Lay the brush flat on a towel or hang it vertically to dry; never store a brush horizontally or standing upright, as water will seep into the ferrule and cause the wood handle to crack or the glue to fail. Linseed and walnut oils cure into a tough film when exposed to air, a process accelerated by the pigments in your palette.
How to Prevent Brush Drying During Oil Painting Cleanup
The Science of Dried Oil Understanding why oil paint is difficult to remove provides motivation for thorough cleaning. Work the bristles vigorously, ensuring the soap reaches the ferrule where old paint often accumulates and causes bristle shedding.
Gently squeeze out the excess water, reshaping the tip of the bristles with your fingers to maintain the original point. Synthetic bristles, while more durable, can develop a brittle surface if the oil penetrates too deeply.
How to Properly Dry Oil Paint Brushes to Prevent Drying and Damage
The soap traps the pigment and oil, allowing them to be rinsed away with water without re-depositing onto the brush. Rotate the brush constantly and replace the towel frequently; a towel saturated with oil and pigment is ineffective and will only smear the mess back onto the brush.
More About How to clean oil paint brushes
Looking at How to clean oil paint brushes from another angle can help expand the discussion and give readers a second clear paragraph under the same section.
More perspective on How to clean oil paint brushes can make the topic easier to follow by connecting earlier points with a few simple takeaways.
