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A dilema...Need help with Brushes


Malandres

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Any new brush will do for basecoating (size 2 or 3), but for detail I really like the Windsor & Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable. Perfect point, and it holds and releases the paint so much better than anything else I have used - it really makes a huge difference. And to protect your investment (okay it is only a few quid, not really an investment, but you know what I mean) get some Masters Brush Cleaner & Preserver. The Art Store in Glasgow sell it.

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Any new brush will do for basecoating (size 2 or 3), but for detail I really like the Windsor & Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable. Perfect point, and it holds and releases the paint so much better than anything else I have used - it really makes a huge difference. And to protect your investment (okay it is only a few quid, not really an investment, but you know what I mean) get some Masters Brush Cleaner & Preserver. The Art Store in Glasgow sell it.

Thanks Sholto...do the art stor sell the brushes too as im there tomoro...i dont mind basecoating as i usually use a spray primer it is the detail that i am after (i shouldve mentioned that in my post), i currently use the old old old bright red citadel brushes...

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little brushes are the 0's and "oughts" my favorite size (and I get told I'm CRAZY for using it) is a 5/0... it's super tiny and good for eyes and fine details. I prefer the brush to be shorter, so it's more stout... Not sure what you'll find at the art store...

I actually buy acrylic nail brushes (like they use in nail salons). You can find those on ebay, but you have to replace them once every... six months or so. They are meant to take a beating (nail polish is more caustic than acrylic paint) but they do wear fairly quickly (probably doesn't help that I put my brushes in my mouth... REALLY bad habit, and the reason I <don't> spend a lot of money on brushes... :D)

I've been told I should get sables... but I don't have the money, and there are a lot of bad habits I would have to unlearn first...

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I don't think tip-size varies as much as the brush-size would suggest. A good Size 2, which I use for doing eyeballs, works better than my 000 brush. They both have the same tip, but the Size 2 holds tonnes more paint, which means the tip does not dry between palette and model.

I should also point out that I use a magnifier lamp, which helps enormously with detail painting. I would get one of those, if your budget can stretch.

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it cant stretch to that just yet...i have a third hand with magnifier and a sperate lamp atm.....

i think ill have a look at the sizes and see which ones suit me best then take it from there....

But you guys are a great help though really handy talking to people who actually paint using decent brushes for their input

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Since you're in Scotland, I can't recommend Rosemary and Co brushes enough. Cheaper than W+N and I've found them to hold their tips and last longer. (www.rosemaryandco.com)

I personally use the series 22, though I know some painters use series 33 as they're a less springy brush. As for size, I paint whole models just using size 0 and 1, though for larger areas I have a 2 and a 3 as well.

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Since you're in Scotland, I can't recommend Rosemary and Co brushes enough. Cheaper than W+N and I've found them to hold their tips and last longer. (www.rosemaryandco.com)

I personally use the series 22, though I know some painters use series 33 as they're a less springy brush. As for size, I paint whole models just using size 0 and 1, though for larger areas I have a 2 and a 3 as well.

is there any shops in the glasgow area that sell these brushes as im going to glasgow tomoro with the intention of getting some new brushes...

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Another W&N proponent. Great brushes, but like a lot of other things, brushes are a matter of taste. I use the Miniature brushes (so named because they are short, not because they were manufactured to paint miniatures) A 1 is my basic workhorse brush for the majority of things, and I keep 000 just for like eyes under hoods and other tricky type stuff.

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I actually don't use any cleaner at all. I just make sure it's clean after each paint. Do not dip the whole brush in the paint (the metal part - just the sables and not all the way) and your brush should last quite a while. On average, WN lasts about a hundred minis no problem (even without additional treatment)

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After 30+ years painting I would recommend a good Sable brush maker is largely irrelevant as if you are using acrylics you will kill them quite quickly & even brush cleaner will only extend this a bit, so spending £8 on a brush I would spend £3-4 on is a waste of cash. Fine nylon brushes also have there uses especially if you are using artists ink for lining etc but they wont take the abuse levels of say lots of dry brushing a sable or even a squirrel hair one will.

As an all rounder size I use size 0-2 mostly with a good point & a 5/0 for fine lining with ink and some detail on a 6mm figures. I use brushes which have lost the ability to hold a point for general dry brushing & applying white glue to bases.

Small area dry brushing I use my normal brushes & hope they recover. I have a couple of 3/0 nylon brushes I use for artists inks. as well as a selection of size 6+ squirrel hair brushes I use for priming, & varnishing.

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