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Printing the woods grain allows the material’s natural beauty to shine.

It is one of my favorite methods.

The wood cuts of Helen Frankenthaler come to mind as an excellent example

of the possibilities of the technique.

It only takes a few minutes to learn the process.

Start by choosing a wood with a strong grain.

I’ll use Cherry for this lesson, but Shina works well too.

You’ll also need a wire brush, a sponge or paper towel,

and some warm water.

Use a plumber’s brush to work over small spots and purchase a wire cup

brush that attaches to a drill for larger areas.

If ink already tints the woods’ surface,

remove it with the wire brush, then apply warm water to the surface.

Allow it to penetrate for a moment and soften the material.

Most importantly,

brush with the grain’s direction not across it.

Maintain medium downward pressure and continuous movement.

You need to work the surface evenly.

Reapply water to keep the wood saturated while you work.

Continue brushing until the wood stops releasing pulp.

This is when you know you have done enough.

Many beginners are timid with this process,

so I recommend brushing the same area multiple times.

Run your hand across the woods surface.

That is when you know you have done enough.

It should feel fibrous and your fingernail should catch in the small scratches.

Wire brushing also works well with Gorilla Tape as a mask.

First, cut the tape to fit the area that you intend to leave unbrushed.

Apply this mask to the wood before wetting the surface.

Wire brush over the surface as desired.

Then remove the mask slowly using a hair dryer to loosen the

adhesive if needed. MDF doesn’t have wood grain.

Instead,

the wire brush bites into the surface and creates a unique random texture.

Use the drill powered cup brush for the best results.

MDF is very dusty,

so please plan accordingly and wear a face mask before you start.

Also, do not use water or the MDF will swell.

Allow me to demonstrate.

I’ll engage the drill at a low RPM and lay the brush on its side,

run it across the surface and plunge it straight down into the MDF.

You can try playing with the drill speed and angle to see what happens.

Power down the tool and examine the marks after a few minutes of experimentation.

To my eye, some of the textures look like stone and other instances.

The MDF captures the wire brushes’ rotational movement.

The brush effect would make a perfect addition to a landscape or abstract piece.

For added complexity.

use different size cup brushes to vary the scale of the marks.

Each new technique presents exciting possibilities to embellish your work.

The wire brush is no exception.

Wood grain is an unmistakable hallmark of the process,

and I hope you’ll try this method for yourself.

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