To clean a mop brush for blending without rewetting, simply rub over a baby wipe followed by a paper towel. If you need to soak a brush in cleaning solution, clip it to the inside of a tea candle holder or tin can with a clothes pin. This keeps the brush from resting on the bottom and distorting its shape. After cleaning, dress it with hair gel or mousse. Hair gels and mousse rinse out easily with water.
Some artists paint brushes have very long handles.
I place the handle end of these brushes in an electric pencil sharpener and shave them down to comfortable length. It can also be used as a stylus to move or scratch into wet paint on the canvas. When the picture is finished or almost finished, then apply Gel Medium to the surface that you wish to modify. For example, orange could be added to a gray figure in order to get a transparent flesh colour. You will obtain textures and colors that are not available by using other techniques.