Thank you for your report!
We have received your report and it is currently under investigation by a forum moderator.
Goodies coming my way
Welcome to the forum.
Here you can discuss all things art with like-minded artists, join regular painting challenges, ask questions, buy and sell art materials and much more.
Make sure you sign in or register to join the discussions.
Hang on Studio Wall
This is a Studio member-only feature!
Join our Studio membership and save your favourite Painters Online content, from gallery artwork to step-by-step guides, to your own online mood boards. Create your go-to place for inspiration and learning. Plus, members can also enjoy a range of exciting features including monthly art videos and a digital magazine library.
If you are already a Studio member, simply login to your account.
Not a Studio member? Why not try our free 30-day trial - no commitment, no credit card required
Message
Posted
Maybe one good thing about being a novice is the excitement of trying new things...
Having done 6 paintings since I left school 24 years ago, and these all being on canvas I have ordered some boards to have a go one as well as a4 and a5 sketchpads with heavy paper. Working on a smaller scale I presume I will need some finer brushes so ordered a set of decent small brushes... I have so many things I want to paint that I don't want to fill my space with canvases, its funny that what was just a whim seems to be grabbing hold of me.
I have some idea's floating around my head, I think I will do some self portraits (head, midsize and full body) I fancy doing a street scene and painting the hand from Michealangelo's David (maybe that is really cliche)
Do you still get excited about buying new supplies when you are a veteran or is it just the novelty factor?
I have some idea's floating around my head, I think I will do some self portraits (head, midsize and full body) I fancy doing a street scene and painting the hand from Michealangelo's David (maybe that is really cliche)
Do you still get excited about buying new supplies when you are a veteran or is it just the novelty factor?
Posted
Excited - well.... yes! Especially since I have a nasty habit of forgetting what I've ordered, so when it arrives the parcel can be something of a surprise.... and of course, if you've ordered something you've not used before, it's always going to be a journey of discovery, which is exciting in itself. I'm not familiar with that brand of brush and can't read the name on the handle - so I know what they're not, but not what they are: still, they look to be well-made; and you can't (and don't let anyone tell you different) have too many brushes.
(Citadel, is it? Must take a look.)
Edited
by RobertJones
Posted
Acrylic, I wouldn't mind having a go at oil but I have nowhere I want to make a mess and acrylics are so clean and convenient, plus I am not patient regarding drying times.
This make "Citadel" is associated with the painting of models and a range of acrylics for that purpose...they use sable and are about £4-£16 a brush but I remember having a couple at school and can't really see how they can be improved on for fine detailing. I have thus far been using just two brushes, a Lanonickel Royal Knight 7250 and 7700, I have a few other brushes from Daler Rowney but don't like any of them, maybe they are just too old and abused.
Edited
by Daveyboyz
Posted
In fairness these brushes are specifically designed for acrylics, supplied with them exclusively and last for ages if looked after the ferrule should be kept clean so as to avoid the paint getting in there and loosening the bristles. I think one lasted me for my GCSE's and a year of A-level art and only then went missing so if I get 6 years out of each brush I consider that acceptable. Also bluntly stated just because you are not familiar with something does not mean it is not good - the pack above cost £30 and I bought a separate extra fine brush for £12 and would not have spent £12 on a single brush unless I knew it to be excellent. I had a Saturday job in the hobby shop that sold these paints and brushes and so am fully aware that their products are very good indeed. The paints they sell are massively superior to any that I have seen in art supply shops but because they are aimed at the painting of miniatures and models they come in small pots and would be uneconomic for large works even though their gold, silver and metallic paints as well as some of their extremely vivid colours might be worth the investment.
I typo'ed the Langnickel and am not sure if I am allowed to drop links here (please remove if against the rules) but I would recommend you try the Landnickel Royal series brushes, these are and American product, synthetic and designed for watercolour or acrylic. I cannot remember where I bought them but they can be ordered online here http://www.royalbrushstore.com/c/brushes_by-series-name_royal-knight
Posted
Yes alway got excited with new stuff, not so much now as it's usually topping up paint. Got loads of brushes and other kit, in fact need to get rid of a lot. Going to be in touch with the local art college, initially to see if anyone wants a stack of The Artist magazines I subscribe to. Gave a load away couple of years back to a chap in here.
Posted
Yes you can pay much more for brushes, if I wanted to spend more I would have gone for the Windsor and Newton Series 7 brushes which range from £11 to £235 but it is not necessary regardless how highly recommended they are. (Again you will probably note that these are officially watercolour brushes but they still work fine for acrylic detailing)
I have some copper sheet on order to paint a miniature portrait on so I needed some fine brushes, but what percentage of the time will I be using these tiny brushes? Probably no where near as much as the larger sized ones that I have been using thus far.
The only issue is I am itching to paint and these pads, canvas boards and copper hasn't arrived yet.
Posted
I still haven't looked up Citadel brushes, but will. I was completely unaware of sables made specifically for acrylic - so you can still learn a lot from this forum, even if you think you've heard it all before: good!
I certainly wouldn't use my (rather few) best sables on acrylic, but keep them exclusively for watercolour. At the prices you're talking about though, Daveyboyz, I'd certainly be interested. I do have a VERY old red sable round (not sure it started as a round, mind you) made by Roberson's specifically for oil paint, so it's long-handled: I must have had it for 50 years now, and it's irreplaceable for very soft blending touches, and glazing. I don't know what I'd do without it now. Roberson's materials are really well worth laying your hands on if you can - I also have their hog-hair 'Orpen' filbert brush - just a lovely tool; superb quality hair, and a beautifully varnished, polished handle (for both of my Roberson brushes): none of the cracking and splitting away from the handle that you get in some old Winsor & N, and Rowney brushes - I know it doesn't make any difference to the quality of the hair, but it makes a lot of difference to the quality of the painting experience.
And let's put in a word for Rosemary & Co brushes: of all the modern brush makers, and many are excellent, I'd put this brand very near the top - I've never yet bought a Rosemary & Co brush that disappointed me in performance: and they varnish the handles properly too!
Posted
I have to put into context that they may not suit you, they are used for very fine detail and miniatures. Games Workshop (company that produce lead figurines for painting and board games) sell Citadel products almost exclusively, they produce acrylic paints, inks, metallic paints, varnishes etc These figurines such as the one below stand on plastic bases the approximate circumference of a 50p coin so the paint needs to be very smooth, very opaque and the brushes need to be thin enough to paint in such scales. Their whole range of paints are sold in little tubs of 12ml or 24ml which are about £2.50 - £5 each. They dry quickly, and have some very vivid colours with a large range of ready mixed colours with outrageous names like rotting flesh etc. these replaced almost completely the use of enamel paints for such hobbists. If I pass any of their outlets (I know there are still some dotted around) maybe I will go in and have a look at what they have on offer that can be utilized for my own purposes.
As such only the tip of the brush ever touches paint, they need care to look after washing out thoroughly and spend time in the mouth (since this seems to keep them going to a fine tip with none of the issues of stray bristles and some recommend the use of vasoline at the end of a session...
Naturally as I intend to so some very small scale work such tools will be of use, if you paint A3 size stuff I would not recommend...
Its possible that one day I will want more expensive and better quality brushes but at the moment I am not that good, can't really warrant it and can manage fine with what I have.
As such only the tip of the brush ever touches paint, they need care to look after washing out thoroughly and spend time in the mouth (since this seems to keep them going to a fine tip with none of the issues of stray bristles and some recommend the use of vasoline at the end of a session...
Naturally as I intend to so some very small scale work such tools will be of use, if you paint A3 size stuff I would not recommend...
Its possible that one day I will want more expensive and better quality brushes but at the moment I am not that good, can't really warrant it and can manage fine with what I have. 