Brushes

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=125 BGCOLOR="#0000FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="039467d1egayea.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Red Swan - Art Supplies, Frames, Hobbies</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Red Swan Art Supplies, Frames, Hobbies "><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to Find Us">How to Find Us</A>   |   <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Art Classes">Art Classes</A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Orders/Prices">Orders/Prices</A>   |   <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kid Stuff">Kid Stuff</A>   |   <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Frames">Frames</A>   |   <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Art Tools/Accessories">Art Tools/Accessories</A>   |   <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links and Art Groups">Links and Art Groups</A>   |   <B>Brushes</B>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Books">Books</A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Artist Colors">Artist Colors</A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Art Surfaces">Art Surfaces</A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous">Miscellaneous</A>   |   <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Art Material Tips">Art Material Tips</A>   |   <A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Brush Glossary">Brush Glossary</A></div> <div> <B>I</B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=189 style="border-right: 1px solid #CCCCCC;" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>For</B><B> a glossary of brush terms use </B><A HREF="id70_this_link_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Brush Glossary"><B>this link.</B></A><B>.</B><B> <A NAME="click_here_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>THOSE CONFUSING BRUSH SIZES</B></div> <div> <B>(Are they the art world's tower of Babel?</B></div> <div> <B>A short answer is "yes."  We're cursed with French sizes, American sizes, English sizes, Spanish sizes, and almost everything else except Assyrian sizes.  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Beyond that, different standards are often employed for different brush types, even by the same manufacturer.  And a size 6 flat from in one label may not match the same size from a different maker, even in the same type brush.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sometimes it's confusing to us, and it must be doubly so for beginners.  We can only offer this suggestion: If you're taking a class, ask the instructor either to specify in both numerical </B><I><B>and</B></I><B>  "inch" terms, or to say something like "Brand X Size 6 Flat or equivalent."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>A particular area in which to be skeptical is in the realm of extremely small sizes.  We've seen many a 10/0 brush that was actually smaller than a 20/0 offered by another maker.  We're totally convinced that in some cases these mini brushes are so-marked simply as a marketing ploy, rather than reflecting true size differences.</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=355 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> BRUSHES<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0033" FACE="Arial" > <A NAME="click_here"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0033" FACE="Arial" ><B>We urge you to read  warnings to brush buyers by</B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="#clicking_here" TITLE="Brushes"><B>clicking here</B></A><B>.</B></div> <div> <B>WATERCOLOR BRUSHES</B> <A NAME="watercolor_brushes"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0033" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>AMAZING, BUT TRUE DEPARTMENT:</B><B> It takes the equivalent of six month's labor to prepare just 24 pounds of Kolinsky Sable hair suitable for Winsor & Newton's Series 7 watercolor brushes.</B></div> <div> <B>Since rounds are usually the watercolorist's primary tool, we'll begin by listing </B><B>and rating</B><B> our major lines (and annoying some well-known manufacturers in the process).  Listings are more or less in order of quality, although there are some ties along the way.</B></div> <div> <B>THE VERY BEST ...</B><B>Winsor & Newton Series 7, Princeton 7150 Series, Silver Brush Black Velvet, Silver Brush's Ruby Satin (an all-media, synthetic brush).</B></div> <div> <B>EXCELLENT ... </B><B>Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold,  </B></div> <div> <B>VERY GOOD .. Cotman by Winsor & Newton, </B><B>Richeson 9000 Series,  Princeton 4350 Series.  </B></div> <div> <B>FAIR ... </B><B> Royal Soft-Grip,  </B></div> <div> <B>UNSUITABLE EXCEPT FOR CHILDREN (Or occasionally, special effects) ... Almost any</B><B> "camel hair" round.  Packaged brushes in the .99-1.99 price range.  Royal "Beginner Brushes."</B></div> <div> <B>BRUSHES FOR OILS OR ACRYLICS</B></div> <div> <B>We group these together, but with two cautionary notes: (1) Never use the same brush in both mediums, and (2) While either natural-hair brushes or synthetics </B><B>can</B><B> be used in acrylics, our view is that when used in acrylics, synthetic brushes will last longer and be easier to clean.  Some highly qualified teachers reject this stance and prefer the stiffness of hog bristle.</B></div> <div> <B>THE VERY BEST</B><B>  (All of these are synthetics)                                                         </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Winsor & Newton Monarch Series  </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Princeton Brush's Synthetic Mongoose.   </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Princeton series 6150 (short handle) and 6200 (long handle).</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Ruby Satin from Silver Brush  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>VERY GOOD </B></div> <div> <B>                                                              </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Princeton 6300 Series.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Winsor & Newton's Galeria line. </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>SIGNPAINTER BRUSHES</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Computer-cut vinyl signs have put lots of pot and brush sign men out of business, but we still have Gray Squirrel Quills in sizes 0 through 12, as well as 3/8" and 1/2" squirrel flats.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>SPECIALTY BRUSHES</B></div> <div> <B>This catch-all category includes genuinely useful brushes such as blenders of various sorts, stripers, stipplers, and others, but it also includes brushes that were developed, as far as we can see,  solely for the purpose of having something different.  We're well supplied with the useful varieties, and reluctantly admit to having sometimes been gulled into stocking some of the more dubious creations.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>AND THE CHEAP STUFF ... YES, WE HAVE THESE TOO.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>BRUSH BUYER WARNING #1</B><B> <A NAME="clicking_here"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <B>Many stores stock pre-packaged brushes only.  This makes a neat display, but also picks your pocket.  Packaged brushes usually carry a 5-15% higher price tag than the same brush unpackaged.  We carry a few packaged brushes, but only where the brush is unavailable any other way (true mostly in low-end brushes.)</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>BRUSH BUYER WARNING #2</B></div> <div> <B>Beginners frequently say they'll buy cheap brushes to begin, then buy better ones when they get better themselves.  Sadly, that won't happen.  An expert may be able to overcome the shortcomings of an inferior brush; a beginner cannot.  </B><B>The advice we've heard from every teacher we have ever known is </B><B>buy the best brushes you can afford</B><B>.  </B><B> (We're not just trying for a bigger sale. We'll make less money selling you one good brush that lasts, than two or three cheaper ones that won't ... and which may turn you off art entirely.)</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>BRUSH BUYER WARNING #3</B></div> <div> <B>Don't buy any watercolor round without rinsing out the factory-applied sizing and testing it in water. We keep a water jar near our brushes just for that purpose.  If you don't know what to look for we'll gladly show you.  (This advice is good for just about any style brush, but for watercolor rounds it's critical.)</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id41_m.htm" TITLE="Brushes"><B>Return to top of page</B></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>