| Author | Message | ||
  Kristine |
Hi Feather ~ I've used starving artist watercolour brushes with oil pastels for a mixed media idea.....wouldn't recommend using sable brushes with oil pastels...they get globby bits in the brush. But they wash out with warm soap and water. Think with watercolour pencils you should be okay. But if you really want to be safe you could get a set of starving artist brushes just to use with mixed media. Enjoy having fun with it. :o) | ||
feather |
Is it okay to use my same expensive watercolor brushes that I use with my watercolor paint with my new watercolor pencils (Faber Castell Albrecht Durer)? Will the watercolor pencils oil or gum my brushes up at all? Can I use the same brush to paint with both media at the same time in a painting without any problems? | ||
Lex |
Carol's advice is good - try one brush at a time 'til you know what it's capable of. My only sable brushes are #4 and smaller, and I seldom use them even tho' most of my studies are fairly small. My favorite brushes are: A W&N #2 squirrel quill mop (comparable to a #12 sable) and a similar Yarka brush. No spring, but they hold lots of paint and suit my loosey-goosey style. Also, a similar #12 Grumbacher mystery fur round, a bit stiffer and coarser than squirrel, holds less water and color, slightly different techniques. 1/2" generic mystery fur flat. Again, no spring but the color just flows from it. 1/4" generic mystery fur filbert. Some spring so must be partly sable. 1" SilverWhite synthetic flat. Pretty nice faux fur. Good spring, sharp edge, decent flow. 1" Winsor & Newton #140 goat mop. Coarse, limp, great for irregular blending. 2" fine, soft goat hake. Best for soft, even washes. My next, and last, brushes will probably be a medium sized flat sable or sable/synth mix; and a humungous "ox hair" (mystery fur) round when I finally start painting on full size sheets. | ||
KetaJoy |
Thanks, Carol and Feather, for saving me money! I will start with just a few brushes instead of 12 like I had originally picked out! There is a dreamcatcher's combo set 4, 10, 1/2" and 1" that sounds like a good mix. Can I use a dreamcatcher (with the point they brag about instead of a rigger?) Should I get a fan brush to begin with, too? Thanks, all, for your posts. Reading them and all the WC books Ican get!~ KetaJOY | ||
feather |
Keta: I suggest purchasing at least one round konlinsky sabel in the size you use the most. Cheap Joes "Legend" is nice bruch for the price. For me anyway, (there are those that differ), there is no comparison between imitation and the real konlinsky. If you paint mostly in washes you want to get a really BIG bold brush as suggested earlier; but if you paint mostly tight detail - get a #2 or #3 to start with. For your "secondary" brushes you will use less frequently... don't spend too much, and experiement before your fork out the cash. You'll live and learn what's right for you. Everybody is a little different in their needs. Also, your art instructor's "style" of painting will also dictate the size of bush you'll need in class. You might call the instructor and ask what supplies he/she suggests before buying a lot of stuff you won't need for class after all. I've tried a lot of brushes and I've wasted a lot of money. My suggestion is to try as many types and styles of brushes as possible, rather than settling and buying "a total set" of one brand of brushes right off the bat that may be completely wrong for you. The more types you try the sooner you'll find the answer of what works for your individaul needs and touch. At first experimentation might be seem quite an investment, but in the long run it will save you great heartbreak. With the "right" brush you will be able to do so much more than with a brush that is wrong for you. If painting is something that you see yourself doing for a long time it's worth the initial investmet to try many types. Eventially certain brushes in your collection ewill become your "old friends" you will be lost without, and they will last for years and years if treated right. (If you're a detail painter and paint with a small brush, right off the bat invest the $10 - $15 bucks on a Winsor & Newton Series 7 brush to compare others against. It's a beautiful performer and well worth the $. Eventually may find a brush that works better for you, but this is a great starting place to compare others against. It's a brush that's earned it's reputation and you'll never throw away even if you do eventually select another brand as your very favorite. The most valuable brush is the one that you use most often whatever it's orginal price, unfortunatley for the majority of us the old saying holds true for bushes as in everything else in life....."you get what you pay for". But, perhaps, you may be one of the lucky ones that "falls in love" with a cheap one! Until you "fall in love" with a brush, just experiement as much as you can afford! | ||
carol |
keta... as you paint you will gather many brushes. the advice was good from your friend. the dreamcatcher's are nice as well as the golden fleece. sables are the best but expensive to start out with unless money is not a factor. the fleece set is a good start. the basics would be (to start with) 1" flat, 8-10 round, and a rigger. then next you will probably go with a wash brush (1 1/2, - 2"), a larger round 14- 16, a mop type brush. the longer you paint the more they will accumulate. stick with one brush until you know what it's capable of. what kind of brushes are all of you out there using? | ||
Keta Joy |
Hi, as a beginning watercolorist, I am trying to select brushes. A friend (professional watercolorist) recommends I buy Cheap Joe's brushes. Great! But he's on vacation, and I need to know more... Sable or Dreamcatcher's combo brushes or Golden Fleece? What basic brushes should I get to begin with? How about the CJ's Golden Fleece Combo set with 14 brushes and 2 scrappers at $139.??? Any good advice would be really appreciated. Also, I intend to do this for an art class (43 lessons or so) and into the future as a hobby. THANKS, and be BLESSED, Keta | ||
jfleetwo |
Has anybody used Kalish Kolinsky brushes made in Ireland? How do they compare to Legend? | ||
elc |
I was looking for Yarka watercolor brushes on Cheap Joe's web site and found this great goup. Can not find any Yarka brushes yet, but read all the discussion board, and learned other things as bonuses. I have been looking through my Catalogs and couldn't find Yarka brand brushes. Anyone can give me a direction? Meanwhile would like to share some brushes talks? I am forever trying to find good, long lasting and affordable watercolor brushes. | ||
chris2 |
elc, yarka brushes can usually be purchased through your local art store and if you cant find them there, then you can get them at www.jerryscatalog.com. | ||
cattif |
The Artists Magazine, P57 monthof March has cheap Yarka brushes on sale through Jack Richeson and Co, Inc. 1 800 233 2404 you can call and see if they are sstill on sale. | ||
elc |
Thnaks chris2 and cattif. | ||
drollere |
i don't recommend you pursue yarka brushes. the rounds don't point well at all, and i've had to hand trim some of the smaller flats to get a decent edge. the sable tufts are amply sized, but it's just not what a good sable brush can be. daniel smith, isabey and winsor & newton brushes are good, but insanely overpriced. it's hair from a varmit, for pete's sake, not spun gold. for the money, the three best brush brands to look into for kolinsky or sable are: cheap joe's, rekab, and ABS brushes in england (i'm not associated with any of these companies). abs brushes and rekab have their own web sites (use www.google.com to find them), but you will have to order by email. the cheap joe's brushes are also very good, though the flats only come in two sizes. bummer! | ||
BigDillPickle |
I have a small Yarka round kolinsky sable that I got as a free promotional deal, and I have to say that I didn't like it much. It doesn't hold a point and has little spring after a while. I do like the way it holds/distributes the pigment and water. (Someone previously said that their quality is inconsistent, so maybe I just got one of the bad ones.) Everyone has his or her own favorites, though, and Yarka just might suit your style. Lately I've been using Joe's Golden Fleece #28 and Utrecht 236 Sablette #40 for most of my painting, with reasonably good results. They hold more water than a sable of similar size would, I think, but you learn to deal with that by loading up on pigment. For the size, the price is unbeatable. A Kolinsky sable of comparable size would put me in the poorhouse! The CJ's Golden Fleece is the perfect shape for the way I work, too -- a nice point, not too sharp, with a good-sized reservoir. | ||
waternymph |
I read an excellent book called How to Make Watercolor Paint Itself by Nita Engle. In it she lauds a brush that she calls a "potter's brush." I can't find something by that name locally or at Cheap Joe's. She does, however, recommend Cheap Joes', which is why I'm here. The picture in the book doesn't clue me in as to what a "potter's brush" is. Anyone know? ROBRTSWOLF@AOL.COM | ||
Peg |
Waternymph - I read the same book & I also wondered the same thing. I have something called a "mop" brush & I wondered if it was similar. Also, any idea where I can get a "rigger" brush? They have a fuller body & a long narrow tip - wonderful for long lines. | ||
Peg |
Waternymph - I read the same book & I also wondered the same thing. I have something called a "mop" brush & I wondered if it was similar. Also, any idea where I can get a "rigger" brush? They have a fuller body & a long narrow tip - wonderful for long lines. | ||
Peg |
Sorry about that, didn't realize I already posted. | ||
Anonymous |
Peg, Cheap Joe's carries the "rigger" brushes and at a very reasonable price :o). | ||
Jay Wise |
Anyone out there with experience with the skipper brushes? They look perfect for keeping you loose but a bit stiff for watercolor. Thanks for any help. | ||
CJAS C.S.R. (Julie) |
Jay, My experience, and from just watching Skip Lawrence use this brush is that, it does keep your painting loose in a way. Because you can't pick up a lot of fluid washes, your strokes stay just as they hit the paper, no messing around. Skip uses them to function much like a oil or acrylic hawg bristle brush would, where he is actually scrubbing the watercolor onto the surface. If you are interested in watching him use them, you can learn alot from the watermedia focus series of videos that we have featured in the catalog and in the flyers. There is a series of four video with Christopher Schink and Skip Lawrence demonstrating serveral different techniques and theories. Skip uses the "Skipper" brushes exclusively. You might find it interesting. Happy Painting Julie Customer Service Manager | ||
Ryan Mitchell |
Hi, I have a great 11/2" gold watercolor brush made by Eagle. I have been trying to find out how to get others in different sizes. I think it was made in the UK. Do you know where they can be purchased? Thanks, Ryan Mitchell | ||
Neffi |
Hi, Would love to hear from anybody who has used Escoda kolinsky round brushes and Dreamcatcher rounds. Thanks, Neffi | ||
chris2 |
neffi, i have an escoda brush i use and i like it. it has high quality materials and points needle sharp. the price is a lot lower than comparible brands like w&n. they are very worth the value. chris | ||
Emily |
Neffi- I just resently bought a set of the Escoda 1212. I haven't gotten to use them much yet (school started - watercolor's on the back burner). I posted about them on the paints section when I was considering buying them. I got a set of six in a wooden box from Pygmalion's in Bloomington, IN for about ninty dollors. I found them slightly cheaper on the internet, but opted to buy them from Pygmalion's because the owner is wonderful and let my try out a number of different brushes with water. They are really beautiful brushes. | ||
Emily |
Escoda- Today I was looking at a site that compairs brands of watercolor brushes, paints, and paper. http://www.handprint.com/HP/WCL/brush3.html It claimed that Escoda manufatures Cheap Joe's natural hair brushes. A few months ago I asked Cheap Joes how similar the Cheap Joe's brushes were to the Escoda brushes. They did not mention that they were made by the same people. I would like to know if this is true or the website was wrong. | ||
chris2 |
emily, i have both escoda and cheap joes brushes and they are the same. i noticed the ferrel is crimped the exact same way(they are usually different from one manufacturer to another) and they are both made in spain. also in there literature at cheap joes it says the brushes are made by a family in spain. escoda brushes are made by a family in spain. this only goes for there dragon lines though. i dont know why they wouldnt mention that. chris2 | ||
Emily |
I thought the two sounded similar which is why I asked before. My mind went the same way (family in Spain/family in Spain, gee they do look alike.) I wrote it off though because it wasn't confirmed. From closely looking at the catalog it looks like the Dreamcatcher, Magic Dragon, Dragon's Tongue, and the Lizard's Lick are made in Spain. Escoda? I think the website above was half way right. They said the Magic Dragon and Legend. The Legend has USA printed on the side. | ||
chris2 |
yeah, i dont think the legends are made by any major brush maker. i dont really know of any brushmakers in the us besides grumbacher. and i dont think that the quality of grum. is very high. i wonder who makes the legend series then? chris2 | ||
Emily |
I wonder if Cheap Joe's will join this conversation sometime. I am really starting to get curious to know for sure. The Escoda brushes are sometimes hard to find. If the Cheap Joe's brushes are the same it would make getting different sizes and shapes(flats)easier. I stumbled across the Escoda set when I was in San Antonio but the store only had them as a Christmas promotion and when I went to get them later they didn't have them. When I moved home to Indiana I found them at a friendly little art store here. They however have a very limited supply (the 1212 set, 1212 sizes 0-12,and 1212 travel brush...which looks very much like the Dragon Tongue travel just the 1212 is much more expensive.) | ||
chris2 |
they have a pretty good stock of them here in cincinnati, but that doesnt help you. i would give you ten dollars if i am wrong about this, that is how confident i am. i swear they are the exact same thing. i never actually compared the prices of escoda and joes, though, so i dont know which is more expensive. i assume the escodas are pricier. joe where are you to answer this question of ours? chris2 | ||
gabriel |
you used the magic word "indiana", and i, being a hoosier, will now answer your question. the dragon's tongue, dreamcatcher, and magic dragon brushes are essentially (specification wise) the same as the escodas, and yes, they are cheaper. when asked about possible fueding between the two brush families, the mayor of honalee declined comment. -gabriel. | ||
chris2 |
thanks, gabriel! chris2 | ||
Emily |
Thank you. What part of Indiana? If you're ever back in Indiana and go by the Bloomington area take a trip over to Pygmalions Art Store off of Kirkwood Ave. They are very friendly although over priced. It is a small store and operates that way. I've not been to any other store that almost forces you to try out the brushes if you ask a question. I like to support businesses that care about what they sell. That is one reason I'm so glad to have found Joe's, not to mention the good prices. | ||
theBrush |
Having tried most everthing,, I use Joe's brushes exclusively and encourage my students to do likewise. There is not a better value for the dollar, nor realistically a better brush. | ||
gabriel |
you're welcome, chris2! emily, i am from vincennes, IN, a mecca of corn, pigs, and the wabash river. as for the brushes- keep on keepin' on! | ||
Emily |
Gabriel, I'm from Martinsville. Right between Bloomington and Indy. I go to school at Purdue. So I know about corn, pigs and the Wabash. There are some great places to hike and paint in southern Indiana. My sister has a book that tells about the nature walks in southern Indiana. I use it when I want to get away and sketch. | ||
Kukana |
To theBrush: I agree, I have been really happy with cheap Joes brushes. I was surprized I liked them as well as I did. I just ordered some more. (I really like the Robt. Simmions sky flow brushes.) I also like the American Journey paint more than I thought I would. (I guess I was just being a snob and only liked "Name Brand stuff".) The American Journey paints don't come in as many colors as WN or Holbien or others but they are good. I just wish they'd use more generic names instead of the cutesy names so it would be easier to identify them. I haven't tried the paper but Id like too. | ||
gabriel |
emily- it's nice to meet someone from that area- i have fond, pig-filled memories of my childhood. i used to go to the rogers clark memorial all the time. the rest of the time, i lived on a farm with my mom, my twin brother, uncles rich and shawn, and my grandparents. suffice to say, a good time was had by all. good luck with your projects, and keep writing in! until next time, gabriel, hairdresser to the stars. | ||
Anonymous |
i would some feedback on a watercolor flat wash brush size 2. what is best to work with and buy |
