Liner Brush
by Sharon Wolf
Rule: i.e. for stamens, start the stroke at the ‘root’ and finish it at the
tip! I usually find it easier to pull my strokes towards me, so
therefore when painting stamens I turn my work upside down and
work from the centre out.
The logic of this that when you start a stroke there is more paint on
the bristles than when you finish it, therefore the tip will be even
finer as you will have used some of the paint up. (In Chinese brush
painting is it because that is the way the plant or tree grows - from
the ground up - Ed)
Frequently used for fine line work, stems, veins, scrolls, dots etc.
Mix an inky (with water) puddle of paint and load this at least 2 thirds of the way up the
bristles. Imagine there are 10 sides to the brush and that you need to load all of these fully. I
find it easier not to twist the bristles into a spiral – just turn the brush through the paint instead.
Before you begin to stroke, look at the ferrule (metal part of brush) and make sure there is not a
nasty water drip ready to run down and flood/dilute/ruin your stroke. I usually just pinch it off
with finger and thumb or you could use a tissue.
For very very fine lines, such as eyelashes, I have a piece of paper towel that I have dampened
with water in one area. After loading the brush in the way described, touch the tip of the liner
brush onto the damp area (no pressure) and you will find the tip will get sharper – more pointed,
you may do this two or three times. Test it first on a scrap of paper before working on your
project.
Each time you need to re-load the brush, use the same procedure.
This may be stating the obvious, but look at the bristles before even thinking about touching
your work. Know what is going to happen! Yes we can always erase or refine our work but it
is so much easier to get it right first time……..
When using the liner brush, try not to put any pressure at all on the bristles, think of touching
your surface with just one hair. For long fine strokes you will find it impossible if your wrist is
clamped on the table as the movement should come from the whole arm and I use my little
finger to help me balance. My little finger touches the surface before the bristles do. If you
find it really hard to get your arm off the table, try painting fine lines standing up! For short
fine lines it is fine to have your wrist clamped to the table.
I also sometimes use a liner brush for small comma strokes. I thin the paint if necessary with a
little water but not very much; start the stroke by applying pressure and bending the tips of the
bristles. Without stopping, release pressure and pull the brush back and finish on the tip. I use
a liner brush for tiny leaves in this way too but they would be a much shorter stroke.
Have confidence when you paint with a liner brush, be flamboyant with your strokes and go for
it!