Making your own paintbrushes will allow you to create brushes with a wide range of different qualities to your brushstrokes.Paintbrushes can be made from a wide variety of different materials, many of which you already have around your house or yard, and which will create different effects in your painting.Making the brushes can be a fun craft project for aspiring young artists.The instructions will show you how to make your own paintbrushes.
Step 1: The bristle materials should be gathered.
Pick out the materials you want to make your brush out of.You can use any material that will hold paint.You can use hair from a horse's mane or tail, human hair, or other animal hair at sporting good stores for fly-tying.Plants such as tree needles, grasses, or straw work well.yucca or cattail stems can be shredded to create bristles.You can use household items such as pieces of foam, cardboard, cotton clumps, shredded strips of cloth and broom bristles.Craft materials like yarn, pom poms, or crepe paper can be used as bristles.
Step 2: Pick a handle.
You can use sticks from the yard, bamboo, tongue depressors, or a yardstick to make your brush handle.Doweling can be used for a more professional look.If you have long fibers for your bristles, you can use a plastic straw to pull them through.If you are using small items like pom poms or cosmetic wedges for the head of your brush, or if you aren't concerned about it being precise or lasting a long time, a quick shortcut is to just clip the brush material into clothes pins.This approach is great for young children.
Step 3: You can choose binding materials.
To make sure your brush holds together, you'll need to pick a material.There is a binding material to wrap around the bristles.For a long lasting brush, use waterproof glue.You can use string, twine, elastic, rubber bands, or wire for binding the bristles to the handle.
Step 4: Put the glue on.
The glue should be placed around the bottom of the stick.If you don't want to create a long- lasting brush, you can just affix your bristles with your binding material.
Step 5: You should apply your bristles.
You can cover the end of your handle with your bristle materials.You can change the thickness of your brush by applying more or less bristle material.
Step 6: Make sure your bristles are in place.
Tie string, twine, or other binding material around the bristles.If you are not using glue, make sure the binding is tight.Adding more glue over the top of your binding will make your brush stronger.
Step 7: Let the glue dry.
Depending on your glue and how much you used, the amount of time needed for this will vary.If you're unsure, follow the instructions that came with your glue.
Step 8: The bristles should be cut and shaped.
You can cut the bristles to the length and shape you want.You should keep about 1–2 inches in length.Depending on how thick you want your brushstrokes to be, the width will be different.The bristles come to something of a point if you cut them around the outside a little shorter.