How to Blend Paint Using a Mop Brush
Mop brush blending is an easy and interesting way to blend colors together or fade them out. Instead of struggling with the use of a brush half loaded with color, which is called side loading, you can make quick work of the blending process by mopping. Mop brushes come in a variety of sizes and styles. The easiest to use are the dome shaped mop brushes carried in craft and fine art stores.
Things You'll Need
- Mop brushes (small and medium) Acrylic or oil paint Surface (your choice) #10 flat brush Practice paper Paper towel or clean cloth Soap Warm water or brush cleaning solvent
Instructions
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Choose your painting surface. If you choose wood, then seal it with either wood sealer or base coat the surface with acrylic paint. Let it dry and lightly sand it. Other surfaces simply need to be clean and free of dust.
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Side by side technique: Using the #10 flat brush apply the paint (either oil or acrylic) side by side to blend. Take the medium sized mop brush and hold it on a slant like a pencil. Start patting the paint where the colors meet to soften the paint. Wipe the brush on a paper towel or cloth often to remove extra paint. Continue to lightly pat pulling one color toward the other to soften it. Practice this technique before starting to paint the item itself.
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One color technique: Work with one color alone and start blending about 1/4 inch into the edge of the paint. Pat blend the color outward to soften it until it fades completely. This type of pat blending is easier than trying to side load a brush with color to shade the project. Remember to wipe the brush often. Do not wash it, the brush needs to be dry to blend with.
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Start your project by painting the design first. Add the paint needed to highlight or shade with and pat blend using the medium sized mop for large areas and the small mop for fine close areas. Once the paint has been applied and dried, more paint can be added and mopped again to deepen or lighten the area. This can be repeated until the desired effect is achieved.
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When you are finished blending the entire design, then you should wash the brush with warm water and soap for acrylics or use brush cleaner for oil paints.
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Tips & Warnings
Oil paints don't need to dry to reapply paint for additional blending. Practice pat blending on a variety of surfaces to get a feel for the technique. Blending gel can be used to assist in the pat blending process for acrylic paints.
Brush cleaning solvents can be toxic; read the manufacturers information before buying.
