How to Paint With a Toothbrush
Details are the key to achieving realism in painting, and sometimes a traditional brush alone isn't enough to produce them. A toothbrush can help you create the illusion of depth and texture, says Dawn McLeod Heim, who wrote the book "Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Realistic Watercolors." The bristles are coarse, which means paint adheres well to them, and stiff, which means paint flies off when you run your thumb through the brush. This method creates a splatter pattern of paint. Splatter painting can also be an enjoyable project for kids.
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Instructions
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Dip the toothbrush into the paint, and lightly dab the bristles onto a piece of newspaper to remove any excess. You should have enough paint to lightly cover the tips of the bristles, but not so much that the paint drips from the toothbrush. As an alternative, use a small paint brush to add paint to the toothbrush. This gives you more control over how much paint you add.
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Grip the toothbrush securely in your fist with the head of the brush above your fist and facing you. The head should be about an inch away from your forefinger and positioned comfortably so that you can reach the bristles with your thumb as you hold the toothbrush.
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Rotate your fist so that your palm is facing down, and the toothbrush makes a 45-degree angle with the paper you are using for your project. Tilt the brush so that the bristles are facing down toward the paper, above the area you would like the paint to go.
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Run your thumb through the top portion of the bristles, starting at the tip of the toothbrush with your thumb extended and ending with your thumb flexed toward your forefinger. As you do this, paint droplets should splatter onto the paper. Clean the brush in a cup of water and change colors as you like.
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Allow your work of art to air-dry, clean your brush again, and wash your hands with soap and water.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear old clothing in case you end up with more paint on you than on the paper. Cover your work surface with newspaper or an old tablecloth.
To protect areas of your painting from paint splatter, gently lay a piece of scratch paper on top of these areas and hold it down with your opposite hand as you create the splatter effects. You may need to cut or rip the paper to get it to fit properly.
You can use acrylic or tempera paints instead of watercolors, and paint on other surfaces such as such as ceramics and wood. But you may need additional supplies such as primers, sealers or glazes to make sure the paint properly adheres to the surface.
References
Resources
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