Jan 26 2008
Perils of Using Cheap Brushes on Watercolor Canvas Sheets
I am experimenting with watercolor canvas sheets and after this morning’s scrubbing off color experiment, I decided to create my seascape using my watercolor crayons (by Staedtler) on one.
I laid in color just as if I were coloring on a sheet of paper - they are fun - it reminds me of when I was a kid and everyone was always upset with me because I ALWAYS colored outside the lines - it was fun then and still is 
I then used a cheap brush - mop if you are interested - to spread water all over the sheet.
I’m sure we all have them in our studio for one reason or another … this particular one is from a set packaged in with something else I bought … I expected it to shed and shred with any kind of use but I wanted to find out if it would leave patterns in the watercolor on the canvas sheets. What I found out is that some of those shed hairs appear to be embedded and are not coming off … easily if they will at all. It is not quite completely dry yet but even with trying to pry one off while damp - it did not budge.
I may have found a reason to have to throw away a watercolor canvas sheet if:
1. I cannot get the hair off
2. I ruin it trying to force it off
3. I do not like the look if permanently attached.
I’ll see later after it is completely dry and try to remove the few that are stuck.
My best advice, don’t use cheap brushes … the good ones will shed a bit every once in awhile but not like this - this brush shed more (and faster) than my fuzzy furry dog!
