BRUSH TYPE AND USESRound Brush:Comma strokes, One-strokes, C-strokes, S-strokes, Stippling, and Stenciling.Liner Brush:Dots, Dolly parton hearts, Lining (watery paint),and Cross Hatching.Full Loaded flat Brushes:Broad, Chisel, Checks, Steps, C-strokes, S-strokes, Circles, Hearts, and Igloos.Side Loaded Flat Brushes:Floating, Shading and HighlightingBRUSH STROKE'SBROAD STROKE:Use flat brush. Fully load a flat brush. Angle the brush handle slightly towards you. Start at the top of the stroke with all of the bristles touching the surface. Pull towards you, maintaining even pressure thoughout the stroke. Slow down towards the end and lift the brush straight up. CHISEL STROKE:Other names: Knife or Line Stroke Use a flat brush. Fully load a flat brush. Start at the top of the stroke and work down. Keep the brush in an upright position and maintain even pressure throughout the stroke. It should be a fine line similar to what you would make with a felt tip marker. Other names: Cresent or U-Stroke Can use flat, round or a linner brush. Fully load the brush. Stroke flat brushes so that they have a fine chiseled edge. For liners and rounds, twirl the bristles to a nice fine point. Hold the brush in a upright position. Set the bristles down using light pressure, and pull the stroke to the left. Increase pressure as you move down and from the wide, curve part of the "C". Slow down and decrease pressure, allowing the bristles to return to a fine point. Then slide to the right and form the end of the "C". COMMA STROKE:Other names: Polliwog, Daisy, Squiggle, Tadpole, or Eyebrow. Can use flat, round or a liner brush. As you paint this stroke, think: PRESS....Brush to spread the bristles. PULL.....Brush towards you,and as you do lift brush until you get the thin tail. Fully load your brush. For liners and rounds, dip the tip in a little more paint to make the top of the comma round. Press the bristles on the surface, hesitating long enough for them to spread out. Maintain a constant pressure as you make the slight curve. Gradually reduce pressure as you pull the stroke towards you. Slow down to allow the bristles to return to the chisel edge (for flats) or a fine point (for liners and rounds). This makes the fine line of the comma. "S" STROKE:Can use a flat, a liner or a round brush. As you paint this stroke think: PULL, PRESS, PULL, RELEASE. Fully load your brush. If you are using a liner or a round, twirl the bristles to make a fine point. Hold the brush in an upright position. The brush handle should face the same direction through out the entire stroke. The curve of the "S" should be subtle. Start at the top of the stroke on the chisel edge (for flats) or a fine point (for liners and rounds), and pull down with light pressure to create the fine line at the top of the "S". Press down for the wide part of the "S". The brush handle should still be facing the same way as when you first started. Reduce pressure and slow down to allow the bristles to return to a fine point for the bottom of the "S". BRUSH CARE
Take good care of your brushes, they cost a lot of money!!! Rinse your brushes frequently in cool clean water. Change your water Often!!!
Clean your brushes immediately after use, try not to let the paint dry onto your brush. Try not to get the paint to high up on the bristles. When this happens the paint gets up into the ferrule of the brush and it becomes impossible to get it out.
Always clean your brushes with the appropriate cleaner. Read the instructions on the media you are using for the manufacturer's preference. For water based paints I use a product called J.W.s Formula II Cream Brush Cleaner to clean my brushes with. (It is kind of spendy for the amount that you get.) You can also use Ivory dish soap to clean your brushes. (It is a little less spendy.)
Always clean your brushes by working the paint out from the ferrule to the tip of the bristles. After you have cleaned your brushes reshape them to there original shape until the next use. (I have heard of some that spray the bristles with a light coat of hair spray to keep the shape of the bristles till the next use. I have not tried this yet so am undecided.)
I hang my brushes up to dry by the handle so that the water can throughly drain out of the brush. I have made a little mini clothes line for them out of a couple nails and a piece of yarn. Then I hang them up with little clothes pins. It works great.
The best way to store your brushes is lying flat or standing upright on there handles, after they have throughly dried. (I have seen those cute little roll ups they have out now, but I would think it would harm the bristles of the brush when you roll them up. I am against them.)
Most importantly remember that your painting is only as good as your brushes!!!!
TIPS
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