Wiping brush: cloth or tissue??

[canvasishome]

Hi Folks,

I've been wondering what most of you do in the field concerning this? When wiping after a brushstroke, do you wipe on a tissue or on a cloth rag?

I find that both Kevin MacPherson and Frank LaLumia (in their plein air books) use tissues. I find that using them is convenient, while the rag gets dirty very quickly and makes for a big mess.

Are their advantages of one versus the other that are not apparent at first blush??

Thanks for your input.

-dk-

[LarrySeiler]

I rag'in my underpainting with discarded rags....though I tend to wipe my brushes on paper towels. I have a plastic grocerie's bag attached to my easel for convenient disposal of discarded gloves, rags or paper.

Larry

[impressionist2]

My husband and I both wear white crew socks. he likes Hanes and I like Russells. We have tons of them that constantly are being replenished. When the inevitable heel hole appears they go in my brush wiping bin and they are wonderful as one sock will last a whole painting session. They are soft on the bristles and/or wipe the knives spotless.

I leave my painting location as clean as when I arrive so I don't need to carry out a bundle of used paper towels. I have enough gear to carry.

Renee

[CarlyHardy]

I use a knife on location and just a couple of paper towels for wiping....

but when I paint in the studio and use brushes, I use an old bath cloth. The texture of the cloth gets the brushes cleaner than something smooth and they will hold a lot of paint. After painting I lay them out and they dry....then I crumple them up and use them again.
carly

[blondheim12]

I like paper towels. I put the roll through a bungie cord and hook it to the brass screws under the drawer on the french easel, like a paper towel holder. Very convenient. I also tie a trash bag to my easel for dirty paper towels.
Love,
Linda
http://lindab.dougie.net/epotw/

[Wyobud]

Kinda like Carly I guess. Rags in the studio and paper towels in the field. I use a garbage bag also on my easle, but if I,m Packin-in I compress the used towels in a zip-loc bag. It seals in the mess.

BUD

[Wayne Gaudon]

I use a knife and I use 2Ply toilet paper .. one sheet, one wipe .. fast, easy, and convenient. A used plastic grocery bag takes care of all the used items. Get a lot more milage than paper towels as I found I was wasting half the towel anyway.

[Phyllis Rennie]

My favorite is small --approximately 3" x 4"--pieces of newspaper. I tear the paper, stuff them in my apron pocket, use for only one wipe, and put in a plastic bag tied to my easel. If I use a rag or paper towel, I get too much paint on my hands.

Speaking of which, what do you take along to clean your hands? Hasn't been a big problem so far but I'm trying to move out of my backyard and don't want to coat the steering wheel with thalo blue!

[blondheim12]

Speaking of which, what do you take along to clean your hands? Hasn't been a big problem so far but I'm trying to move out of my backyard and don't want to coat the steering wheel with thalo blue! [/B][/QUOTE]

I use the wet wipes that come int the little travel packs. they work great for cleaning hands.
Love,
Linda
http://lindab.dougie.net/epotw/

[CarlyHardy]

Baby wipes...keep them in the car in those disposable flip top plastic cases that some come in. This works for a palette too if you ever forget one! Just put the wipes into a plastic bag.

Now that I have my french easel...I'm not as apt to forget stuff!
carly

[TPS]

I use facial tissues that come in the box. Handy to set by the easel and I can pull out just one at a time for wiping; cheaper and lasts much longer than paper towels. I too attach a plastic bag to the edge of the easel for trash; leave nothing behind. A tube of Goop handcleaner will remove oil paint, grease or most anything, then just wipe off with the tissue.