Brushes

[Michele Rushworth]

I'd be concerned about cleaning my brushes with any substance that I didn't want to have incorporated in the painting later. It might be nearly impossible to wash strange solvents and oils out of brushes, and who knows what those chemicals will do in an oil painting that we want to last a long time? I just use mineral spirits and nothing else.

[Allan Rahbek]

Hi Michele.

I am not sure if you refer to me. But if it is so, then there will be no chemicals left over. Just some water, if you are fast.

Highly relevant, by the way.
Allan

[Elizabeth Schott]

Matthew,

I have found that I am extremely hard on my brushes.

The Trekell Hog Bristle's spread out really quick for me.

I wear my sables down to a stub and I can actually hurt a Ruby Satin synthetic too.

My favorites are the Winsor & Newton Monarch Mongoose, here is a link: Monarch Mongoose

These are synthetic too, and tend to be a little softer than the ones mentioned above, but they really hold there shape the best for me.

See you are not alone - I have actually used a pair of hair stylist scissors to trim brushes back to shape.

I know there are tons of suggestions on the care of brushes here. One piece of advise I can give you - if you are mixing the color you need with your brush vs a knife, this can really do them in. Get a good, to a point shape palette knife for this, your brushes will love you.