What is the best way to use a paintbrush?

If you have a new brush, work the bristles back and forth in your hand to remove the loose bristles and to soften the bristle tips. Once you have prepped the area you plan to paint and set out your paint can on some newspaper, dip your brush’s bristles halfway into the paint. Draw the brush out of the paint and lightly wipe one side of the brush on the inner rim of the paint can; you want your brush to be filled with paint but not overloaded.

 

Start at the top of the area you are painting and work your way down, holding the brush with a comfortable grip. Usually, you can hold a large brush most easily with a palm grip and a small brush with just your thumb and index finger. Try to hold your brush at a forty-five degree angle (this angle will maximize the surface area of your bristles on the wall), and do not paint using the side edge of the brush. 

 

Use long, even strokes, and if you are painting wood, make sure you follow the grain. Thin out the edges as you go, and for detailed work, such as moldings and windows, use only the tip of the brush; these areas do not require as much paint as a flat surface does. 

 

Refill your brush when the paint comes off too thin, and return to the spot you just left. Some experts recommend starting in wet (previously painted) areas while other experts suggest going from dry to wet areas. You don’t want to make wet areas too thick, however, so it is probably simpler to go from dry to wet. In addition, from time to time, press both sides of the brush against an unpainted area; this practice will remove excess paint from your brush.