Best Brushes for Acrylic Paints

[chippy]

Please can I get some feedback on the best type of brushes and where to get them for painting with acrylic paints . They would be for my grandson who is doing great work on War Hammer figures .
Thanks
Chippy

 

[Briggsy]

Please can I get some feedback on the best type of brushes and where to get them for painting with acrylic paints . They would be for my grandson who is doing great work on War Hammer figures .
Thanks
Chippy

I have always used synthetic brushes, I've never got along with sable. As a general work horse brush I like the ones made and sold by creative hobbies.

Cheers Simon

 

[Nap]

I’d go with synthetic for the young lad ...have a look at Rosemary and Co

Hope we see some of his painting

Nap.

 

[NigelR]

The ones that they sell in Games Workshop shops aren't bad at all. They also have brushes for the different techniques they recommend, like dry brushing and washes. If you have a GW shop near you, it might be worth chatting with the staff in there, they are very helpful.

It depends how serious he is getting. If he is getting good, then good quality brushes like Rosemary & Co are worth investigating (buy online). Personally I wouldn't use anything other than Winsor & Newton Series 7 but they aren't cheap. However, if looked after they last a long time.

 

[VerSacrum]

I started with a set of the GW "layer" brushes and they did their job but frankly I wouldn't buy their technical "drybrush" etc. brushes as they are overpriced and any cheap makeup brush will do the job better...same goes for Army Painter

Now I use the Da Vinci "Miniature Maestro" series because they're what's available here

 

[chippy]

Thanks everyone for the replies .
Simon , I can't find Creative Hobbies on Google search ?
Nap I have looked at Rosemary and Co. . Some nice brushes at reasonable prices . I'll see if he would like to post some pictures of his work considering he has only been doing for a short time they are coming out pretty good .
Thanks chippy

 

[theBaron]

How old is your grandson, Chippy? That could influence the choice, too.
Also, since he paints Games Workshop, it might be worth it to look at their products. Though they might be more expensive than comparable brushes from other brands.
Personally, for my water-based acrylics, such as Andrea, Vallejo Model Color, Lifecolor, and craft-store paints like Folk Art, Americana, and Apple Barrel, I prefer natural fiber brushes, because I find that with care, they last the longest. The big thing is the shape of the brush. I like rounds, and I have 0/0, 5/0, and 10/0. I think of them like old fountain pens; the body is the reservoir and holds the paint, and the fine tip is like the nub. I like the precision. I like using a wet palette, too, but that might be more than your grandson needs. That's why I asked about his age, too, to keep things appropriate to his age.
Hopefully this is useful info, too.
Prost!
Brad

 

[Henk]

There is only one way to find out which are the best brushes, and that is by using them. You will get a different answer from most people answering your question, because they all have their own favourite brushes....
You can not go wrong with Windsor and Newton, and they do a large range, not just the very expensive Series 7. Try Artist Watercolour, or Proffesional Watercolour, they are great brushes at a reasonable price. They are in my jar next to the bench, and are the heavy lifting workhorses. Most are years old, and still doing their job well.
For finer work, detail and delicacy, I love my Broken Toad Kolinsky Sable brushes. Hard to get now (If they are still in business), but a superb shape and spring. Hawk Miniatures do a good range, and at a very good price. I have been using their brushes more and more, as my Broken Toad brushes are getting older.. The short shaft is great for mini figure painting, your Grandson might like them for painting Warhammer.
Windsor and Newton series 7. I have a few. I use them sometimes. I think they are good enough brushes, but over priced, and over rated. I prefer the cheaper Windor and Newton brushes.
I prefer (Kolinsky) Sabel, because they have more feel, and seem to hold more paint, and release it better, than Synthetic brushes. Having said that, Synthetic brushes do a good job, but in a slightly different way. I have a set of Broken Toad Synthetic brushes too, and I use them, but not as much as my Kolinsky ones.
Long post short, buy a brush or two of each brand, and find out which one your Grandson likes best.

Oh, I meant to add, I only use Games Workshop brushes for really destructive work, like washes and mixing... The ones I have came with paint or figure sets, I would not spend my money buying one. Truly mediocre quality, very poor shape, and very little control. They certainly don't last. Very poor value for money.

 

[Henk]

I couldn't disagree more. Games Workshop brushes are very poor quality, and expensive for it. Remember, Games Workshop is about selling as much overpriced stuff with their name on it, to a captive market, as they can. Their models are simple and chunky to the extreme, but are hideously expensive for it. They sell a franchise, not a quality product.