Weekly BobBlast Issue 538

Tools of the Trade, Part Two - Brushes

Welcome Back to Another BobBlast!

This week’s BobBlast is the second part of a series we are calling “Tools of the Trade”. Over the next few weeks, we will feature the different tools that work for me in my studio. You can expect to see BobBlasts on paint, brushes, drawing materials, art-making tools and whatever else we feel like doing! This BobBlast is all about Brushes.

For me, a brush is a stick to push paint around. Knowing which stick to use could be helpful in getting the results you are looking for. For example, the difference between natural and synthetic brushes are:

Synthetic

•Holds less pigment

•Machine made

•Brush hairs are smooth

Natural

•Holds more water and pigment

•Less back and forth to the painting palette  

•Beautiful results with watercolors

The softer hair brushes, like mops (usually rabbit or sable) hold a lot of water and color. Soft brushes are ideal for washes and even fine-line painting. And the stiffer brushes work great with heavy body acrylics, like Holbein’s Artist Acrylic Paint.

When I'm painting with acrylics, I use many different kinds of brushes. My preference are blends of natural and synthetic hairs. They are more rugged, they take a beating and hold more paint than other brushes. I don’t treat my brushes delicately—I use them as workhorses. They do a lot of pushing and scrumbling. I use my brushes as tools for moving around heavy body acrylic paint, inks and fluids.

For a brief explanation of artist brushes, I refer to the one page in the Cheap Joe’s Catalog—Joe Knows Brushes. It’s the best chart I have found. Click here to view the PDF.

Bigger Brush vs Skinny Brush—My paintings are stronger when I paint with a bigger brush. Tiny or skinny brushes tend to make me paint tighter. I am less expressive. Besides, I really enjoy the expressive, swash-buckling, big brushes movements when I paint!

Loosening Up—I make my brush handles fatter because it is easier to hold for a long period of time. I make the skinny brush handles fatter with lots of electrician’s tape wound around the end. I modify the now-fatter end with twigs, foam and aluminum foil. Refer to my previous BobBlasts on brushes. Go to the archives by clicking here and scroll to BobBlast number 184, 357 and 444.

Clean your brushes well. That way they will last a long time. I use The Masters Brush Cleaner. It’s environmentally friendly. I also use Murphy Oil Soap and CitraSolv. Establish a good end-of-the-day routine in your studio.

I own a lot of brushes! How many do I normally paint with? Two or Three favorites… but that won’t stop me from adding more to my painting Tool Kit!

Online Monthly Demos

•November 14, 2024

“Painting Stemware Glasses”

•December 11, 2024

“Using Neutrals in your Paintings”

Click here for more info and 2025 Demos!

Online Workshops Coming Up!

•November 16-17, 2024

Small Scale Abstract Painting

Click here for more info

•November 21, 2024

Painting the Illusion of Glass Vessels

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And… an Online Figure Workshop!

•December 6-8, 2024

"Drawing & Painting the Figure with Motion & Emotion"

Featuring the Model Pash

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Traveling Bob – In-Person Workshops!

•January 6-10, 2025

Abstract Acrylic Painting & Collage

Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, AZ

Sponsored by Madeline Island School of the Arts

contact 715-747-2054 or misa@madelineschool.com

Click here for more info

•January 18-25, 2025

Tropical Paint-Cation! Loosen Up Painting Retreat in Mexico

Casa de Los Artistas

Boca de Tomatlan, 10 miles South of Puerto Vallarta 

Contact Robert Masla, (413) 335-4295

Click here to register and for more info

Bob made a cool video with a demo—Click here!

Burridge Online Coaching

• Private one-on-one

Critiques • Coaching • Comments • Strategies

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Paint with Bob in his Studio in Arroyo Grande, California!

Mentor, 5-day Instructional, Figure Painting and One-on-One Workshops

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Contact Kate@robertburridge.com for questions.

2024

•October 28-November 1, 2024 SOLD OUT

Loosen Up Painting Retreat & a Gallery Show at GOH

Gallery of Hermosa, Hermosa Beach, CA

Contact (323) 364-6606 or info@galleryofhermosa.com

Click here for more info

•November 14, 2024

Bob’s Monthly Demo - ONLINE DEMO

“Painting Stemware Glasses”

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•November 16-17, 2024

Small Scale Abstract Painting - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•November 21, 2024

Painting the Illusion of Glass Vessels - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•December 6-8, 2024

Drawing & Painting the Figure with Motion and Emotion -ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•December 11, 2024

Bob’s Monthly Demo - ONLINE DEMO

“Using Neutrals in your Paintings”

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•December 14-15, 2024

Painting Figures without Painting Figures - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•December 16, 2024

Abstract Florals from Loose Colorful Splatters - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

2025

•January 6-10, 2025

Abstract Acrylic Painting & Collage

Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, AZ

Sponsored by Madeline Island School of the Arts

contact 715-747-2054 or misa@madelineschool.com

Click here for more info

•January 14, 2025

Bob’s Monthly Demo - ONLINE DEMO

“How to Paint with Acrylic Inks”

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•January 18-25, 2025

Tropical Escapaint! 

Loosen Up Painting Retreat in Mexico

Casa de Los Artistas

Boca de Tomatlan, 10 miles South of Puerto Vallarta 

Contact Robert Masla, (413) 335-4295

Click here for more info

•January 30, 2025

Loose Figures in an Abstract Painting - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•February 14, 2025

Bob’s Monthly Demo - ONLINE DEMO

“Diptychs and other Multiples”

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•February 25, 2025

Painting Light & Shadow - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•March 1-2, 2025

Painting with Dry Pigments, Chalks & Powders - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

Entire 2025 Workshop Schedule — click here!

Hope you have enjoyed these short, weekly blasts!

Sign up on my website and keep watching. There are lots of them!

Click HERE to view BobBlast Issue 538 video!

Tools of the Trade, Part Two - Brushes

Weekly BobBlast 538 - Video run time 12 minutes, 29 seconds

Remember!

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Loosen Up Workshop Notes

Goof-Proof Travel Color Wheel

3 Essential Art Studio and Plein Air Guides

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eWorkbook, Travel Color Wheel 

and a set of 3 Studio Guides!

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To read about Bob's studio practices, intentions, and painting tips, check out his 

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For more info about Bob's Workshop Schedule click here.