Need Help With Brushes. What Do You Use?

[charleygnarlyp290]

I need help finding some decent brushes. I have always used red sable, and still have a few from my modeling days in the '80s, but I want to create a fresh set, two actually. One set for enamels only, the other for acrylics.

I have gone to Hobby Lobby and Michael's, and even a local craft store, but can't find sable to save my life. They all carry synthetic brushes, and I am not familiar with how they work. If they work as good as sable, I am fine with that, but don't want to go through the expense of trying them if they aren't that good. I tried one of the sets from HL that is available in the model section (thick, triangular shaped handles, with five of six different sizes and shapes) and they were horrible. The bristles get all wild with stray hairs sticking out the sides which makes detail painting a real challenge. And as a side note, I am meticulous in brush care due to my background in graphic design (you know, back in the old days when we used paint and ink instead of a computer) so, I know how to take care of, and maintain brushes.

So, as my topic title states, what brushes do you guys use and where do you get them? Like I said, if you guys/girls use something from the big craft/hobby stores and they work, that is fine with me.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[JimD]

I've been struggling with brushes myself. I had been buying the 3-5 5 packs at Hobby Lobby and using them as disposable. They hold up well enough for about one use, but that started annoying me. Last time I went I got some of the Windsor and Newton brushes...they have blue handles...off the top of my head I'm not sure if they are synthetic or not, but they've maintained shape and held up well.

I'd really be interested to see what others say on this...this is a question I've been meaning to ask myself.

[vlpbruce]

I have had good results with Talkon brushes, but I do prefer sable. I think Testors produces some sables, and there are the Windsor & Newtons, which I think you can find at an art supply store.
Hope this helps.

[dierk]

For acrylic paints there's nothing better, or more expensive, unfortunately - than Windsor and Newton 7 Series IMHO, short and long versions available. For something like the OOO sized brush I prefer the shorter variety, I find it gives me more control. Bought one about almost two years ago and it still has a pointy point.

[kaytermarram]

I use since years only synthetics from Da Vinci and love them a lot, because when handled carefully, always a nice pointed tip and they work very well for my figure painting. In former times I used oil paint, for this, I had the formidable Windsor and Newton. But nothing is comparable to your own studies so I suggest buy some syntbetics and try them out of you feel comfortable with them!

Frank