Artist’s Tools

Brushes, Brushes

and more Brushes

Unusual Tools - Husks to Noodles

Chairmakers use spokeshaves and drawknives to create. Weavers use shuttles and heddles to create. Artists use brushes and palette knives to create. All are creative tools requiring time to develop skill and technique.

For some artists, skill and technique is learned quickly; for some it seems to be almost innate. For others it takes years and years of showing up in the studio and practicing over and over again. For me it has been a journey of both innate and practice.

As a young child, I remember chunky preschool crayons as extensions of my playful fingers. They danced the crayon across classroom paper without self doubt or judgement; just pure joy of color and movement. Now my fingers hold finely made paint brushes over professional grade substrates while pushing, pulling or scraping color attempting to reclaim that same preschooler spontaneity.

I have drawers and jars of used and unused brushes, tin cans of dried woodland and garden debris, and cups of odds and ends used for mark-making. Allowing myself in an art supply store and even a hardware store can be a very costly adventure.

I remember about 30 years ago on a shopping day in Chicago I discovered Aiko, a Japanese store of paper, pens, ink and brushes. I purchased my first professionally handmade calligraphy-style brush. It was the most expensive art tool I had purchased up to that time. It held what seemed like a gallon of water and pigment. It felt magical in my hand. Unfortunately, Aiko closed their doors in 2008. My magical brush lasted until about 2017. I salvaged less than half of the bristles and haphazardly attached them to a dowel. I rarely use it anymore (a tear is rolling down my cheek as I write this). Had I cared for the brush properly I might still been using it today. Apparently I continue to learn my lessons the hard way.