Unwrapping The Brushes
The bristles may feel stiff at first, as they have been treated to protect them during transportation. Simply massage the bristles gently for 5-10 seconds between your thumb and forefinger to return the brushes to their natural soft and flexible state.
Preparing The Brushes For Use
Before you start using the new brushes, always thoroughly rinse them under cool water, to remove excess protective glue to loosen the hair. Occasionally moulting or shedding hairs from a new brush might happen, and it is a normal process for atural hairs.
Even though we "wet test" your brushes for you, there is no way we can perform the settling in period you will Getting Started with Your New Brushes endure. Once the brush is broken in and following a few painting sessions the moulting will stop.
How To Dramatically Increase The Lifespan Of Your Brushes
Simply clean your brushes thoroughly after each session! We recommend cleaning brushes at the end of your painting session or immediately after using fast-drying acrylics.
- Watercolour - Always rinse watercolor brushes in running water after painting, ensure paint is removed from the metal ferrule.
- Acrylic - When using heavier pigments such as gouache or acrylic, knead the acrylic paint brushes gently with soap, using your thumb and forefinger, starting at the base of the ferrule, to remove buildup.
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Oil - After removing excess paint with newspaper, rinse the oil paint brushes with solvent, such as turpentine or a less harmful substitutes such as Turpenoid, or citric oil paint dilutant and brush cleaner (Zest-it), and wipe on a dry rag. Then wash bristles under warm water, gently rubbing them with hand soap in the palm of your hand.
After rinsing brushes in cool water, reshape the tips by drawing them over your palm. Brushes should be dry before storing in a closed container to prevent mildew, and positioned brush-side up or lying flat when not in use.
After rinsing brushes in cool water, reshape the tips by drawing them over your palm. Brushes should be dry before storing in a closed container to prevent mildew, and positioned brush-side up or lying flat when not in use. I hope you enjoy painting with your new ZenArt Supplies fine art brushes!
Happy Painting!