DIY Painted & Upcycled Paintbrush Art 🖌️
Sometimes the best art starts with something old. That was definitely the case with this project - a funky, whimsical art piece made from a beat-up 2-inch chip brush. It had rust, personality, and plenty of potential. I decided to give it a total makeover with purples, gold, paint, beads, flowers, and resin. And the best part? It’s giftable!
Whether you’ve got a junk drawer full of old brushes or just want to try something different, this tutorial will walk you through every step to turn trash into sparkly treasure.
Step 1: Prep and Paint the Brush
I grabbed an old, rusty chip brush and gave it a quick sanding to knock off the loose bits. You can use painter’s tape to hold your brush in place while painting. I planned to paint both the handle and bristles, so I wasn’t worried about getting a little messy - this project is meant to be abstract and fun!
I was feeling the purple vibe, so I went all in with Purple Iris, Wisteria, a touch of metallic gold, and some white for highlights. You can use any colors that speak to you. I started by painting the bristles, then moved up the metal ferrule and handle. I painted both sides of the brush, layering and blending the purples and gold until it felt just right. You’ll want to dry each layer with a heat tool or hairdryer in between to build up that rich, colorful texture.
Step 2: Add Abstract Florals
Before getting to the sparkle, I added some tiny abstract flowers using a round brush. I used a mix of Wisteria, Purple Iris, white, and a little Hauser Green to paint loose little blooms and leaves. This is totally optional, but it added a cute, whimsical vibe that made the brush feel extra special.
Step 4: Mix & Apply Resin
Once my paint was fully dry, I mixed up the tiniest amount of Art Resin - just ¼ oz total (⅛ oz each of resin and hardener). Make sure you wear rubber gloves. If you’re doing multiple brushes, I recommend batching them so you don’t waste any. I used a gloved finger to gently coat one side of the brush with resin, especially over the bristles and upper handle area where I planned to place my embellishments.
Step 5: Add the Embellishments
With the resin still wet, it was time to sprinkle on the magic. I used:
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Black Rainbow seed beads (gold, green, purple iridescent tones)
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Crystal luster seed beads (clear and sparkly)
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Purple paper flowers from the scrapbook section at Hobby Lobby
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A few iridescent glass beads for extra shine
I arranged the flowers first, pressing them gently into place, then sprinkled the seed beads into the bristles and across the handle. I used a bead awl to move things around and added more resin on top to lock everything in.
After embellishing, I placed the brush on a strip of painter’s tape stuck to a plastic-wrapped canvas. This kept it stable while curing and made it easy to peel off later. Resin dries to the touch in 8–10 hours and cures fully in 72 hours. Just make sure you let it dry somewhere safe!
I painted a little wooden tag in gold to personalize this piece for someone special. You can add a name, word, or short quote to make it even more meaningful.
If you don’t want to miss my Facebook LIVE art instruction, make sure you are on my texting list. I always text 10 minutes before I’m going to go LIVE, so you won’t ever miss it. You can text “Hey Cindy” to 901-519-2923.
Want more inspiration and artwork?
- My website artshattered.com with resources, shop, and more!
- My creative membership The Shattered Circle, where you can explore the world of glass art with online workshops, a supportive community, and more!
- My mini creative membership Just A ‘Lil Bit Monthly Glass Art Club, where you’ll get a new quick and easy online tutorial for just a lil' bit of sparkle in your life!
- My Facebook page where I go LIVE every Wednesday night at 6:00 PM CST.
- My YouTube channel which has tons of free art lessons right at your fingertips.
