Cleaning brushes and keeping the point

So how do you maintain your kolinsky or other natural fibre watercolour brushes?
 
Due to the price of these brushes, we often treat them as our "most prized possession". I don't recall getting any instructions when I bought them.
 
When we paint, particles of the paint accumulates at the base of the brush. This pushes the hair brushes apart and affects the quality of the point we so enjoy.  That's why it's important to keep the brush clean.
 
To clean these delicate brushes, avoid strong soap which may damage the hairs and remove the natural oils.  It is suggested that you, using mild soap and cool or warm water, swirl the soapy brush in the palm of your hand and rinse. Don't forget to rinse until the soap and water runs clear. 
 
Here is the soap I use:

One other caution is to monitor the water temperature. Some believe that hot water may cause any remaining paint to clot in the hairs of the brush.

 

Once rinsed, it's time to consider reshaping the brush heads to have the point.  Now there are a lot of varying advice on this, here are some of them:

• rest brush with the bristles facing upwards to dry off.
• use your saliva to shape the bristle - careful with cadmium paints which are toxic
• tap or flick the brush on one finger recreate to force the point. This is my favourite option.

Here are a few things to avoid

• leaving them in the water with the hair end;
• using your brush with acrylic paints or inks;
• using them from scrubbing;
• dipping the ferrule of your brush into water;
• allowing your brush to dry out with paint in the tuft. 

This week's artist find is Spencer Meagher.  This is an acrylic painting abd I love the subtle changes in values and the limited palette.

 

Have a great week

Danielle