The best brushes for painting?

[kevdog35]

As I have said before here I am kind of new to the painting miniature hobby and have just finished only my seventh miniature. I have noticed that some of my brushes are already becoming frayed and that strands are already starting to fall out or bend to the point where I have to clip them.

I was wondering if this might be the quality of brush. I am using Princeton brushes for most of the work with a Galleria flat for drybrushing which is the only advanced technique I am trying to master.

I have heard that red sable brushes are the best on the market and the Kolinsky sables are the best of that category. Can anyone tell me if this is true? Does the red sable hold the point better? Thanks for reading all of this.

 

[frenchkid]

There are two brand that usually pop up for mini painting:
- Winstor and Newton series 7
- Raphael number 8400 and 8404

I\'v used both and have to say I have no complaint with neither of them. My W&N have been mistreated in every possible way and still hold their point so I can also vouch for their durability.

 

[DrEvilmonki]

You should also invest in some brush soap. Cleans and conditions the brushes and helps maintain their shape.

 

[Spacemunkie]

Pro Arte Renaissance are cheap and good quality too.

 

[Arma]

I use Kaple\'s range of brushes, much better than the GW crap I was using.

 

[howtofoldsoup]

I don\'t have any particular brand loyalty, but I do stick to natural brushes only. Also, I highly recommend the Brush Soap. They only make one kind, so it works on Acrylics and Oils, and, if you use a natural brush, it helps replenish the oils that help a brush with it\'s resiliency.

\'Soup

 

[diddy lemon1]

i generally use gw but i use a \"premier\"brush from antics for details

 

[MPJ]

Love my W&N Series 7. I use the size 0 for just about everything on a mini. They are expensive but not when you consider how long they will last and the quality. I paid around $13 for my last one. They are typically under lock and key in your local art supply store. Also check out Rosemary & Co. these Series 33 look really nice and the price is right, not to mention the warm fuzzy feeling you can get buying there.

Brush soap good.

 

[tagron]

Try american painter, buy the liners. They are available at most craft stores, and they will run you around 2 bucks a pop.

I have used many companys, W&N series 7 being one of the ones i used extensivly, but i personaly like the american painter brushes much better.

THey have some legnth to them and i give you the ability to get really nice lines for freehand, and they fan out great with the slightest bit of preasure and give you a solid even coat as apposeed to dumping all the pigment off to one leading edge of the brush.

 

[JakeSh]

I can\'t find W&N 7s around here, but I can get their Cirrus line. They are still Kolinsky Sable, but a step below the 7s. I use a 00 for all my main painting. My only complaint is the amount of \"pull\" in the brush. I find they really soak up the paint and I have trouble keeping the ferrules clean.

I also have a nice selection of cheapie Loew-Cornell 10/0 spotters and 18/0 round on hand. For the $2 or $3 they cost me, they are excellent. I use them for freehand and banners, fiddly bits, and usually painting faces.

I have tons of miscellaneous brushes around for drybrushing, basecoating, applying PVA.

Never throw old brushes out. They can always be used for something.

Just play around and don\'t be afraid to try new or different things. Get a nice brush or two, but remember, even cheap brushed can be handy.

 

[Highbulp Billy]

I know that this is probably asking for trouble but... Has anyone bought the GW Masters Paintbrush set? Is there any justification for the price? I need to replace my brushes soon and have a limited choice where I live with no decent art shops nearby. I\'m dubious about buying brushes over the internet as you can\'t see what you\'re getting. I\'m not a great painter (check out my gallery for proof!) but would like to improve and don\'t mind paying for good quality brushes if they\'re worth it.

 

[Modderrhu]

Originally posted by Highbulp Billy
Has anyone bought the GW Masters Paintbrush set?
Who would like to be either pitied or humiliated?
Is there any justification for the price?
Yes, if you consider the brass bolter shell to be worth half the price of the set, or if the GW logo on the brush soap tickles you into obscene pleasures. Otherwise, hell no!

I need to replace my brushes soon and have a limited choice where I live with no decent art shops nearby.

I can\'t get W&N Series 7\'s where I live either. The best I can find is the W&N Cirrus line. Sometimes, Billy, we have no choice but to take a chance online. The best prices for W&N Series 7\'s are to be found at www.dickblick.com. You\'ll get exactly the same brushes for less than a quarter of the price of the GW Master\'s set.

I see you\'re in the UK, so give www.rosemaryandco.com a try. I\'m going to be ordering some from her soon - she\'s definitely cheap enough to try.

 

[Highbulp Billy]

Thanks for that Modderhhu (although I had guessed what the first answers would be). I did have a quick look at this site last week having seen the link on another thread. They do seem much cheaper and they certainly sound good. My only problem is when you look online and in catalogues etc there\'s so much to choose from I know I\'m going to get the wrong things. Oh well, guess I should take the plunge into the unknown and broaden my shopping horizons.

 

[Modderrhu]

Originally posted by Highbulp Billy
My only problem is when you look online and in catalogues etc there\'s so much to choose from I know I\'m going to get the wrong things.

Yeah, it\'s easy to get all confuzzled. But just look for the Series 33 rounds on Rosemary\'s Kolinsky page. I\'d suggest a size 00 and a size 1. I\'m not sorry I took the plunge, that\'s for sure.

 

[MPJ]

My backup brushes are the older GW/Citadel Sable ones which I can only assume are the same or near the same as their newer master brushes. Based on my older ones I certainlly would not buy the new ones. I thought they were top notch when I first got them until I discovered my W&N Series 7 now my Citadel Sable brushes are demoted to metallics and base/scenery work.

As per Modderrhu the Series 33 from Rosemary & Co. would be the ones to get, I\'d add a size 0 to the 00 and 1 but I do almost all my painting with a 0. Also you might want to get a small flat brush for the occasional drybrushing, base edges, etc... Go synthetic for the flat is money is any sort of object at all.

 

[kevdog35]

Made up my mind

I am going to order some handmade brushes from Rosemary. The pure Kolinsky sable series 33. I am going to order 10/0, 3/0, 2/0, 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4. I am doing alright with the brushes I have but the smallest I have is a 2. I\'ll bet my details look a lot better with the 0\'s. Thanks for all of your suggestions and help.

 

[Modderrhu]

Forget the 10/0, kev! Waste of money. The paint will dry on it before you get it anywhere near your mini. Besides, there\'s nothing that can be painted with a 10/0 that cannot be done with a 2/0, or even a 0. Pointed Kolinsky sables are like that - it\'s the size of the point that counts, not the size of the belly. You could also consider losing the 3/0 for that very same reason.

I also reckon that going larger than a 2 with Kolinsky is also pointless. You\'re not going to be painting any detail with that size brush, so get a cheaper synthetic.

 

[hakoMike]

Originally posted by Modderrhu
Forget the 10/0, kev! Waste of money. The paint will dry on it before you get it anywhere near your mini.

I wish someone had told me this about 100 dried 10/0 brushloads before I figured it out myself. I use a single W&Ns7 size 0 for just about everything except drybrushing now.

 

[DrEvilmonki]

Originally posted by hakoMike

Originally posted by Modderrhu
Forget the 10/0, kev! Waste of money. The paint will dry on it before you get it anywhere near your mini.

I wish someone had told me this about 100 dried 10/0 brushloads before I figured it out myself. I use a single W&Ns7 size 0 for just about everything except drybrushing now.

Same here, I have a 00, 0 and a 1. I tried to make myself use the 00 and the 1 (they did cost a bit of money after all) but I gave up and just use the 0.

 

[Highbulp Billy]

Think I\'ll go with 2 each of 2/0 to 2. That should last me a while and cater for pretty much everything. 8 quality brushes for less than £25 put\'s GW to shame (surprise?). By the way, did everyone notice they\'re putting their normal brush prices up soon. I think I read in the latest WD it\'s going to be an extra 50p or something.