing that a lot lately. ha!

[Sandra Strait]

That’s not a bad idea.  They might have some advice.  I’m going to try using larger jars so I can get more wave action going without splashing all over and see if that helps.

[Sandra Strait]

I’ll be sure to post if I find one, because I can’t be the only person who has had this problem.  It’s been interesting using it – it definitely encourages a loose style!

[Rebecca Tromel]

I use this Brush Cleaner I got a sample of as a door prize once. It is especially handy for blues, they really want to stick around. It’s really easy to use and it really does work.

[Sandra Strait]

I used to use that, but was told it would eventually dry your brushes out so I stopped.  I wonder though, if the problem would be true with synthetic brushes.  I’ll have to see if I can find anything on the subject.

I switched to a taller jar of water and that seems to have done the job. I think my smaller jars just weren’t long enough to give the bristles a chance to open up.  This is the largest round I’ve ever had.  My 1-inch flats probably have as much bristle but of course they are laid out differently.  This brush is just so thick in the middle.

[Rebecca Tromel]

I suspect there is some sort of bleaching agent it in, and that may cause the drying out they are referring to. However, I’ve been using my one little door prize sample for two years and not noticed any drying out.

Of course I just use nylon/synthetic brushes, mostly Princeton. Can’t afford sable and so forth. Perhaps it was used to heavily with those that felt that it was drying out there brushes? I only use a tiny bit and then go back for more as necessary. I’d rather err on the side of caution with these sorts of things.

[Sandra Strait]

I suspect it is a natural hair problem and probably one that takes a lot of time to happen.  I know when you buy those hugely expensive brushes you don’t want to do anything that might cause damage – you want those brushes to last forever.

[Debra “Kate” Powell]

I use organic dishwashing soap and swish it around in my cupped palm;  provides some texture without breaking hairs.

[Sandra Strait]

I’ll have to give that a try.