After rinsing the brushes in water, I choose not to pour the paint down the sink. So, what I do is pour the wastewater into a plastic container that I can cap and then throw away. (This is not a good idea, so don't do this)
New 06/07/2023 New thought. Not a good idea to just cap the container. Okay, so I now have revised this to either setting the container in the sun, with an open lid, or filtering the liquid through sand, a mechanical filter.
The reason why is to consider putting the water back into the water cycle.
So letting the water evaporate will remove the paint from the water and replace the water back into the water cycle. Using the evaporation method I just put the sand mechanical filter in the sun and let the water evaporate, or I added a hole in the middle of the sand and use a plastic covering to let the water evaporate and condense on the plastic covering, then I place a rock in the middle to lower the middle of the plastic cover, and it drips down through the hole into the Earth soil. Will add pictures of that soon.
Okay, the evaporation method is working with the sand. However, cats or possums or squirrels seem to enjoy the sand too. Funny! When I come up with a good design, will post on here. 7/20/2023.
8/11/2023 Another method I am trying is the Wick Method.
The brush rinse in the jar has added paper towel placed like a wick. The water moves up the towels and evaporates. When all of the water is gone from the jar, the acrylic paint is at the bottom of the jar and is wiped away with the paper towels. This is working well for me.
Pros:
Easy
Faster
Better for the environment
Cons:
Need jars available
See also: Brush Cleaning for Acrylic Painting
Good brushes for applying gesso (binder for acrylic paints)
Comments