Reloading Paint for Double Dipped Flowers

Hi All,

I wanted to ask - what do the pros do when you're doing a heavy floral design on a face and the number of petals you're creating will require 2 (or more) full loads of white + a double color?

A very simple issue, but to me it seems like a waste of time to rinse, then reload completely...and also a waste of white paint.

Is there a shortcut technique to reloading a double dipped paintbrush?

I am no expert, when doing event work, but I generally just reload the 2nd color unless the white is dried out/really murky. At a private party, I might be more particular... (It's face painting, not fine art )

Id be interested as well to hear from others...

not an expert in double dipped, but you could blot the tip with a paper towel to remove most or all of the 2nd color, then reload white and the 2nd color. wastes less paint.

sometimes i do that to save time with single colors -
i use the same brush to switch to a similar color, by blotting the first color, then loading the 2nd -
i.e. orange to yellow, blue to green.

I can usually get another flower or two if I spray my brush with my spray bottle to re-wet the paint. Sometimes, I do have to completely reload and I always completely rinse my brush and go back into the white. However, I only do that when the paint is practically gone from my brush, so I don't feel like it's a waste of paint, just a waste of time haha!

I also clean the brush and start from scratch once the level of quality starts to drop with my first load... not sure if there's a better system...

I’ve tried blotting the first color and reloading white, but the reloaded petals still seem to have quite a bit of that color’s tint.  I’m sure it’s not a big deal and doubt few (if any) people would notice or realize the petals should be pure white for the new set of flowers, but my OCD keeps screaming at me that I’ve lost symmetry in my design at that point :p

Guess I’ll just have to do it the old fashioned way.  I will try spritzing to revitalize the paint as well.

Thanks again for the replies!

best to use the technique that you prefer. at least you can try to use as much paint as you can on the first load before you rinse.

Some times I just wipe the tip as much as i can the reload white then the color. It really depends on what color you are using tho, as REALLY dark ones will just turn your white a lighter shade of that color.

Some times I'll hold it at and angle to load the white, keeping the color point up and out of the paint. Also I load back and forth NEVER swirl as it's bad for your brushes. and petal pots while the concept is good, you might as well put your brush into a broken pencil sharpener for how bad it with for the bristles imo.

I try and space out my flowers from the first load and then reload my brush and paint the second load of flowers. Personally I really like that this give you two different toned flowers, eg. white with purple centers and then pale lilac with purple centers.

good tip, laura-lou

I use the double dip almost in every design I make.
I always rinse and load again, because I like my flowers crisp!

great tip Laura-Lou