Pastel pencil on black card by Kerryanne English Pastel pencil on black card by Kerryanne EnglishBUT.... to be completely honest, I do it all the time.
Not on purpose of course. What you have to imagine, especially in the class situation, you have in front of you the project you are working on, the water tub, palette, paints, brushes and any other painting paraphernalia you might need. Add to the mix a cuppa of some kind and it is pretty easy to accidentally wash your brush in your hot beverage.
Usually one is aware of it as soon as you reload your brush, but I know there have been occasions when I have kept painting.... and drinking my hot drink for the matter.
Okay, now that I have divulged this useless information I may as well fess up to another dirty secret with regard to my brushes. I have some very special and ridiculously expensive liner brushes. I use them only for specific projects and look after them with extreme care - they did almost cost me an arm and a leg after all. When I finish painting with them I suck them and reshape them.... I assume you are all going eewwww right about now. Sounds putrid I know, but this is a habit I picked up from a highly regarded calligraphy/ticket writing teacher years ago. Sucking round brushes into shape is more effective then using your hand plus the saliva hardens and keeps them that way. Next time you use your brush you just give it a really good wash first and you're right to go. My brushes have lasted well - I still have ancient brushes from the 80's... probably older than many of you!
While dipping brushes in hot drinks, then drinking said beverage and cleaning brushes in one's mouth is not recommended, it certainly doesn't have any ill effect on your brushes or you. Hhmmm.... that is not a scientific fact just research on my part. I'm seem to be okay and have been painting in some shape or form for 28 years.
Lots happening in the studio this week; some annoying hiccups with software packages for the new computer have slowed down my upload process of the latest patterns to the website, but I think we have that rectified now... SO IT'S ALL SYSTEMS GO!!
For all the other news from the studio you can check out my latest newsletter here.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne