Why Every Artist Needs Both Paintbrushes and Painting Knives

So many times, when artists are starting out, they may opt to forego certain painting tools to save a dollar here or there. Now granted, there are occasions where that can work. Artists don't NEED 25 brushes to produce confident, compelling works of art. It can be more fun with a glorious table full of art supplies (such as watercolor pencils or fancy paint pens), but again, it’s not a must. However, some power pairings can make any artist's working life better. One that artists often overlook is simply having at least one good artist painting knife in their collection. Yes, even for watercolor painting…you watercolorists aren't getting away that easy.

As we all know, artists' paintbrushes can be daunting to shop for and are often a hefty investment. That's why seeing so many people treat their supplies with very little care is confounding. Being kind, especially to your paint brushes, is not only "penny wise" but also a great way to keep from having to retrain yourself with new materials that had to replace damaged ones. Read our words carefully, and take heed; we are only trying to help!

How You’re Damaging Your Paintbrushes (Without Even Knowing!)

One of the tasks that paint brushes are forced into that is the hardest on them is mixing paint on the palette. Often a couple of very damaging things are happening that can gravely shorten the lifespan of your favorite paintbrush. When mixing large quantities of paint in your artist palette, it is common to use the paintbrush in your hand and start blending volumes of color. What happens is that the brush head gets bent or crushed under the added weight of so much scrubbing. Also, when the brush head becomes overfilled with color, that color can migrate up the brush head and settle at the base of the ferrule. When that paint (oil paint, acrylic paint, even watercolor paint) isn't cleaned out regularly, it can dry, distort the brush head, and compromise the longevity of that brush.

Save Your Brushes; Use a Painting Knife

The best thing you can do for your fine artist brushes is to invest just a couple extra dollars in at least one good painting knife. By leaving the heavy lifting to be done with a painting knife instead of a brush, you lengthen the lifespan of your brushes. The painting knife can mix, move, and relocate large quantities of paint easily and efficiently without damaging a thing. Even using a painting knife to add gesso onto a canvas or paint panel and saving the brush to smooth out the surface will prevent tremendous damage to your brushes that can simply be avoided.

Yes, artist friends…find yourself a really good artist painting knife! Choose a larger knife if you are using heavy body paint, especially in large volumes. A painting knife with a smaller blade will work well for watercolor paint, gouache, or when the paint mixing volume is small. By making this small change to your arsenal of painting tools, you will preserve and extend the life of your favorite artist brushes and we are sure they will thank you.

Find The Best Supplies from Cheap Joe’s

Here at Cheap Joe’s, we simplify your shopping experience by offering all the highest-quality supplies in one place, so you can get back to doing what you really love – creating beautiful artwork! Whether you’re looking for acrylic paints, painting knives, or watercolor paper (Arches Watercolor Pads are an excellent choice!), we guarantee we have what you’re looking for. Shop our extensive selection of paints, papers, and brushes today.