John Salminen’s Must-Have Brush

American Watercolor Weekly Advisor John Salminen reveals the brush he can't do without, but how he uses it may surprise you.

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watercolor painting
“Neon Reflections”

I’ve become very dependent upon the hake brush. I don’t use it to apply paint, but rather as a blending tool. I rapidly whisk the damp surface with a dry hake brush to create a seamless transition and a unique surface texture. In “Neon Reflections,” I used the hake brush on the foreground to blend the colors and create a range of mixed grays.

Hake Brushes

 

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3 COMMENTS

  1. I like that effect. I have such a brush because my sister told me it was essential! But I’ve never used it because I’ve not seen it used. I guess I should have gone to youtube or the library!

    Thanks for the tip!

  2. Gray is probably my favorite color. It works so well with other colors. I have used a Pat Dews automizer and will continue to use it. It produces beautiful grays.

    However, using a hake brush to achieve the same blending effect will be interesting. I will try it.

    Thanks John.

  3. John showed me his technique for blending- the only problem is that it blended too well. I like to blend haphazardly and not so fine.

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