Protecting Brushes on Location

One of the more common problems you can run into when painting on location is damaged brush tips. There are different types of brush cases you can use when travelling outside the studio. However, I have found many of these do not protect the brush's bristles effectively. 

Tac in a Box

A solution I have been using for almost a decade now is with a lidded box and two rows of sticky tac. Find a metal or plastic pencil box big enough to fit the brushes you use. I prefer the hinged types. Place two rows of sticky tac across the inside of the box. You can do this with both the bottom and top lid if space allows. Make sure the top row of sticky tac is placed where the ferrules, the metal part of the brushes, will adhere. With the second row positioned closer to the end of the brush handles. Add your brushes as required.   

The Right Way to Dry Your Brushes

This method of brush storage has one very big advantage over most other brush carriers. When you have finished painting, cleaned your brushes, and put them back in, the box can be placed in your bag or backpack, with the brush tips pointing down to dry. Brushes should always be dried tips facing down, now you can do it when on location.

Test Things First

As with anything, always test the brushes and other implements you will be using. Various brands of sticky tac have different adhesive strengths. Some won't hold at all! I use UHU brand tac as it stays malleable and has good holding strength. Additionally, different materials adhere with varying degrees of strength. Some plastics can stick quite strongly to the tac, making them harder to remove. With wooden-handled paintbrushes, be careful of ones with cracked enamel on the handle as the sticky tac could lift it off. 

Organizational Advantages

Besides all the benefits mentioned, this provides great organization and easy storage. I keep most of my brushes this way, some are stored by type. For example, the far right set of brushes below are all squirrel or synthetic sqirrel hair. The far left box I bring for my workshop students.

A simple solution that gives convenience, protection and longer life to your brushes.