Saving the brushes or how to use wax to decorate ceramics

So you went and fell head over heels for the wax resist technique. No niin. And how many brushes have you thrown in the trash bin because of this? Are you already clenching your teeth? Don't worry, this blog will save the day.

The reason wax ruins brushes is because it can't be washed off. The wax gets stuck into the bristles, glues them together into one hard lump, and before long, you can't do anything with it. Next time, do this:

Pour some dishwashing liquid or hand soap into a separate container. Dip the brush in the soap, wipe off the excess on a paper towel so that the brush does not drip soap but looks as if it was just used for painting. The soap creates a protective film on the bristles and you can now use the brush in wax techniques. I recommend that you put the wax from the jar into a small bowl or plate and close the wax jar itself and put it back on the shelf. This way you won't get a small amount of soap in the jar and won't accidentally knock the jar over. When you are done, wipe the brush clean with paper and then wash it with warm water. Dry it horizontally, never vertically, so that no water remains under the metal ferrule. Water that remains in the ferrule will rust the metal and melt the glue that holds the bristles in place.

This tip also applies to watercolor painting, with the difference that the wax that is torn off should be removed relatively quickly. If you leave it until the next day, the wax will tear away the paper with it because it has had time to absorb deeply into the paper fibers.

I hope you try this the next time you wax your ceramics. You won't be disappointed, even though it may sound a little strange. Let's save your brushes from being premature trash!

P