Brushes for oil paint?

L

Lee L.

Active member
I have read where the brushes are the most important parts of oils paints. What brand and softness brushes do you use? Anything that might help me on brush choice would be great.

Thanks!
 
I use the best quality from Micheal's craft store. The 'Artist' grade. they work well enough, don't break the bank and I don't have to worry about ruining a $20 brush.
 
I use a heck of alot of ROYAL Soft Grip brushes because I scumble, and that beats the hell out of brushes. Best price is at Pat Cattan.

Also a host of Dick Blick Studio brushes in every style. Plus expensive brushes I've had for years..........some 30-40 years.

Brushes carry much history, and I have tough time even tossing the cheap ones.....

I've used old wood brush handles for shore bird bills & other stuff, that recycles them into my work.

Ya, with brushes I have a hard time letting go.
 
This one works for me...

IMG_20120215_214716.jpg


Here are a few of my "speciality" brushes...


IMG_20120221_175539.jpg


But I got a new favorite...and it's a real beauty, I'll try and remember to get a pick while I'm slopping some white on 'Two and a Half Swans' tonight

Chuck
 
I hate to hijack this thread, but it is related. What do you guys that use marine spar varnish use to clean your brushes? I've used everything from mineral spirits, to turpentine to gasoline and the brushes stil retain a tacky feel and stiffness after dried.
 
Have you tried acetone? Just don't get it into the glue that holds the bristles in. It will soften that up too.
 
Like some others have said, whatever brushes you can afford will do. There are a ton to choose from so it may be trial and error until you find what works for you best. One thing I've found out is the softer the brush, the softer the blend.

I clean my brushes I use for applying the spar varnish with regular paint thinner, works fine for me.

Hope this helps,

Locke
 
Michael,
I have similar issues with the spar varnish so I have one brush I use for that. It sits in cheep OMS for weeks at a time when I am doing lots of carving. It sounds strange but after several weeks the varnish comes off to the surface of the OMS and makes a film. I then dump the jar wipe off the brush and give it a final cleaning in fresh OMS. The up side is that any time during its soak time I can take it out dry it a little and use it for more varnish.
 
Still leaves you a little room. Sometimes fingers get a little messy :)
Click to expand...


My fingers seem to alway get more than a little messy no matter how long the handle on the brush is. That said, here is a pic of my new favorite brush...

05E2C0CC-8B4F-4B7F-8E6E-E41EB7FDBA41-1283-00000228D237992F.jpg

 
I have read where the brushes are the most important parts of oils paints. What brand and softness brushes do you use? Anything that might help me on brush choice would be great.

Thanks!
Click to expand...


Lee

I hope you don't think I was poking fun at your expense, really not my intention, as I have been where you are at, trying this, that and the other thing, buying more paints, more expensive paint, thinners, mediums, brushes, more expensive brushes, I finally gave up. Well, not really gave up, more like took a couple steps back. After much counseling by Pat Gregory and Bob Swann, I pushed the oils aside and went back to acrylics and latex and frankly have been loving it (again). I learned alot by failing to suceed in oils, far more than I would have learned by plodding along with water based for that time, however I likely would have finished a lot more decoys rather than paint the same ones over and over and over untill I just said good enough. Oils are great for a lot of people, but just not my thing.

I remember having breakfast with Geoff Vine at Westlake a couple years ago, and he brought with him the Widgeon that was the current cover shot of Wildfowl Carving Magazine, and he gave us this run down, step by step to the perfect blends, and perfect transition lines, and I started laughing and said something like "That's all so easy, you just missed one thing, I don't have your hands. Knowing what I should do and making it happen are two different things."

Good luck in your quest!

Best
Chuck

PS Robinson, if you read this, you want my tubes of Grumbachers?
 
Thanks for the replies.

You guys hijack all you want because I learn from it too. You guys that use spar have you given any thought on spray on spar?

Chuck,
I get your humor and think it's great! Problem with the internet is you can't see facial expressions, body language, etc. so some people take things the wrong way. I am a big jokster as well but stay on the reserved side here because most would take it the wrong way and then I would end up not being able to view the site. If I had a badge too it wouldn't matter much then and I could let my hair down a bit.... even though I try to keep it all shaved off.
I worked in oils on flat art when I was a teen but that was many moons ago and never retained the information. I have worked in acrylics for several years and for the most part I like them. My biggest gripe is not being able to blend really well since they dry so fast. One other reason is my adhd won't let me sit still or focus on one thing for too long so I would be able to stop in the middle of a feather and come back to it in a few hours to finsh it up. I'm going to start out on the cheap end with oil paints and sink my most money into brushes since I will be able to use the brushes either way.
 
Some of the best Shorebirds were painted with chewed sticks and branches, not brushes.......ain't the brush, it's the artist.

Spar varnish, I use the same old brush. Clean it in a seperate jar of mineral spirits, then Dawn, and finish with "The Masters" Brush Cleaner and Prerserver.

Everyone uses what works for them, just trial & error. It's all part of the Fun and the Experience, of being creative.


"You must learn from this that one must capture the accident and transform it into science" Auguste Rodin (1847-1917)

I'm still workin' one that one................Big Time!
 
For varnish and oils I favor a stiff natural bristle brush. With the big box stores there are more inexpensive options than their used to be. I ignore the brand.
 
Agreed with above, brand name does not matter to me either. I buy the quality brush I can afford in the style I want and take care of it.

Here is a product I started using was amazed what it did for some trim brushes my wife had messed up. When I used it on my good brushes was even happier.


http://www.bristlemagic.com/
 
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