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