The best modern GW brush

[Guiltysparc]

I will say that I didn't like the artificer brushes at first, i had to retrain myself on loading them vs the cheaper ones, but once i figured it out i came to like them a lot, especially for highlighting.

[MithrilForge]

I'll add for anyone thats looking specifically for synthetic (i'm vegan so I choose to only use synthetic) Windsor & Newton Cotman series of synthetic brushes are great stuff and are a great choice for a quality paint brush and being ethically responsible...if your inclined to care about more than just yourself in this world

 

I use cheaper medium costed synthetics for base coating etc but keep the good ones for detail etc.

 

when I used to use GW brushes I had less than stellar results of life expectancy from them, one drybrush I bought actually started losing a significant amount of bristles the first time I used it...I was a bit shocked at the time   and it kinda put me off em from then onwards.

 

Mithril

Edited October 30, 2020 by mithrilforge

[WrathOfTheLion]

I have not had that happen with my GW drybrushes, but I have only bought one set, and just won't replace them while they still work, so anecdotal on my end as well. I don't drybrush much, so I don't care to replace them at all while they work.

 

I do the same with relatively inexpensive synthetics, although I do not share your inclinations, so I'll use some sable and especially the redgrass games brush I have for the remainder of the details.

Edited October 30, 2020 by WrathOfTheLion

[Firedrake Cordova]

I'll add for anyone thats looking specifically for synthetic Windsor & Newton Cotman series of synthetic brushes are great stuff and are a great choice for a quality paint brush.

Indeed, they are good brushes.   I'll also throw in a recommendation for Pro Arte Prolene, Jackson's Art Supplies Studio Synthetic, and Escoda Prado and Versatil.

 

The development of synthetic brushes is an interesting one - they went from straight rods of plastic fibre, to chemically-tapered ones, and are now being "cratered" to imitate natural hair.  Jackson's blog has probably as much as you'd wish to know on it (and then more still ).

Edited October 30, 2020 by Firedrake Cordova

[Wakkomaster]

I was quite satisfied with my last batch of GW brushes from 2018, very pleased with the S Layer and M Layer in particular. A little less with the Base ones but that's probably me being too aggressive. In the end just treat them with care like you'd do with W&N or Rosemary & co's and they'll work just fine for their price.

 

After a couple years I'm replacing them with Rosemary & Co's after Juan Hidalgo reminded me of them (bought a couple of series 33 in 2012/2013), I think they're very good and with the best price/quality ratio. But still have the S Layer and M Layer ready for the dirtier jobs 

[Urauloth]

GW were putting out good brushes in 2018, I like the ones I picked up then. Very reliable for all-round work, and durable enough to use with metallics. The current ones (with all-black handles instead of having coloured ends to differentiate the types) have been a real disappointment to me though. I couldn't get them to keep a point worth a damn, and I ended up just using them for technical paints.

 

Speaking of metallics, actually, I'm interested in synthetic brushes for applying those? I haven't heard about this. I've been using a very old sable brush for highlighting metallics, but this sounds like a good idea, especially since synthetic brushes are so much better now than they used to be. Anyone have any pointers for learning more about this?

[Firedrake Cordova]

Speaking of metallics, actually, I'm interested in synthetic brushes for applying those? I haven't heard about this. I've been using a very old sable brush for highlighting metallics, but this sounds like a good idea, especially since synthetic brushes are so much better now than they used to be. Anyone have any pointers for learning more about this?

The general issue is that metallic paint is made from either ground up mica or aluminium to make them shiny, which can slowly "cut up" the hairs on a brush as the paint comes in contact with them.  As synthetic brushes are generally cheaper than sable ones, the general advice is to use one of those for at least the base coat with metallic paints, to save the wear on your more expensive brushes.  It looks like you're in the UK ... I can recommend a Jackson's Studio Synthetic or W&N Cotman in the size 2-4 range as a decent cheap synthetic.

Edited November 3, 2020 by Firedrake Cordova