keep the point on your brushes

tonypalmer (5/30/2015)

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tip read somewhere, & it works massage hair conditioner into your brush & manipulate to a point then you have a pointy brush next day

I tried that once and it ruined the brush and made the watercolour paint cloudy, presumably from the residual hair conditioner in the brush, even although I thought I had rinsed it really well. The best way to retain a point on a brush is to buy the right brush. I use Escoda Reserva brushes and they keep their points forever. Brilliant brushes.

Not really had this problem, the vast majority of my brushes are between 15 & 20 years old ( ABS & Rosemary's) and have worn wonderfully. Their points are still good even after all these years and painting. I just rinse well and shake them back into a point. I agree hair conditioner can be difficult to wash out, friends have tried it.

I have used it - about once a year (not that I'm a heavy user of watercolour brushes, be it said, certainly not of valuable sables) I used to wash out my best brushes, the sables and squirrels, with shampoo and a bit of conditioner. I then rinsed them very thoroughly in cold water, and had no trouble. But - some years ago, I stopped using shampoo and hair conditioner, because I have a lot of hair, kindly described by my mother as "straight as a yard of pump-water", and the shampoo reduced it to a floppy slick over which I had no control at all, while the conditioner at least made it stay back but was making my scalp itch. So I switched to plain household soap, treat my brushes the same way, and I can't say I've noticed any difference in pointing or general quality - the important thing seems to be to rinse out any soap at all from the brush, and yes, to shake it dry and leave the brush to dry naturally - never try to speed up the process, other than by running the damp brush over a piece of kitchen roll to take out excess water. I think the quality of the brush is the important thing - and perhaps replacing them, at least for fine work, when they get old and tired. One of my favourite brushes isn't hair at all - it's a Dalon flat, which seems to be almost infinitely flexible, and was used by another artist, now deceased, before it was passed on to me. It doesn't point, of course: but a Dalon rigger, acquired at the same time, does, and though showing its age is still capable of producing a fine line. (I'm sure Alan Owen could tell us a lot more about brush care - he's been painting in watercolour for over 60 years.) My hair, you will be happy to hear, remains plentiful, if not entirely the colour it was when I was in my first fine flush.

I used to use only Pro Arte brushes but a few years ago I came across Jackson's Own Brand Studio Synthetic brushes and I was so impressed with them, I changed all of the watercolour ones I was working with. They have been treated with a certain process which vastly enhances their ability to hold water, close to that of sable. With the added usefulness that, no matter what size you are using, the round ones point beautifully every time, and unlike sable brushes, don't eventually wear their points away, mine have lasted for years. They are very reasonable in price and no I don't work for Jacksons, but I do heartily recommend them. You find them here: Studio Synthetic Brushes John