Yet another brush question

[kathrynloch]

Sorry guys but I searched for it and couldn't find it.

I luv my Vallejo sable brushes but they've become hard for me to find in the US. So I'm keeping an eye out for any other extremely reasonable but solid sable brush. I dislike the W&N series 7, sorry to those of you who are fans but that brand and I don't get along when it comes to brushes.

I tried the Dick Blick brand it was okay...not all jazzed about it. But I also tried the Escoda Reserve line which had an excellent price at Dick Blick and I'm liking that one more and more. But as I go along, say I purchase some art supplies, I'll grab a brush and throw it in the cart too if the price is reasonable both online and shopping at brick and mortar.

I stumbled across one sable - a Painter's Touch I believe, it's hard to read the writing on it. It has a nice handle and the ferrule holds the bristles well. But when I start to paint with it, the tips instantly hook.

Now I heard that if the tips hook, that's caused by shrinkage of the bristle. But that means the bristles aren't real sable because sable doesn't shrink.

Does anyone know if this is true?

The brush did it the moment I used it the first time and now it continues to hook. I clean it off, reshape the tip and dry it out but it still does it. It's a shame too because everything else seems to be nice quality and the price was pretty good.

I would like to try the Rosemary brushes since I keep hearing good things about them, maybe I'll be able to get one eventually. lol!

While I still like my Vallejos the best the Escoda seems to be coming in second. But I'll keep trying new ones whenever I get the chance.

 

[housecarl]

I'm with you Karrie, I think W&N are over rated and expensive. Give the Rosemary's a try I think you'll love them.
That's all I use now,
Carl.

 

[kathrynloch]

Well dog gone it! Carl, do me a favor would ya? Give 'em a ring and tell them to get more US distributors. lol! Sorry but with the exchange rates the way they are right now, I'm not ordering from the UK.

CMON is the only distributor here that I've found thus far. hmmmm...oh well no $$ anyways. lol!

But for those of you in the US, I just discovered Jerry's Artoramma is having a huge Paint and Brush sale. Some of the prices are pretty good but some of them Dick Blick has them beat at their every day price.

 

[marius'mules]

I've been using DA Vinci's- series 36 Brushes, they are very nice red sable brushes---they are very reasonable in price and there just as good, if not better than W&N in quality.

http://www.michtoy.com/michtoy_search_products.php?Types=Paint,%20Glues%20and%20Finishing%20Supplies&Categories=Brushes%20and%20Brush%20Cleaners&Vendor_ID=Da%20Vinci%20Brush%20Company&action=listing&pageNum_product=1

I agree with Kathy; the exchange rate of the Dollar to the Pound makes buying Rosemary brushes cost prohibited.

 

[Einion]

I tried the Dick Blick brand it was okay...not all jazzed about it.

They make more than one type (I say 'they make', in fact they're made for them), so just to check, which one specifically did you not like that much?

But as I go along, say I purchase some art supplies, I'll grab a brush and throw it in the cart too if the price is reasonable both online and shopping at brick and mortar.

Exactly what I've done in the past to try new brush types.

Now I heard that if the tips hook, that's caused by shrinkage of the bristle. But that means the bristles aren't real sable because sable doesn't shrink.

Does anyone know if this is true?

I've never read anything definitive on the cause of brush tips hooking (although I have some theories). It's especially confusing since flats made of the same material don't exhibit similar problems.

It is certain that hooked tips = synthetic or synthetic blend. Natural-hair brushes don't do this, even after years of use, while with synthetics it can happen in moments as you describe.

Hooked brushes aren't necessarily a "Damn it I can't use this any more!" though, there are a number of posts on CMON about how useful they can be for their hooked tip.

While I still like my Vallejos the best the Escoda seems to be coming in second. But I'll keep trying new ones whenever I get the chance.

What qualities are you looking for in a round of this type? That's where to begin from with the search for a replacement.

Rosemary & Co. brushes for example are good but softer than many Kolinsky rounds, so they often don't make a good direct sub for certain other brands.

Einion

 

[gordy]

While I still like my Vallejos the best the Escoda seems to be coming in second. But I'll keep trying new ones whenever I get the chance.

Great discussion, for what it's worth, Escoda makes the brushes for Vallejo

 

[Einion]

Not sure about the rest but Escoda make the Master series brushes for Blick also!

Einion

 

[kathrynloch]

I've been using DA Vinci's- series 36 Brushes, they are very nice red sable brushes---they are very reasonable in price and there just as good, if not better than W&N in quality.

http://www.michtoy.com/michtoy_search_products.php?Types=Paint,%20Glues%20and%20Finishing%20Supplies&Categories=Brushes%20and%20Brush%20Cleaners&Vendor_ID=Da%20Vinci%20Brush%20Company&action=listing&pageNum_product=1

I agree with Kathy; the exchange rate of the Dollar to the Pound makes buying Rosemary brushes cost prohibited.

Da Vinci is on my list to try too!

They make more than one type (I say 'they make', in fact they're made for them), so just to check, which one specifically did you not like that much?

The Dick Blick one is the Masterstroke Finest Red Sable 3/0 and when I used it, it instantly had trouble holding a tip. In fact it's rather fuzzed out right now. I'm always very cautious about not getting paint in the ferrule and when I rinse them out, I reshape the tip

I've never read anything definitive on the cause of brush tips hooking (although I have some theories). It's especially confusing since flats made of the same material don't exhibit similar problems.

It is certain that hooked tips = synthetic or synthetic blend. Natural-hair brushes don't do this, even after years of use, while with synthetics it can happen in moments as you describe.

Hooked brushes aren't necessarily a "Damn it I can't use this any more!" though, there are a number of posts on CMON about how useful they can be for their hooked tip.

Oh yeah, believe me, I can still get good use out of a hooked tip but still, when it says sable, I want real sable - not the fake stuff. I figure a hooked tip has to be due to the bristle type or the glue, those things are really the only thing that can be part of the equation, right? I mean you've got Paint or liquid, then Air, the bristles and maybe glue, anything that I'm missing?

What qualities are you looking for in a round of this type? That's where to begin from with the search for a replacement.

Rosemary & Co. brushes for example are good but softer than many Kolinsky rounds, so they often don't make a good direct sub for certain other brands.

Einion

Thanks Einion! Well, I love the longer bristle on my Vallejo brushes, they are soft but not too soft and they hold a tip really well. I always try to be careful with them but sometimes I'm not perfect and they keep right on chugging. I've got a couple that have been with me for years and are only now starting to fuzz out. I rarely ever get stray or bent bristles - you know the one mutant bristle that shoots off to the side? lol!

If they fuzz, I can't stand them and they get relegated to glazes, washes and inks. As brushes start really going down hill, they become glue or gesso applicators.

This new Escoda brush is the Reserva Tajmyr Sable 4/0 Series 1212 and I like it a lot too.

Not sure about the rest but Escoda make the Master series brushes for Blick also!

Einion

That's what I thought, gordy and Einion. But I also have an Escoda Reservoir Liner Optimo series 1310 and I don't like that one at all. So I think it's how they are put together that's going to make the difference with me.

And this is definitely interesting info!

Cheers,
Karrie

 

[Andrew Craft]

That is a cool discussion. I previously thought a brush was a brush was a brush, I've just been using the cheap $1.50 ones from the local art shop, I'll have to take a few good ones for a test drive one day. This may be a dumb question but what do you look for when using or choosing a good brush? At the moment I thought if it put paint on my figures and kept a bit of a tip for doing eyes I was happy.

Andrew

 

[kathrynloch]

I think what everyone looks for is a little different depending on their style. But a good brush, if you take care of it, will last you for years. I look for one that will hold a tip and that allows the paint to go on smoothly.

My brushes get relegated to different jobs. I use those art store specials too but mostly for pigments or washes or even glue application.

So try a few different brands here and there. Like I said, if I'm getting supplies, I throw one in a cart and see how it does. You might be surprised with what you come up with.

Cheers,
Karrie

 

[Einion]

Kathryn, if you're ordering again from Dick Blick I'd recommend giving their Master series rounds a try. These are the premier range and will use hair of a different grade to that used in the type of brush generally labelled 'red sable'.

I previously thought a brush was a brush was a brush, I've just been using the cheap $1.50 ones from the local art shop, I'll have to take a few good ones for a test drive one day. This may be a dumb question but what do you look for when using or choosing a good brush?

Here you go Andrew:
http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16734

Post #9 and more on the following page.

FWIW I think synthetics are more than good enough for a lot of figure painting (not just rounds, other shapes are good too for larger areas). But where you need to do fine details there's nothing like the needle tip on a good Kolinsky round.

Einion

 

[kathrynloch]

Thanks Einon, I'm definitely willing to give it a shot. I had to chuckle tho, after posting all of the info on my brushes, I looked closer at the Dick Blick brush. In tiny letters...MADE IN JAPAN.

Definitely not Escoda.

But I'll try the Master series the next time I make an order. Thanks!

 

[Einion]

I had to chuckle tho, after posting all of the info on my brushes, I looked closer at the Dick Blick brush. In tiny letters...MADE IN JAPAN.

Hopefully you won't find that stamped on the Master series brush Seriously though, since they come with a lifetime guarantee it's a pretty sure bet they're much better brushes!

Einion