Beginning again ... About Brushes!

Haven't painted for a decade or more; just getting back into it! Used to love working with oils but transitioned over to acrylics. I loved painting with oils so when I discovered the WSOs I became very excited. Have read for hours about all types of things posted here and on various other websites, reviews of WSOs, palette knives, mediums (oh, brother!) and brushes. For this post here, just one question: Which type of brush and which brand of brushes? I have notes about which type of brushes (filbert/flat, rigger/round, large etc.) and best sizes to start out with (2,6,12), and also the difference between the sables, bristle and synthetics. I like a thicker tacky traditional oil paint texture but also thin (for underpainting, etc.). I have looked at several brands of fairly good quality brushes but am unsure which brand is the best quality overall (not losing hairs, long lasting, etc.). I've read that synthetic brushes are nice (not too soft and not as course as hog hair) and that the W-N Artisan black sable brushes are also good. Any suggestions on type of brush hair (sable, synthetic, hog) and brands? Here are some brands that I have in my shopping cart for various sellers: Winsor Newton Eclipse Sable, Liquitex, Robert Simmons. Thanks!

I've used the Eclipse Sable, but I tend not to apply paint thickly. Bristle brushes work well as long as you do not let them soak in water. They tend to flare out and not hold their shape. When using them clean with the walnut oil. If you do put them in water, just swish them around briefly and then press all water moisture out of them.

Hi and welcome!

You've asked some good questions but the answers will be all over the place because each of us are all different.

For example, I heard that the Princeton Catalyst Polytip paint brushes were the cat's meow when it came to oil painting and 99% of the painters who tried them thought they were perfect. Not me, I found that they spayed out in a manner that was detrimental to my painting style and I don't like them. However, you may be like the other 99% and love them.

I do recommend a synthetic brush as it won't get soggy in water and I find that the less expensive synthetics work as well as the more expensive ones.

My advice is to try a single brush in a line or brand and see if you like it. If you do, invest in more sizes/shapes in that line or if you don't like it, you aren't out a lot of money.

Hope to see some of your work soon! Love those WSO's!

Thanks Jan!

I use hog hair for a lot of the early painting stages, then switch to synthetic flats and rounds for more exact edges. I never throw away a brush, as there always seems to be a use for even the most tattered one; trees, funky shapes, etc