Painting With Toothbrushes

A toothbrush is a valuable artist's tool for painting.

When you think of painting, you probably think of using paint brushes in different sizes as your tools. However, there are many other tools and techniques artists can use to create different looks in their work, including toothbrushes. A toothbrush allows an artist to create splatter and spray effects in a very unique way.

Things You'll Need

• Watercolor paint
• Painting canvas or paper
• Paintbrush
• Toothbrush
• Cup of water
• Paper towel

Instructions

1. Choose which color you want to begin painting with. Set our your canvas or paper.

2. Place your paintbrush in the watercolor paint you have chosen to use. Use the paintbrush to place the paint onto the toothbrush. Essentially, you are painting the bristles of the toothbrush. Make sure you place a good amount of paint on the toothbrush, but not too much; you do not want to have paint dripping off the brush.

3. Hold the paintbrush over the canvas you wish to create the splatter on. Use the handle end of the paintbrush and drag it across the toothbrush bristles. This will cause the toothbrush to splash the paint onto the canvas.

4. Move the toothbrush around your canvas to reach other areas while flicking the paint.

5. Rinse your paintbrush off in the cup of water to remove the paint. Dry with the paper towel. You are now ready to repeat these steps with another color of paint.

Tips & Warnings

• Toothbrush painting can make a big mess because you don’t always have control of where the splatter will go. Make sure you put out drop cloths or newspaper to keep your floors or work areas free of paint spatter.

References

• Watercolor Painting; Splatter and Spray Watercolor Techniques