How to cut my fan brush?

Hi,
I hope i am posting in the right section ......(sux to be a posting virgin).
I need help with cutting my recently purchased fan brush. A fair while ago I saw a video done by Derrick of "Faces by Derrick" where he did a 2 min butterfly using the fan brush, I'm hoping someone can give me a quick run down on preparing the fan brush and the best ways it can be used. Yes I know I should buy the brush strokes book/dvd but after $800 set up costs for my make-up kit and $500 on marketing my hubby has stopped my cash supply untill I start bringing it in myself....... no wonder.
Also if this has previously been discussed here could someone link me to the thread as there are alot of postings and I did have a look but I could be here for weeks at this rate!

Happy painting

Tash

I have no idea.... I have had my fan brushes, unused, for a while now, until I figured out that it made great Cat in the Hat fur.

Lots of folks here have YouTube channels with tutorials in them.

Don't be afraid to do this own your own. Even if you make a mistake, (which there aren't really) you will still have your own unique creation. The best thing for this though is a super sharp pair of scissors.

I have really been itching to do a video so maybe i'll start with this. I'll let you know. I have so many things on my to do list and it is hard to prioritize!

Oh, do start making videos!!! Can't wait to see them.

To create a butterfly brush, put lots of hair gel on the fan brush to make it stiff and when dry, is the easy way to cut and shape the brush. I found that out after I made my first butterfly brush with painstaking little snips of my sissors ;/

Altho I may be quite creative, my second butterfly brush was bought, premade!

It took me awhile to get the hang of getting the part close to the brush ferrel on the skin, so having a how-to video would be great, Metina!
I love the variety of brushes you come up with, too.
Susan

I bought my butterfly brush from the forum shop. Less stress and it is pretty cheap!

It is easy to cut a cheap fan brush yourself... I did one but I never used it so gave it away...

I have never used hair gel since I resell most of mine, I didn't think customers would like this. But I may try just to see how much easier it is.

I will do this THIS week. Working on the Jan. newsletter today so hopefully by this weekend.

Hair gel is the way to go. The best I've found is got 2b glued. any of the super stiff should work fine.

work the gel into the brush, shape it, let it dry (i let it sit overnight) and then cut. you can mark your brush before cutting to help you keep perspective. if it's a flower brush, half and half the fan brush, if it's a butterfly brush then the top half is larger and the bottom is smaller and usually where most of the shaping is. cut with very sharp scissors. I have a special pair that I use.

When getting ready to do this, be sure to have extra fan brushes ready to cut....I went thru at least 6 or more brushes before I got the cut and the right scissors to use. it was like an addiction, I was determined to get it right, and now I have and can make some really beautiful butterfly brushes of different sizes. If you're looking to save money by cutting your own and only want to try out a butterfly brush, save yourself time and money and buy one ready made...get it at a convention where you can see it as they are all cut different. The extra money you pay is less then you will pay to cut your first brush, which may or may not be usable when you're done.

Jenny

Ain't that the truth, Jenny! I agonized over my first fan and altho I used it alot, I gave it away when Jodi sent me a prototype of her new swallowtail one to try out!

Premade ones for me, too ; )

Susan