Synthetic brush recommendations

[Dark Shepherd]

Looking for the above if anyone has any suggestions? Mainly for fine detail/layering/glazes but will take any applicable non citadel brush suggestions

[andes]

I have a Princeton Select Round #1 I use for blocking in colors, washes, glazes, Contrast, etc. It's lasted pretty well and I'll replace it with the same.

[MithrilForge]

Well i typed up a response for you in the Darren latham topic but it was removed for being off topic (understandably) so i'll put it here instead 

 

Anyways to the topic...

Windsor & Newton: Cotman series-111  brushes are really good synthetic brushes and are cheaper than their series 7 (sable brushes) counterparts, so you could kinda say the Cotman series is the "Rolls Royce" of Synthetic brushes.

 

hope that helps

 

Cheers, Mithril 

Edited May 15, 2020 by mithrilforge

[battle captain corpus]

Dark Shepherd try Rosemary & Co. They are widely available and in packs to. Their brush soap (I’ve never used brush soap personally in 31 years of hobbying!) is apparently great to.

 

The main thing is try and find a brush, especially for methods you mention, that has a large body that can retain fluid and a fine tip which holds a point still at the same time. :)

 

I’m used to GW brushes personally but that’s a hang up for painting for GW for years! X)

 

BCC

[Firedrake Cordova]

I've used Winsor & Newton Cotman Series 111, Ken Bromley's "Artist's Value" own-brand, Pro Arte Prolene Series 101*, and Jackson's "Studio" own-brand ones.  

 

I'd say they were all "OK to good" - they have more spring/snap than a cheap natural hair brush which will frequently sit in whatever shape was caused by the last stroke you made, but paint doesn't quite flow off of them the same***.  They also don't respond to pressure in the same way as a natural hair brush - if you put a little pressure on a natural brush, it'll splay in a controlled manner to get a wider stroke, whereas these stay more-or-less the same shape.

 

Also, as an FYI, all fine** synthetic brushes are prone to "fish-hooking" (the tip of the brush going into a "hook" instead of a point) - this can be corrected by dipping the tip of the brush into warm water, repointing it, and setting it in gum arabic.  Just don't get it too far up the brush as the heat will melt the glue holding the bristles in.

 

I'm not sure where you are, but it might be worth having a word with a local art supplies shop, and ask them for recommendations on synthetic watercolour brushes for fine detail work.  If you're in the UK, I can recommend Ken Bromley Art Supplies, Grantham's Art Discount, or Jackson's Art Supplies (just be aware that they're very busy at the moment, so it might take them a while to answer their e-mail!!).

 

* The Prolene Plus Series 007 seem to have been introduced as an upgrade since I got mine.

 

** Probably size 1 or smaller, from memory.

 

*** Most synthetic hairs are simple cylinders or cones, whereas natural fibres are a cone wrapped in scales - some synthetic fibres have dimples punched into them to simulate this.

Edited May 15, 2020 by Firedrake Cordova

[Dark Shepherd]

Well i typed up a response for you in the Darren latham topic but it was removed for being off topic (understandably) so i'll put it here instead

 

Anyways to the topic...

Windsor & Newton: Cotman series-111 brushes are really good synthetic brushes and are cheaper than their series 7 (sable brushes) counterparts, so you could kinda say the Cotman series is the "Rolls Royce" of Synthetic brushes.

 

hope that helps

 

Cheers, Mithril

Thanks, yeah saw that but didnt save it before it got virusbombed and didnt know who to dm! Thanks again though, much appreciated

[Dark Shepherd]

Thanks Battle Captain Corvus and Firedrake Cordova for the advice & info!

 

Am in Ireland so most UK shops would ship to here