How to Clean Paint Brushes..fun? NOT

OK - I admit that for me, cleaning brushes ranks right up there with flossing and going to the gym - I do it because I know it's a good thing to do, but fun? not so much. But, for the most part, the better care you take of your brushes the longer they'll last and better they'll perform. (Be sure to read to then end where I will negate all my good pointers and give you permission NOT to clean your brushes!)

This is what I cover with my class:
1. Before you leave your studio, wipe/squeeze off as much paint from the brush as you can with a rag. Don't skip this step - it makes all the rest much easier and faster!

2. Rinse brush...in water for acrylic paint, or use mineral spirits/other thinner for oil paint. With rag, again squeeze paint out from ferrule towards end of brush.

3. Clean brush with 'soap'. You won't believe the amount of paint still in your brush. (Some painters like to use plain ol' clear dish detergent with lanolin. I use The Master's brush cleaner and preserver but there are many other products out there. I buy the big studio size tub and it lasts years; keeps my brushes from drying out. Experiment until you find what's right for you.)

So - to clean with the soap..........
a) wet brush with tepid water then swipe it across the soap several times, building up a little lather.

b) stroke the brush back and forth against your open palm to work out the paint, gently pushing down, bending the bristles slightly at the ferrule (metal) in each direction. If working with oil paint, use a glove.

c) After several passes, rinse thoroughly with tepid water; squeeze the soap and water out of the bristles, pinching with your thumb and index finger.

Repeat a-c process until you get the paint out of the bristles and ferrule. FUN?

Now - your reward for reading through all of this: I know some VERY FAMOUS painters who totally ignore this advice. I've seen their brushes in their studio - standing in cans of paint, laying around with old paint on them...getting stiff like wire brushes. And it works for them. They (a) have a very loose style and don't mind the scratchy strokes in their work.....and/or (b) can afford to buy lots of brushes!

So - find your path. It doesn't matter how you do it, just do!