Brush Sizes

[Alaska]

Hi all! Just joined this site and preparing to purchase my paint and brushes and other supplies. My question is what size brushes do I need? I've already taken in the advise I found on this site Windsor & Newton 7 Kolinksy Sables,just need to know whats a good range like 00-04? Need some direction hear as the are expensive! If someone has the heart to steer me in the right direction it would be much appreciated!!

I also have chosen to start my adventure with Citadel paints, good choice ? Penny for your thoughts!

Thanks Guy's!!
Craig

 

[infelix]

I usually use W&N 7s, and for size, 1, 2 and 3 but mostly 2. I find that's the sweet spot for me and when you have good brushes that holds it's point well it makes the need for small brushes much less, for me that is.

 

[MAXXxxx]

I normally use 0 or 1.
00 may be good for delicate freehand, but other than that there is no need to go that small imho.

So just forget all that's 2/0 to 20/0-s. The only thing you'll achive with them is paint drying in the brush before you get to the mini.
A secondary effect can be insanity... I have a friend who painted a 5000+pt CSM army using a (few) 00(-s).

 

[GreenOne]

Mind the tip, this is what is most important, you still need some reservoir to be able to work your paint, so 1 and 0 will carry on like 90%of the work. You won't really need smaller to get started. It's actually a common mistake to use too small a brush which makes the painting more tenuous and don't give a good coverage. 00 and 000 are used for the smallest things like pupils. You can get fully brushed for 10-20$ at any craft store and be good for the first couple months if not more. You don't need a stradivary if you are still learning your scales and the same go for brushes.

W&N are good brushes, but you need to take extra care if you want them to live long enough to be worth the price, Raphael makes sturdier brushes, for instance. The feel and flow is important and that's what you pay for, it's a personal thing so you'll find your match in due time, first you need to know what your own style is. Most use round tips, I happen to use long strikers a lot, also personal.

And the same applies for paint, Citadel is a solid line, makes excellent product, solid coverage, slick texture, it cannot be a bad choice; Vallejo, for instance is different, but still good. The trick is to start with a small range and add on to suit your needs when you find out for instance if you prefer this or that texture.

 

[oistene]

In my opinion, Army Painter brushes are great for beginners. They are cheap, so you can buy a bunch and see what sizes you'll actually use. You'll probably want some 'lesser' brushes anyway, for drybrushing, glue, mixing paint and all those things that ruin your brushes in the long run.

Use those for a month or three, then pick up some expensive ones.

 

[Zab]

W& N are great, but maybe get some cheap synthetic craft brushes (from micheals and such) for metallics and drybrushing as those can be hard on brushes and then maybe some cheaper sable ones for washes which tend to seep into the ferrule and ruin brushes quite quickly too.