I've been having some difficulty with my brushes lately. I kept thinking it was me and that I wasn't evolving in my highlighting skills, but I definitely noticed my brushes have lost their initial 'tight' shape. I used to love adding tree and bush highlights with my half size round brush, but now it's not the same. I gave up on my Ross fan brushes a while back as they looked really splayed and the bristled would not stick together no matter how much paint I added. This made painting evergreens excessively frustrating. I ended up buying a pack of other hog hair fan brushes.

I have a small container of the Ross brand conditioner. Does anyone know if this works? I think the bottle states that one can rub a bit of conditioner on the bristles, shape them, and then wash it off in thinner. I was also reading that beating the brushes is notoriously bad for the bristles overall and that it would end up damaging the brush in the long run.

How does everyone keep their brushes in top shape? This is really starting to impact my capabilities to paint. I avoid a lot of ideas for paintings like ones with grassy slopes because I know my two inch brush can't do it anymore.

Thanks!

I must admit I haven't encountered that problem yet. My Ross brushes are rather new and I adore using them. But I also have a small arsenal of other (cheaper) brushes (lots of shapes and sizes) and switch with those whenever I feel the paintings needs it.
For cleaning, I don't slap brushes cause indeed, that could cause a lot of damage, but I use Bob's cleaning rack and soft paper towels. It works for me so I stick to that.

    All brushes play out over time, as bristles get bent and fall out. Ideally, you'd use a brush conditioner after each session and store your brushes hanging, but regardless brushes will wear out. It does help not to "moosh" brushes too hard (to use Steve's term), which will keep the bristles from prematurely fanning out.

      I should probably get the cleaning rack. I put a broom handle inside a 5 gallon bucket and I beat the brushes against that. I've been using these brushes since I began 1.5 years ago so it's no surprise they're so beat! Is there any way to restore them to their former glory? I was considering investing in a new set of brushes and keeping these old ones for blending and such. It would be nice to have 2 sets, using one set exclusively in a delicate manner for highlighting only.

        lightsnow I have a big arsenal of different brushes, unfortunately smaller it is faster it dies. I have that brush conditioner, but do not have access to that. I think 18 months of use is a good life they lived.

        My observations: if only odorless paint thinner used for cleaning it does not clean out all the residual paint. So I do use baby oil after paint thinner to remove the rest of the paint. Here we need to remember chemistry lesson from school days: similar dissolves similar. Thus oil cleaning for oil paint I really believe is the best. After cleaning with baby oil I squeeze residue form it and shape the brush. I keep it with a little sheen of oil in the bristles. I rinse it in solvent before painting if needed.
        Also paint thinner takes that oil out and dries bristles too much. That's why I think some oil still need to be returned back.

        Another trick you may want to try to restore brushes: get turpentine (real stuff made from evergreens) soak your brushes overnight. Do not cover ferrule. Wash it with turp from overnight. Squeeze well. Dry with old towel. Now use a soap for washing, not the one for hands cleaning. Wash it with warm water twice or three times. It will help to remove some more paint from bristles that got softened by overnight soaking. Then use paper towel or foil and wrap brush and fix it in the shape you need. Let it dry. It should help to some degree. You may experiment to add a drop of baby oil and distribute it well in bristles before packing them in towel or in foil for drying.

          Also cleaning with baby oil is time consuming. But because i will not be able to buy BR brushes in Russia this is my way to extend their life.

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