Needin' some new brushes

Hi TicTac,

I recommend this paper:

http://www.dickblick.com/products/holbein-vanishing-image-paper/

It shows what your brush is doing when just wet with water. Bring a scrap of this with you and a small container of water (old film canisters work great!). Walk up to the brush display at a decent art supply store and dip each brush in the water to test.You can't see how it behaves with thick paint, but it at least gives you an indication of how it points and flexes and what sort of stroke it leaves.

If you ever get to the point of wanting Russian red sable, you absolutely must test them this way. They are not all as good as their price indicates and you should not get stuck with any but the best pointers. If the store won't let you test them, go somewhere else. Good luck and happy painting. Nothing will substitute for a good brush!

-Paul Pallansch

Alright, I'll look into those in the future. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXNRG3 I ordered these yesterday.

Check these out:      http://dynastybrush.com/    That's the type and price you should be looking at for quality work.    

Sable usually has a black color to it & red has a reddish tint.  The red's are a bit finer than blacks.  I, personally, prefer watercolor brushes to oil/acrylic brushes for most work.  I'll use stiffer acrylic types for weathering, but for detail & general painting I use red sable watercolor.

I have 5-0, 3-0, 0 rounds for detail work, a couple of #3 fans, a #3 round and a few various size flats up to 1/4", but I've been collecting brushes for over 40 years.  Most good brushes will be between $6 & $20, just depending on size & function.

OK - your fixed link worked.  I would not use any nylon bristle brush for anything but glue application, or house painting.

Reid

What's the difference between sable and red sable?

There is a HobbyLobby like 30 minutes away, but I know nothing about brushes.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEA25&P=0 (I think I fixed it?)

Do you have a local art supply store?  Or LHS?  I like to physically examine the brushes before I purchase them.  I always will look for a good sable brush, especially for the finer stuff.

Reid

PS  I'm not sure what happened with your link, but it's not working.