Brushes, ContinuedShapingbrushesAfter cleaning, you should shape the bristles of the brush into their originalshape. If you do not, the bristles will dry curled and the brush will no longerwork well. With your fingers, gently shape the brush so that each bristleholds together and forms a tip. Place brushes in a drying or storing rack.Storage Store brushes in a clean condition and never allow a brush to dry or rest onits bristles. Place brushes bristles up in a glass or in a mug. Use a brushholder to store brushes when they are not in use or after cleaning. Do notallow pressure on brush bristles to curl the bristle. Store brushes in anenclosed area to minimize airborne contaminants and dust.Figure 1-17 shows correctly stored brushes.Figure 1-17.—Correctly stored brushes.Storing oilbrushesIf you use both water- and oil-based pigments, dedicate a set of brushes foroil-based pigment only. Once you use a set of brushes in oil pigment, theymay retain residue oils that could ruin watercolor. Brushes used inwatercolor, then used for oil-based pigment, may release water droplets thatsit on the oil paint surface and retard drying. After cleaning oil-dedicatedbrushes and before storing them, add a drop of oil to the bristles. This keepsthe bristles pliable and lessens the effects of harsh cleaning solvents.1-30
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