Whats the correct way to side load a brush?
A. I tell my students they must first have a good flat or angle brush. An old worn brush that doesn’t hold a chisel edge won’t side load well. Rinse the brush in clean water and then blot the excess on a paper towel. The brush should be just damp enough to move the paint when it’s blended on a palette. Dip one corner of the brush about one fourth to one third of the way across the bristles in the paint. Next, press the brush down on a waxed palette and pull it about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Repeat this tipping and stroking several times until the paint is blended across the bristles. Keep the water-only corner of the brush clean. You’ll notice that the bristles fan out when you press the brush on the palette. This fanning out of the bristles will blend the paint across the brush. If you notice water puddling on the palette at any time when you’re blending, blot the brush again on a paper towel. I’ve found that problems with side loading are most often the result of too much water in the brush.
