Quick Tip 338 - Why So Many Brushes?

[@lauraorem1276]

I'm a total brush addict and I'm not sorry. Recently I starting using Rosemary & Co. synthetic bristle brushes (for oils), and I'm hooked. They're quite reasonable too. Highly recommend.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Laura, I'm hooked on Rosemary brushes, too.

[@anqishen1384]

Thank you Diane ❤ I bought a bunch of Rosemary and Co brushes today after watching your quick tip videos 💕😅

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Don't you just love them!

[@lauraclooney216]

Thank you Dianne, I just found you recently and I have learned more in a week from you than anyone else I have followed. I love these Quick Tips, just perfect.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Enjoy the journey.

[@Catbooks]

You are a treasure, helpful to those who are new to painting, or oils, and those who are experienced. Filberts, and specifically badger filberts, are my treasured and most used brushes. Never have liked hog bristles, and sable is too soft. Badger is the sweet spot.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks so much. Keep enjoying the journey.

[@448Mac]

I'm a novice painter and this helped greatly. I have so many brushes and have struggled trying to use them NOW I understand the how and why. THANKS.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@kaygoski]

Fantastic tutorial thank you !

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You're very welcome!

[@dianeoconnor8310]

This is such a useful video! I’ve been painting quite a long time, but I’m still learning from you, Dianne. I also have lots of brushes, and look after them better than I look after myself! I even keep them in labelled jars, separating them for the different mediums. I’m a huge fan of Rosemary &Co brushes, for the quality of service from the company, and the quality of their brushes. They also have available both long and short handles, which saves me having to saw the handles in half!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I've not yet met an artist who had tried Rosemary brushes and didn't like them.

[@RealmsOfThePossible]

I admit it, I'm addicted to brushes and have been since I was a child! Thank god I'm not the only one.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

We all are. If I go into the art store, it's pretty much a given that I'll walk out with another brush.

[@nikkiswenson54]

Thank you for this fun brush review, Diane! You are a lovely person! 😍😀🙃🤩

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Oh thank you!

[@christinacasteel3198]

I just watched this snd was delighted to hear you speak of Helen Van Wyk. I loved her and miss her. One thing I remember she said about brushes was that she always bought new brushes every time that she started a new painting...just like a woman who would buy a new hat every time she started a new love affair. I must have heard her say that 35 or 40 years ago. It made quite an impression and sounded so romantic. I just found you and have enjoyed you very much. As a newbie, I need lots of suggestions! Thank you for a sweet memory and have a wonderful 2022🥳

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Yep. Helen was a real trip!

[@jazmarz]

Great demo and advise. I have been taking an oil painting class for almost a semester. I wish we would have spent the time to explore the differing types of brushes and their uses. Something I plan to do now before the last portrait project. I think this advise will help me using the right brush at the right time. Thanks.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Have fun exploring brushes.

[@conniemcconnell8347]

I do love my brushes. I notice that it depends also on the medium.and viscosity. When I started with acrylic, it was craft acrylic and the synthetics for brushes and a number of specialty brushes. As I moved to soft and heavy body acrylics, I prefer a stiffer brush. The rounds are most useful for tole/folk work. Think Rosmaling with a lot of scroll type of strokes. I know, it's the wizard not the wand but those wands are so very tempting!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

...and irresistable!

[@edzejandehaan9265]

I am into watercolor, and found I really like the round chinese calligraphy brushes. Very versitile, holds lots of water/paint for washes, and a nice pointy tip for details.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for adding that.

[@margaretcroft]

Thank you so much for these videos Dianne… they are so helpful! I would like to comment on Rosemary’s brushes to help others not make the same mistake I did… some fellow artists were raving about the Evergreen brushes so I invested too heavily in them… they don’t hold up at all and splay terribly. I love my Rosemary Eclipse long flats and the Ultimate flat I bought. I also like the series 279 long flat I have.. for bristle brushes I have used the Robert Simmons Signet and the Silver Grand Prix brushes for years. I love the Creative Mark Mimik kolinsky synthetic brushes for details… Oh, I do love brushes! And love holding them and I’m going to go do that right now!! Thanks again, Dianne!!

[@lunadargent5292]

I use the evergreen but with acrylics. Ive had no splaying issues, so far. I prefer Rosemarys Ivory and master choice line for oils.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You can prevent splaying by reshaping each brush after washing.

[@margaretcroft]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction I’m pretty diligent about doing that, and have had no problems with other brushes….just the Evergreens….several of my artist friends who also love Rosemary Brushes have also had this problem with this particular brush, and I just wanted to make others aware, but thanks for the reshaping reminder!

[@gennydavidsonsmith85]

As always, precise, informative & engaging. Thank you Dianne!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@meinradgabriela]

Thank you so much, Dianne!! Great tips 👍👍👍👍

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Thanks for subscribing.

[@marieroslind1479]

Thank you, Dear Dianne🌹 My absolut favorit is the filberts. And the fan brush Is a good complement for soft edges. But the round ones I never use./ So kind of you to bring up this subject 🌺🇸🇪

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I though it would be fun to intersect with the more serious stuff.

[@mariecaroniaplotkin5268]

Thanks again Dianne! I started oil painting in the 70s. I did portraits, some with background and other things in the picture. My favorite brush was #6 round hog hair. I only painted with rounds and flats hog hair and occasionally a fan or detail brush . I don’t remember the brand but those brushes were amazing and just recently lost them on vacation after all those years . Now replacing them is so expensive to get that quality. I succumb to some synthetic ones in addition the hog hair , but they really dont perform like hog hair .

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I'm so sorry you long those brushes. That would be a terrible experiences.

[@B1ackDahlia767]

I use watercolor most, even though I first learned in oils. I definitely prefer Silver Black Velvet brushes, which are a synthetic/squirrel hybrid. For more detailed work, I love the Escoda Reserva, but being Kolinsky Sable, I had to save up for those for a long time. They are amazing. I wish I used them more rather than babying them the way I do though. I hugely appreciate your videos, this one especially, as I have been getting back into oils and found myself staring at all of the hog's hair without knowing which "in-between" grade to choose. My acrylic brushes are mostly Utrecht and have been wonderful. (Filbert anythings are my favorite for more opaque mediums.) ;)

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for that, Barbra.

[@victoria7473]

Thank you Dianne! You saved me. I had about 15 brushes in my Rosemary's cart. Knowing I only need 2 means I'll probably only buy 6 (smiley)

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Don't tell Rosemary 🙂

[@deborahapostolou8078]

I'm always excited to see anything that you post. As a beginner, your tutorials and advice are truly invaluable!! I wish that I had known this before. Foolishly, I spent a small fortune on brushes that to be honest, I didn't know much about. Until now. Thank you for taking the time to post these wonderful posts. They're truly amazing because everything you say, you say in such a manner that you don't have to be an "expert". Your advice is comprehensive and more importantly useful!!! Again, thank you so very much for all your wonderful advice! Looking forward to your next post. I don't know if you take requests, but if you could, a tutorial on how to clean your brushes ~ properly, would be great. Continued success!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks so much, Deborah. Yes, I take requests. In fact, these Quick Tips are built on requests from viewers. I have already done a Quick Tip on cleaning brushes. It was among the first ones we did- Quick Tip 7, Caring for your Brushes. And very shortly, another one will be published on shaping your brushes after washing.

[@deborahapostolou8078]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Perfect!! Thank you!

[@RevRedmondFarrier]

I am fairly new to oil painting (and art in general). I am not a brush addict, but you would not know that by looking at my collection. For me the question of why so many brushes was answered by the comment you read at the beginning. Starting out I didn't know what brushes I needed, so I bought all the brushes. lol I kept buying pack after pack of cheap brushes until I wound up with dozens of useless brushes and a small handful of brushes I use on a regular basis.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Jay Leno has more cars than he needs, too. Bet he's bought a useless one over the years.🙂

[@gaelhillyardcreative]

Thank you Dianne. Really useful. I love my Rosemary Ivory brushes. Mostly filberts, long flat and riggers (named because they were used to create the rigging in paintings on tall ships). Jacksons bristle brushes are good too. I use Jacksons flats (brights) for the strong contrasts of shadow and light we have in the Highlands.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Gael. I'm so enjoying reading about other artists' favorite brushes.

[@vbiggsable]

Sometime as part of a quick tip could you discuss the best way to save mixed paint. I'm forever trying to remix and match the paint in my paintings.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for that suggestion, Victor. We're already filmed Tips through March, but I will do a tip about saving mixed paint to be aired in April.

[@alexisdrewicki5538]

Hi. I’m new to the channel and no expert but I was having the same problem. My solution was to save my small glass and hard plastic containers, store the mixed paint in them covered with a small amount of medium or oil. Hope I’m not overstepping here. After a long hiatus from painting, in my search for some info, I found your channel this evening on KZbin. Loved it and here I am. Thank you. You’re an amazing teacher. Simple, direct, to the point and no you know what👍

[@embryonicandcatatonic]

I love Helen van Wyk's shows on KZbin. I was so sad to learn that she passed away soon after filming. She was such a great character. 💖🙏

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

She was a guiding like to many emerging artists in her day. Very little then was available for learning painting techniques.

[@TravelinArtBook]

Nice technique! How about painting sky? Which brush would work for that initially?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It all depends on what kind of sky you want to paint.

[@Doppy34]

I am now cured of it but when my paintings were rubbish I would buy new brushes because I thought it was their fault haha. But I still have loads though I use only afew.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Join the club. I think that's the case with most of us.

[@chayita7]

Dianne, what do you think of the Robert Simmons-Signet bristle brushes or the Raphael brushes? They are more or less what is available to me for purchase locally and make up most of my collection. I'd be thankful for your opinion.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

They are both good quality brushes.

[@chayita7]

I'm so glad to hear that! I also have one single Princeton bristle filbert 5200FB (Size 8) which has kept very well.

[@margaretcroft]

I have used Robert Simmons Signet brushes for years.. they are easy to obtain and I feel hold up well… I also love Rosemary brushes ( well, some of them) Will comment separately on them…

[@chayita7]

@@margaretcroft I have also used them for years; however Bill Inman presents pictures of a #12 flat Robert Simmons" twisted bristles" (in The Ultimate Paintbrush Experiment, 2018, on Google.)I do have a (too thick?) #12 bright which is only slightly like that . It's all so confusing.That's why I'm glad Dianne reassures that it's a quality brand.

[@coltwarren]

Thank you Dianne.This was very helpful for beginners but for me I am afraid it was a bit too late :D I think all of us loves brushes and we also love to experiment , hence the amount of different brushes in our collections :)

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

And don't we love just having them around us!

[@coltwarren]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Absolutely :)

[@thomastimms6575]

I have to ask as I am thrilled to watch your videos as they are quite informative. I am attempting to learn to paint using acrylics but eventually want to learn oils. Can I apply the same idea on brushes for acrylic paints as you describe for oils in this video?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Yes, absolutely

[@thomastimms6575]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Thank You very much.

[@newtea2458]

Dianne answers the questions we have that other presenters ignore. Thanks Dianne!

[@roseeartworksnl7992]

Hi Diane. Great live on value.. I see both oil, and acrylic (my choice) brushes in flat and flat shader. Is there really a difference? Thank you. Happy Sunday.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Rosee, the traditional flats don't get defined in their termology beyond being flat. The shader, as far as I know, comes from makeup brushes.

[@roseeartworksnl7992]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Thanks Diane. It seems the term shader crossed over to paint brushes. I see Princeton carries flat and angle brushes coined as shaders. Enjoy your day!

[@chayita7]

Another question, if I may: I bought 2 Rosemary flat brushes recently, series 274. They seem extremely synthetic and the outside hairs on both sides of Size 8 go out a bit. (At the time I ordered they wrote that they were about to manufacture a new batch.) I am confused: is a stiff bristle brush more useful? In other words, if I had to choose one brush between the two -- which would be preferable, the softer Rosemary or should I now try to obtain the Utrecht bristle? Again, many many thanks for your opinion.

[@---Dana----]

FWIW, I prefer Rosemary Ivory brushes. They haven't frayed and seem to wear extremely well.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

The kind of brush you use depends upon what you need the brush to do. I wonder whether you are reshaping your Rosemarys after cleaning them. See Quick Tip 7 and also look for the one we will be publishing on September 29 called Reshaping Paint Brushes.

[@katetopps4706]

I think those are the Masters Choice short flats 🤔, they're just a little softer/whispy (badger hair brushes, no synthetic in them), the outer hairs on mine do that too, but haven't found it to be an issue once loaded with paint it all stays together anyway. My sables after a while get a little fluffy, but same holds true, once loaded with oil the hair all comes together the way it's supposed to.

[@chayita7]

@@katetopps4706 Yes, I imagine the paint will cause them to adhere to each other.. Are yours also so colorful looking? Like soft taffy-colored/brown hair?

[@chayita7]

@@---Dana---- Thanks. As Dianne says, it depends what you want to do with them.

[@theconbanker]

Hi. I am new to this world. Your vdos are aspiring. I am learning to give effect of movement. Could you kindly give some tips. Like when you take a photo with slow shutter and get the blur motion if someone is dancing or running _ how to gvie that kinda effect with acrylic. Much obliged. Abbas khan

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

@Abbas Khan, that sort of thing is done with technique. The technique of blending to get gradation would play a larger role in doing the kind of interpretation you are describing.

[@ingridpenman5036]

Thank you for the great description of the various brushes and uses. The only negative thing I would say is that as I age I find myself less likely to purchase brushes made with animal hair. Synthetics have improved in quality. There is really no good reason anymore for using animals for their fur/hair then disposing of them when they are no longer useful. Technology has come a long way in creating brushes that work very well without directly impacting the living.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are right, Ingrid--technology has come a long way, but it has not yet developed a brush (to my knowledge) that gives the same response as hog bristle.

[@terryowensby5690]

If a hog has been butchered for food , what is wrong with using as much of it as possible. Such as the hair in useful ways. If you don't want to use them just don't. No need in editorializing.

[@ingridpenman5036]

@@terryowensby5690 sure I agree with that.

[@ingridpenman5036]

@@terryowensby5690 been thinking of your reply. I agree with you regarding using the whole animal. It’s a the way it should be. Using the hair of a hog after butchering is awesome. It makes perfect sense. I guess I was thinking more about how the fur is obtained for sable brushes and brushes passed off as sable. More along those lines.

[@---Dana----]

Why? Well, because. 🙂 (abstract reply) Love you, Diane.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Yep! 🙂

[@phillipking3008]

Thank you that’s very helpful

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You're welcome!

[@claudeduda3607]

Thank you, I must admit I used not the right brush for the right work before

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You're very welcome!

[@marieroslind1479]

Addiction 🙃 so true and funny !

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Doesn't that thumbnail of the Quick Tip make your mouth water!

[@JorgeSilva-rb6nz]

So many times I tried to mix my colors just using palette knives, avoiding the use of ruin my brushes, i suppose i`m not wrong !

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Both work, but the scut-work mixing with the palette knife rather than the brush does save the brush and gives a cleaner mix.

[@banbann96]

Thanks alot

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

A pleasure.

[@marieroslind1479]

Sorry, did not mean soft edges actually, but blending, - (English is my second language). To blend in different colors and nuances in a sky, for example.../🌺

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Got it...

[@tinkerno11]

There’s no need for paint brushes to be made from animal hair anymore, I have several man made Rosemary brushes and they are excellent!

[@katetopps4706]

Synthetics these days are amazing, but there are some qualities you can really only get from natural hair brushes...and most of them are made from the by product...in other words, an animal is not killed just for it's hair for the brush. Kolinsky comes from the tails of the animal which otherwise would be discarded. Rosemary has definitely made her mark in making brushes with synthetic fibers that are wonderful with less need for animal hair brushes. I've ordered a handful of their new Red Dot line (a brand new synthetic meant to replace kolinsky/sable) 🤞🤞🤞🤞 that it makes sable obsolete. My fav from Rosemary so far are the Shiraz, Masters Choice, and eclipse XL combers.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I'm loving this brush discussion. I enjoy finding out what brushes are favorites of other artists.

[@katetopps4706]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Same here! The Connoisseur sables are a treat to use, and I just purchased a Silver brush sable cats tongue...oh my goodness, it does perfect fine details (I use it for those delicate eyelid lines on horses' eyes) so much easier than using a round. I'm expecting a big order of Rosemary brushes tomorrow and will be doing some brush videos... basically trying to do videos I was personally looking for when figuring out which ones I wanted to try. Susan Lyon did a wonderful video in different brushes she uses (it's on Rosemary's KZbin channel).

[@nope4454]

3:33 sus lmao

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for watching.