If you could only use TWO brushes to paint a 1/16 or 1/32 figure, which ones would they be and WHY?

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Joined
Feb 25, 2017
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Location
Arizona
As a new guy to the figure painting hobby (obsession?) I have quickly learned that cheap brushes are just that.......cheap brushes. I realize there are different paints, scales, etc so don't read to much into my question. This is meant to be fun and educational to us FNGs. If you could only have two brushes ,what would they be, how do you use them, and why?
 
Raphael 8404 Kolinsky brush size 1
No need for two actually, you can do ANYTHING with this one brush
Bigger belly than a size 1 Series 7 W&N brush with an excellent if not better point
 
Hi there

As you say cheap is cheap ...you get what you pay ...but sometimes these is from somewhere like The Works in UK are ideal for use on basework , blocking in .

Can't really choose 2 but for me ! ...

Size 1 for detail
Size 0 for fine work


If I could get another 2 a size 2 for larger areas and a flat for dry brushing

Always Kolinsky Sable

Lots of excellent companies/ brush makers around

The Brushman ( see my Review )

Rosemary's Brushes

W & N series 7

Nap
 
Have to agree with Alex regarding the Raphael 8404 Kolinsky brush size 1, I also have Windsor & Newtons but always go for the Raphael, its an excellent all round brush and for a 1/16 figure I can paint everything except the eyes with it but with practice that is even possible.

Steve
 
I buy all my brushes from Jacksons and I live in Canada. If you have any problem with a brush, they will send you a replacement.
 
If you can't find the brands the others have mentioned, at least look for natural fibers, sable.

For 1/32 scale, I use some smaller brushes, sable hair, but off-brands that I've picked up at hobby stores.

I had a W&N Nr 2 for painting larger-scale figures, 1/20 or bigger, using acrylics, but I have misplaced it somewhere.

It took me a while, through trial-and-error and talking to others, to realize that a small brush was not as good as a larger one. I looked at the small brush--like a 10/0, 5/0 or 00--and figured that they had fine points, so they'd be easier to use. That's true with enamels, when working on scale models, and true with oils, too. Both enamels and oils remain wet and thick long enough to deposit the paint on the target. But I found that with acrylics, the amount of paint the smaller brush could hold would dry in the time it took to pick it up from the palette and apply it to the work. It was almost counter-intuitive, I think, is the best way to describe it. The larger brush holds more paint, like the ink in a fountain pen does.

I may be babbling nonsense now and the veterans can correct me. It's just how I describe my own path to learning what I know.

Prost!
Brad
 
I should add, too, that I'm fortunate in that we have a local branch of Dick Blick Art Supplies here in the Lehigh Valley, and it's not far from where I work. There are a couple of other good suppliers around, too. So browsing for better brushes is convenient, if I don't want to order online and pay shipping.

Prost!
Brad
 
I'm not sure I could only use two brushes, but if pressed, I would say Raphael 8404 Kolinsky number 1 and 0. I started using them last year and really prefer them to the W&N Series 7 brushes I have. I will also add that all of my base coating is done with nylon flat brushes as acrylics are hard on brushes and this helps extend the life of the expensive ones that I have. The last couple of 8404s I purchased from Jackson's in the UK because the final price with shipping was actually way cheaper than any online stores here in the States.
 
I splashed out and purchased a couple of W&N series 7's a while ago and I'm too damned scared to use them cos they cost so much, I rather like the Da Vinci brushes for general use.
 
I splashed out and purchased a couple of W&N series 7's a while ago and I'm too damned scared to use them cos they cost so much, I rather like the Da Vinci brushes for general use.
Just do it. Not worth buying them if you don't use them.
 
I've been using my Broken Toad brushes ( reviewed on here as well) with great results. Size 1 mainly.
 
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