Here is one of my favorite paint brushes.
Well, former favorite brushes, I should say.
It’s actually been rather irritating lately. But in the past years, we’ve been through a lot together. Just about a year ago, in fact, this brush was doing amazing work on a rather large project.
I completely relied upon this brush, and it lived up to the task; responsive, soft, flexible. I could load on the thick oil paint, and this brush always smoothed things out just how I wanted it.
But not any more.
Time has passed, and it’s grown crusty.
Stiff. Uncompromising. Unhelpful.
This brush became so irksome that I wanted to cast it aside and forget about it. Give up on it.
But the truth is, I still need it. I love it.
So I decided to give it one last try. After a quick soak in solvent, I turned on the warm water, and started in with the soap. Just some hot water and a bar of regular soap.
And an hour of my time.
Gently, patiently, I dabbed and pressed and painted on the bar of soap until the old crustiness began to melt right out of this beautiful brush. I could not believe how much red oil paint was still stuck within the bristles! No wonder it had been so ill-behaved! Warm water, soap, dab, brush, rinse. Warm water, soap, dab, brush, rinse. Warm water, soap…
And persistent gentleness.
What if I treated other people with the same care and concern that I reserve for my paintbrushes? What if every crusty, irritating person was gently soothed with warm water and soap? What if I was willing to spend an hour with each grump, gently soothing away thier crustiness?
What if?
You will be happy to know that my old brush is in perfect shape now.
No crustiness. No stiffness, no wounds.
It is pure and soft and gentle. It's been restored.
Well, former favorite brushes, I should say.
It’s actually been rather irritating lately. But in the past years, we’ve been through a lot together. Just about a year ago, in fact, this brush was doing amazing work on a rather large project.
I completely relied upon this brush, and it lived up to the task; responsive, soft, flexible. I could load on the thick oil paint, and this brush always smoothed things out just how I wanted it.
But not any more.
Time has passed, and it’s grown crusty.
Stiff. Uncompromising. Unhelpful.
This brush became so irksome that I wanted to cast it aside and forget about it. Give up on it.
But the truth is, I still need it. I love it.
So I decided to give it one last try. After a quick soak in solvent, I turned on the warm water, and started in with the soap. Just some hot water and a bar of regular soap.
And an hour of my time.
Gently, patiently, I dabbed and pressed and painted on the bar of soap until the old crustiness began to melt right out of this beautiful brush. I could not believe how much red oil paint was still stuck within the bristles! No wonder it had been so ill-behaved! Warm water, soap, dab, brush, rinse. Warm water, soap, dab, brush, rinse. Warm water, soap…
And persistent gentleness.
What if I treated other people with the same care and concern that I reserve for my paintbrushes? What if every crusty, irritating person was gently soothed with warm water and soap? What if I was willing to spend an hour with each grump, gently soothing away thier crustiness?
What if?
You will be happy to know that my old brush is in perfect shape now.
No crustiness. No stiffness, no wounds.
It is pure and soft and gentle. It's been restored.
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