Princeton Catalyst Polytip Brushes

I bought 6 of much-touted Princeton Catalyst Polytip Brushes at the Jerry's Artarama Art of the Carolina's art trades show and wanted to review them as they are supposed to be perfect for WSO painting. I did a quick painting which I'll post below along with my commentary on the brushes.

This painting was a real quickie (for me) but was enough to evaluate the new brushes. I got two filberts - size 4 & size 8, a size 4 bright, a size 3 angle shader and 2 rounds - size 1 and size 6. The rounds were purchased at the suggestion of the clerk/sales rep who said she was an oil painter and considered these two brushes indispensable but i haven't really used them yet.

I really like the two filberts but filberts are my brush of choice anyway. However, these along with the bright and the shader worked very well for painting. I did try to use the small round for my signature but found it difficult to use for signing. The sales clerk had recommended that brush specifically for signing paintings and small detail but I find a rigger easier for those purposes. I didn't use the larger round at all so I question how indispensable they really are although I would need to do more paintings to really determine their value.

As I said, I liked painting with all the brushes I tried but when it came to clean-up, I found that all the brushes splayed their bristles and I had to soap them to get the bristles to go back to their original form & let them dry with the soap in the bristles. With other synthetic brushes, I can reform the bristles with plain water if they do happen to get splayed out.

The prices for the brushes at the show weren't much cheaper than the price on Dick Blick for them (some lower, some a bit higher so they probably ended up about the same overall price). I don't think they're overly expensive for quality brushes and they do behave wonderfully for painting. However, I have some very cheap brushes from Hobby Lobby that I like as well.

All in all, I would recommend the brushes but would suggest that you buy just one to start with to see if you like them well enough to buy more.

Jan, those pears look good enough to eat! Isn't it funny how we all like different kinds of brushes. I can't use a filbert for anything, but I use everything else for painting, even 20/0 liners for signatures. Nice to hear about the Princeton Catalyst Polytips, too. Thanks for the information!

Thanks, Crystal. I was pleased with the pears because I was able to paint them pretty quickly and loosely for me anyway.

I'm not surprised that we all like different brushes, we're all different people and work and think differently from one another. I guess that's why I get suckered into trying new supplies all the time - I figure if it works for so and so, then it ought to work for me! But, then again, you don't know how you'll like something until you try it. Everyone else who have tried these polytips love them because they don't get soggy & can handle a full paint load. I like them for those reasons but after washing, they looked as if they had been used for years. I don't know if that will affect them the next time I use them, I hope not!

How is your new Arches oil paper? We need a review on it.

Hi Jan,

Thanks for the review of the brushes… We are all in the quest for that "IT" material… that will ease our painting troubles.

I LOOVVVVEEEE these pears. The texture is awesome and love the light and shadows. Cool…

Faisal

You're right, Faisal, we all want that magic art supply that will make us perfect artists instantly. I know there's not a magic anything but I do have to say that having the right tool can make a tremendous difference between struggling and an easier time of painting.

Thanks for "loovvveeeeing" the pears! I thought they came out pretty well for the time involved! BTW, they're on a 5 x 7 hardwood panel that I gessoed. The paints are a mix of Aqua Duo's, Lukas and some old Max from when WSO's first came out.

Those pears are terrific. You really did a great job with them. It sounds like the synthetic brushes that were supposed to mimic bristles, do exactly that when it comes to water. Maybe you have to do most of the cleaning with oil and then use the soap and minimal water for the final cleaning followed by bloating of all the excessive water out while shaping them. It is always so frustrating when the brushes don't hold their shape.

Thanks Judy, it means so much to have other members like what I do. I know the ones who participate/comment know painting.

You may be right about the brushes reacting like true bristles. You would think they'd resist water since they're synthetic but I'll try your advice and see if that helps. With Thanksgiving coming up, I haven't had time to do any more painting so haven't used the brushes again.

I'll keep you posted,

Happy Thanksgiving.

And Happy Thanksgiving to you!!!

Happy post thanksgiving…