Handmade Art Brushes: how to make them & the marks you can achieve
Vložit
- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- Finding materials and objects that I can use in my painting to make unusual marks can be such fun and I have long admired Lorna Crane's handmade brushes. I also love exploring mark-making. So I thought I would experiment with making my own painting brushes.
In this video, I show you the range of brushes I made recently, the materials I used and how I constructed them... from palm fronds to dried cut grasses, flower heads to bamboo, embroidery thread to salvaged rope. Most of the plant material I gathered from the forest on our farm, but others pieces came from the garden, our firewood pile and the recycle bin!
I think these brushes are objects that have such a beauty in their own right!And it feels satisfying to make brushes that connect to my love of nature when that is the whole focus of my art.
As well as a look at the brushes and their construction, I demonstrate the marks they make and share how I find using them with the paint. If you haven't had a chance before, I hope to encourage you to experiment with making your own brushes. Please let me know how you go and what materials you find most satisfying and maybe even a little surprising (like my lichen!!) :-)
To see work by Lorna Crane, go to: lornacrane.com/
If you enjoyed this video, you may also enjoy these:
Sketchbook - a work in progress • Sketchbook Page - a wo...
The Book of 3 Breaths - An Artist's Book Flip Through • The Book of 3 Breaths ...
How to Make an Artist Book from a Single Sheet • Artist Book Made From ...
You can find me on Instagram / michellewalkerart
this was so interesting. I have made my own brushes & had some surprising results too. I liked what you said about not judging the marks a brush will make before they are made.
@@AngelaScozzari thank you. I appreciate your comment. I’d love to know what you found to use… and what materials you liked most with your brushes?
I love them Alllll. Thanks. 👌‼️♥️ Toom@CapeTown
Thank you Fatoom for your feedback ❤
I enjoyed this.
Thank you Nikki
Personally, I feel the feather gives the most beautifully nuanced line quality. Thanks. Fun.
Yes, agree.
Thanks, that was great!
Thanks Susan, I appreciate your comment!
what a great video, love the multi-brush tool and the potato brush
thank you Joyce, that's great to hear. Yes, aren't they fun?!
@@MichelleWalkerArt yes, I’m going to make one!!
Thank you, really enjoyed the mark making
Thank you Susan - that’s great to know! ☺️
I’m likin’ that lichen!
🤣🤩🥰 thank you, Mary!
Fabulous. Thank you.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Such a terrific video!! I am just wanting to make some brushes & you were so very helpful in showing the marks they make!! I like the drilling into the branch so it will not be something permanent in case it falls apart & we don’t know that until we use it. You got a great many different marks! 😊
Thank you, Cathleen, that’s great feedback. Enjoy your adventures with your handmade brushes!
Those were just beautiful... the brushes themselves are a work of art!!!
Thank you Sharron, that’s great feedback.
Fabulous mark making, thanks for sharing! All of them lined up in the beginning looks so pretty too! Inspired to explore the woods, and make a multi brush tool 🤩
Awesome, thanks Aimee
That was such a lot of fun. I’m inspired to go and make some. They look fabulous as a collection in their own right.
Thank you, Jane and I agree, I love the look of them as objects! ☺️
I create abstracts & I love all these marks. I'm definitely going on a hike & look for materials to make my own mark makers. Thank you for inspiring me!
Wonderful comment. Thank you Amy!
Love what you created with all those good finds,thank you for the inspiration 😍
Thank you for the generous comment 🌿🌸
Interesting video, good ideas.
Thank you, Lynhy. I really appreciate your comments.
Loved this video! I have a nice collection of dry grasses, seed pods, feathers… You really inspired me to start making brushes. I love the idea of the rope & thought maybe splaying the ends a bit might make it really interesting. Thanks for sharing!!
Awesome to hear - I love how good ideas propagate from one artist to another… not sure if I mentioned it in the video but Lorna Crane has beautiful handmade brush ideas too! Enjoy. ☺️
Really enjoyed watching this, I really love mark making, so you have given me more ideas for collecting on my walks
That’s great feedback! Thank you ☺️
So much fun! Txz for the play…! Jeanne
Great to hear, Jeanne!
Felicitaciones Michelle, gracias por compartir tu investigación en nuevos materiales e inspirarnos con tu trabajo. Un abrazo!!
De nada! Besos 😘
Thank you so much. That was very very helpful. I’m looking forward to me next walk to gather materials.
Thanks for your comment, Julia!
Thank you for this wonderful video. I am inspired!
You’re welcome Susan. I’d love to see what you make!
What a wonderful tutorial. Do you sell any of your brushes? I live in the United States
Thank you, Beth, for that feedback. Yes, I sell my handmade brushes. Which style / material were you interested?
individual brushes are between $15 - $35. Postage to the US is about $20-$25. I’d be happy to do you a ‘kit’ of brushes that would bring the overall cost down. Please email me to talk further - michelle@michellewalker.com.au. ☺️
Very interesting!
thank you Sherry :-)
Love the marks you were able to produce! Are a lot of these a single use? I don’t imagine that some of them can be rinsed or washed of the paint.
Thanks for that feedback, Valerie and yes, in some case the materials are too delicate to wash and use repeatedly over the long term but I do get many goes with them before needing to replace. The idea of wedging the material into the handle or using PVA that can be loosened with heat makes that possible.
Hi Michelle - new subscriber here. I'd like to buy your book. What is the cost to mail it to Canada?
Hi there, thank you. Are you interested in getting a copy of my ‘20,000 Brushstrokes’ book?