Saturday 23 March 2013

Day 380- The First Paint Brush



This was the 1st paint brush I made. The 1st modern paintbrush, I mean. I had done some handmade brushes for my tribal house before but they were quite different.

I took these pictures before I cut off the end to show that I had used a toothpick. The bristles were made from the feathers of a feather duster. The rest were all painted.


 I wasn't very happy with it because it was too big. It was also quite a pain to make. So I decided  to shave pencils instead after this 1st attempt. 


Little did I know that shaving pencils was worse.  First, I had to slice the toothpicks into 12 parts due to the extra small scale. Next, there was the sharpening of the tips. Then I painted the bottom black and then the tips with all the different colours. 

After all that effort, the pencils stop being mere pencils. They became little precious stones such that when I accidentally tipped the cup over,  I went to great lengths to find each and every one of them. 


What of my first paintbrush? I have made quite a few since but this one, I must have dropped it somewhere. As at the time of writing this post, I only have these photos to show for and to remind me of how that first one was like. 

31 comments:

The Old Maid said...

I know you think it is not the best example, dear Sam, but to me this paint brush looks like it had a great life painting lots of beautiful pictures and no matter it's "handle" I am sure it painted a lot of nature, skies perhaps?

I am still amazed with your colourful pencils!:)I wouldn't have any patience to make them myself! ;)

Hugs and kisses

Margriet said...

The paintbrush looks just like the ones I use, very beaten up and never totally cleaned :-) What a shame it is lost...but maybe some little people are using it now for making beautiful paintings!
Wow, I really didn't imagine all the work you've put in the pencils....well done!!! I can imagine you on your knees on the floor searching for that last little pencil ;-)

Sans! said...

To be honest, it turned out better than I thought my 1st could, Ewalina. I remember how a year ago, I was scratching my head wondering how to make a paintbrush. These days, some things come a little instinctively. Like using feathers from a feather duster. I think it also helped that generous bloggers blog about their how-tos. Somehow all the tips are stored in our head subliminally and then one day, you kind of know how to do it and then you make that first attempt. :)

Yes, my brushes has a lot of blues and greens and reds :)Nature and its flowers :).

Sans! said...

Haha, Margriet, high 5 on that! I too don't wash my paintbrushes very well. I read all the tips about how to protect your paintbrushes but I buy mine in the S$2 shop mostly so I just mistreat them, like Cinderella's stepmother. My most expensive paintbrush is those they use for painting nails. Those I wash well.

This 1st one look very much like the brush I use to varnish. The varnish stiffens the bristles but I couldn't throw it out.

Do you have a problem throwing out paintbrushes too?

Ara said...

I have a hard time getting such detail at that small scale!! You did an amazing job!!! I like to think that a very small fairy person found it and was very thankful for it. Some day you make take down a wall and find little mini-murals painted all over! hugs, Ara

Eliana said...

At least we have the pictures to remember. ;)

Maria Ireland said...

Great paintbrush I bet a little fairy has turned it into a magic brush and paints all your flowers while you are asleep ;) Haha I can just picture you searching the floor for the pencils I am ( now ) also laughing because just a little while ago I was doing the same thing only I knocked over about a 1000 beads I am sure you heard me swear all the way over there :DDD
Hugs Maria

Drora's minimundo said...

The paint brush looks exactly like it should, a well used one. About looking for little bits on the floor, I don't even bother to. I take a broom and sweep everything into the dustpan. There is where I find them
without much bending over.
Hugs, Drora

BiWuBär said...

Your brush doesn't look like a first attempt at all - I think it was perfect, so sad that your firstie got lost. But maybe Margriet is right and some of the little folk is using it now. I must admit I'm also treating my brushes not as good as I should... They'd deserve a much better treatment than they get from me... but on the other hand - they have much more personality with their layers of old paint on their handles, telling stories of painting things in Strawberry Cottage, the Witch Tower or even a very special elephant with chalkboard paint... ;O)

Hugs
Birgit

Susan@minicrochetmad said...

That's a great paintbrush, it looks like it has had a very busy life and could tell many tales....

Daydreamer said...

Oh, Sans!!!! Oh My Dear! That paintbrush is Perfect!!! (You always need very worn out paintbrushes for the "scrubbing" kind of painting that is necessary for all kinds of background work... which is how they get very worn out in the first place.... so you must never throw them away!) I am Heartbroken that it is missing... :(
And you are doing these at the 1:48 scale???? Now I am in awe of your work all over again! When I finally get around to making my Artist's studio in mini... I will know all the techniques because you have shown me how! I can't wait to see more!!!

Margriet said...

I never throw away paintbrushes Sans...they always are useful for something :-) And I always grab the oldest to do my paintwork with ;-)

Ilona said...

Hehehehe, paintbrushes are a good subject to discuss here!! Yours is an excellent miniature of mine, because I prefer to work with my most used brushes, Sans! And I never throw them away, they can be useful to abuse for many miniature project like Margriet says ;)!
I love the artistic touch in your house Sans! Thanks :D!
Warm hugs, Ilona

Fabiola said...

Your paintbrash is perfect and it looks very used.
Friendly greetings, Faby

Sans! said...

Ara, your comment brought a super wide smile to my already very big mouth! :)

Yes, what a day that will be to tear a wall down, firstly and then lo and behold, little fairy murals :). That poor fairy will not be too pleased with the very worn out brush :)

Sans! said...

Eliana, so true. Now I use my camera as my journal as well.

Sans! said...

Maria, so that was you!!! I thought my curses were echoing back at me for a moment!

You know how many times I knocked down that little mug??! Eventually I gave up and use glue to stick all the pencils to the mug. Any fairies thinking of using my pencils will have to learn the unglue magic first and please, fairies, after you are done with the pencils, glue them back! Thank you! :)

Sans! said...

Drora, ever the wise one! Are you not the one who also pack all the sand in a bag and then bring home to get the mini shells? It was you right? I almost never forget a good tip! :)

Sans! said...

Birgit :):):). Yes, the stories our paintbrushes can tell with every speck of colour. I love how colours stain the brushes. I have an apron that I am sure carry a million germs now, everytime I wear it, people around me moved away :). I have never washed it and it is filled with colours, layers and layers. You can tell what I am working on by the colours on the apron.

Sans! said...

Thank you Susan :). It is also quite good for sweeping floor and dusting the stove ..teehee :)

Sans! said...

Margriet, I thought so too. I have paintbrushes with the bristles part fallen off and I still keep the stick. Good for stirring paints or to chew on when you are thinking....lol!

Sans! said...

Betsy, the abandoned house is a 1:48 house but would you believe it, I still haven't decide what scale I am working on. Without the 2nd floor, it can be a 1:12 shed but with the floor maybe 1:24 workroom?

I am working using my own instincts now for proportions. I am afraid I don't believe in adhering to perfect measurements for my work. Almost everything has a giant version or a miniature version, right? Even humans. hehe. Scale friends , don't shoot me please :).

Anyway, by now, I am certain it is smaller than 1:12.

Sans! said...

Teehee, Ilona, do you mean the paints on my bench? My poor bench, it is a very old piece and I love it so. But I worked there so much that the colours got it soon enough...sighhhh.

Although I am not too finicky about cleanliness, I am quite particular about being neat. I can't live with mess but paints on tables, that I can accept :).

Sans! said...

Faby, it is so used that if a fairy found it, she would probably use it to sweep her courtyard!

Unknown said...

I know how it is to make the brush from a toothpick...I made a lot myself...some for friends and some for me..actualy I have worked on a corner in the house for the lady to work on her paintings...will show it to you soon;) Your pencil looks great and good for the fairy she found it:)

Ana Anselmo said...

great work Sans!!!!It seems so real, just like my old brushes, exactly!

Kim said...

I absolutely love that paint brush- to me it looks as if it has painted many things and is the favorite of the artist. I cannot imagine the patience it took to make those pencils--I would consider them jewels and find every single one I dropped also :)

Sans! said...

Sab! If you have a painting cornr in that wonderful house you have built, I definitely want to see it! I am impatient! :)

Sans! said...

Thank you, Ana. It feels good that I have made a brush that so many of you can identify with :):).

Sans! said...

Kim, it is amazing how we all bond over paint brushes and colour pencils :):). I truly love this world :)

Ascension said...

Un simple pincel y consigues magia!!!!!
Nunca se debe uno deshacer de un intrumento tan genial que te ayuda a conseguir verdaderas maravillas.
Me encant ese desgastado pincel.
besitos ascension

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