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="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Models/Hobbies">Models/Hobbies</A>   |   <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Art Tools/Accessories">Art Tools/Accessories</A>   |   <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Area Art Groups">Area 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="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links">Links</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.  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> <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> <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, Winsor & Newton Cirrus, Silver Brush Black Velvet, Richeson  Series 6228, Silver Brush's Ruby Satin (an all-media, synthetic brush).</B></div> <div> <B>EXCELLENT ... </B><B>Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold, Robert Simmons Sapphire, Loew-Cornell Ultra Round.  Thanks to a 2004 upgrade, Cotman by Winsor & Newton also joins this list.</B></div> <div> <B>VERY GOOD .. </B><B>Richeson 9000 Series,  Robert Simmons White Sable, Princeton 4350 Series.  Loew-Cornell Mixtique.</B></div> <div> <B>FAIR ... </B><B>Royal Aqualon,  Lang-Nickel Royal Knight,  Masters Series 20, Royal Soft-Grip, Grumbacher Academy.</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>  </B><B>Winsor & Newton Monarch Series (synthetic) and Princeton Brush's Synthetic Mongoose.   Both are a little pricey, but they are also in a class by themselves.  They are fantastic for either oils or acrylics.  Note: Sizes are smaller than numerical equivalent in hog-bristle brushes.  In short-handled brushes, a recent addition, Ruby Satin from Silver Brush has gotten a rave reception from the real experts, our customers.</B></div> <div> <B>A CLOSE SECOND ...  </B><B>Princeton 6300 Series.  Also a synthetic great for either medium, and Winsor & Newton's Galeria series.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>STILL FIRST-RATE ...</B><B> </B><B>Winsor & Newton Rathbone Series (finest hog-bristle) and Winsor & Newton Lexington II (a (great hog bristle-synthetic blend).  And for those who prefer a short-handle brush, Silver Brush's Ruby Satin</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>WELL-ABOVE AVERAGE ... </B><B>Princeton 5100 Series and Winton by Winsor & Newton.  In synthetic brushes we also like Princeton's 6100 Series and Winsor & Newton's Galeria line. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>JUST FAIR ... </B><B>As brushes in this </B><B>category go, the 5200 Series from Princeton is the best buy.   </B><B> </B><B>We won't embarrass some big names in the industry by naming and slamming others, but several are available here if you really want them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>UNSUITABLE EXCEPT FOR CHILDREN ... </B><B>Available with a variety of names on the handle, but nearly always with the same series numbers (577 on short handles, 579 on long ones), these brushes are good for nothing except younger children (or applying glue).  We carry both lines, but we're not overly proud of them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>FABRIC PAINTING BRUSHES</B></div> <div> <B>Carried in round and flat scrubbers in a variety of sizes in Loew-Cornell's 431 series. Our quality rating: Excellent.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>SIGNPAINTER BRUSHES</B></div> <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 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>