Brush Care from The Goblin Guild

A sharp point, a clean stroke, and a brush that feels right in the hand can make the whole painting session feel better. But even the best brush needs care.

At Gilded Goblin, each brush set has a purpose. Eldritch is made for precision. Ebonflame is made for everyday work. Sunfire is made for larger surfaces, terrain, and expressive strokes.

Use the right brush for the right task, clean it well, and it will serve you much longer.

1. Clean After Every Session

Never let paint dry in the bristles.

After painting, rinse your brush with cool water, gently wipe away the paint, and reshape the tip with your fingers. For a deeper clean, use our Artisan Brush Soap and work it gently through the bristles.

Do not mash, twist, or scrub the tip.

A clean brush keeps its shape longer.

2. Protect the Ferrule

The ferrule is the metal part that holds the hairs together.

Try not to push paint all the way up into the base of the bristles. When paint dries near the ferrule, the hairs can spread and the brush can lose its point.

This matters most with your Eldritch brushes.

Eldritch is made for fine detail, layering, glazing, lining, edge highlights, eyes, faces, and the final touches that bring a miniature to life. Treat these like your precision tools, not your rough work brushes.

3. Use Synthetics for Metallics and Rougher Work

Metallic paints can leave tiny particles behind, and rougher paints can be harder on natural hair.

That is where Ebonflame comes in.

Use Ebonflame for metallics, basecoats, washes, blocking in color, and everyday painting. If you paint with metallics often, keep a separate water cup for them so metallic flakes do not carry into your regular colors.

Your best detail brush should not have to fight every battle.

4. Use Bigger Brushes for Bigger Work

Sunfire is made for terrain, monsters, vehicles, bases, busts, scenery, and larger models.

These brushes are made to move paint, carry more color, and cover larger surfaces without fighting the brush. Use them when the project needs flow, coverage, and broader strokes.

Sunfire is not meant to replace your smallest detail brushes.

It has its own place at the painting table.

5. Watercolors, Oils, and Other Mediums

For most miniature painters, water based acrylics will be the main battlefield.

Natural hair brushes can also be used carefully with watercolors, inks, and oils, but keep things simple: if you use oils, oil washes, enamels, or harsher products, clean the brush properly and consider keeping those brushes separate from your regular acrylic work.

Simple rule:

Eldritch for detail and control.
Ebonflame for metallics and everyday work.
Sunfire for terrain, large models, and bigger surfaces.

6. Dry and Store Them Properly

After cleaning, reshape the tip and let the brush dry fully.

Do not leave brushes sitting in a water cup.
Do not store them wet inside a case.
Do not let the tip bend against other tools.
Do not use hot water.

Once dry, store them safely and keep the bristles protected.

Final Word from the Guild

Brush care does not need to be complicated.

Clean them after each session.
Keep paint out of the ferrule.
Use the right brush for the right job.
Let them dry properly.

Take care of your tools, and they will take care of the details.

May your brushes stay sharp and your colors true.

— Angel
Gilded Goblin Tools & Crafts