great video. I've found that the cheap brushes do just fine for most applications, and for tabletop quality, will do the job well enough. Keep the synthetic cheapos as your workhorse brushes and save the nice expensive natural brushes for more detailed and delicate work
This is the only real answer, basecoating, washes, rough work, etc… can be done with a trash brush. Use high grade kolinsky for detail work, use some form of natural mid range brush for detail metallics work
I actually like that aspect. When they develop the hook, it allows me to paint in hard to reach areas between limbs and some such. Or inder the hair, between a weapon and the body, etc. So I keep several hooking brushes for this :D
I use supercheap (like 0.4$ per unit) 1-size synthetic brushes for metallic paints and they are ok waaaay longer than I thought it would be With such low price I am ok with hooking Also I think it really depends on the specific manufacturer
Unsurprisingly, an excellent and helpful comparison video about brushes made of hair comes from a chap with such an impressive beard. You obviously know, what you are talking about. ;-) Thank you very much!
Literally just bought three Rosemary & Co brushes for highlighting and details because my cheapish brushes frayed and dumped paint most unceremoniously. I’ve done the chest eagle and highlighting of one Raptor Space Marine today and the results are leagues ahead of what I’m used to. In my amateur opinion, most sets for £20 or 30 freedom dollars will do fine for most things but a good tip for one or two brushes is worth the expense, just be sure to WICK IT OFF!
I like Hobby Lobby brushes for synthetic. They cost $2 on sale. I do REALLY like my Windsor and Newton size zero. I only use it for highlights and small details (so like 2 hours a week)... But Ive had it for a year and it's like new.
I've been using Windsor and Newton synthetics for years and had very few regrets. Only recently bought some natural hair brushes, and I can confirm that there's nothing wrong with synthetic bristles, so long as you're prepared to adjust your painting techniques to your brush.
A non-trivial part of the problem of the Da Vinci series 35 is availability: Here in the US, they aren't in many places, and when they come in, they can go for $25 buckaroos instead of the 10 Euros I pay in my trips to Spain: More expensive than getting a Winsor & Newton series 7! But it's not brushes that limit us: See how the newest vallejo Xpress color series 2 is still not available to US distributors. So yes, it's not just that we need to go to Spain for Universal Healthcare, or extremely high quality Spanish Water, but all kinds of painting supplies at a sensible price
But what about less cheap synthetic brushes ? I personally choose to only use synth brushes and I truly understand the problems you describe with them. Also your video perfectly shows what I can see myself versus what I see with people using "natural" brushes. But it would be nice to see the difference between the very cheap brushes you can find everywhere against (for example) the Raphael 8394. Also, I've tried the W&N synth brushes and they are also bad, especially considering the price... Still a nice video and comparison and it explains the limitations I have with my regular synth brushes. By that I mean, it's not just me, it comes from the brushes that doesn't help what I could do with a better brushes :D
I think expensive synthetics are the worst from both worlds, expensive and at the same time losing tip very fast, almost the same as $1 synthetics Also agree on W&N synthetics, not the best experience
I also have nothing but issues with windsor and newton. Splitting hairs or in some cases they are shipped damaged because someone damaged the hairs when they place the plastic cover on it. And this is when they are sealed. So no tampering.
It's a problem with W&N, had the highest amount of defects with them Rosemary are cheaper and have better quality control (they also manufacture Artist Opus brushes too, just twice the price)
I’m not the best painter by any means but I’ve found dollar store natural hair brushes work amazingly if you can find some with a good tip. My $5 (AUS) brushes came in a pack of six and while I only use 2 of them they have been a god send compared to my citadel synthetic or natural and I’m never going back. This could just be citadel being a pile of crap but I’m not about to fork out extra cash for another good brand brush while I can get something amazing for so cheap.
I took advantage of a trip to London to buy the Artis Opus size 0 and 1, I must have been unlucky cause the tips are not that fine they do nothing but split while I use them. I had bought them for the highlights but given this problem I now only use them as brushes to paint the basecoat now.
yes, they're mentioned a lot, but prices vary also depending on location which can be a factor. they're "local" for me since they're made in saint brieuc in france, and i'm not impressed by my W&N in comparison, for its price...
I still prefer Winsor & Newton. For the last three years I tried many alternatives. But the spring and the tip of W&N are still the best. I tried Davinci but they lost the tip during the first paint session. There are still some brands I'll have to test but so far I stay with W&N.
I would recommend trying Raphael, I think this is the best brush, actual top tier, not just repackaged mid-range Rosemary & Co as Artist Opus for twice the price I like W&N but this brush probably has the highest amount of defects out of the box, probably a half had some issues
@@gi1dor I testest Raphael for two years. I forge to buy new ones had a W&N in in my drawer and never switched back. Raphael feels to me more soft. And they didn't last any longer than W&N. I still use one for darklining as I find the soft bristles an advantage. They are definately very good brushes.
@@redrooster7371 yes, I don't say that they last longer than W&N, but I just never had a single problem with them, but about half of my W&N have some issues with tip or do not hold form properly for long enough
I've honestly bought waaay to many brushes, but I can agree the Windsor and Newton S7 was the worst of the lot, and I returned it after 2 uses. I'm now awaiting some Rafael 8404's to compare to the Davinci series 10 and 35 I have, and I'm still in the return window for all of them, so will stick with the best of the lot. The 10 is definitely the winner, right now, only because the 35 has the stray hair problem from time to time as you explained. I also have the Monument Hobbies Pro Sables and Rosemary and Co series 33, and are quite solid performers, however for those who can't get the Series 33, The Monument Hobbies brushes are almost identical to me, and i actually favor them a bit more than the 33's - just from my experience of course, so others mileage may vary.
I definitely use cheap synthetics or even makeup brushes for drybrushing and stippling, but I found Rosemary and Co. Kolinsky series 33 sable brushes are pretty cheap but really nice quality. I'm not a great painter or anything but I just find the kolinsky ones are so much less frustrating to paint with, so I'd recommend them even to beginners because you spend so much less time fighting your brush.
I've barely even started the video, but my own take is, simply, no. I've been just getting back into miniatures over the last year after more than a decade away from the hobby and done most of that painting with a cheesy set of $4 for the whole set synthetics. If you take care of them properly they do just fine for most things. That said, I've also just got a good set of kolinski's now i feel confident i won't destroy them and the quality difference is astronomical. If you've got the skills a good set of brushes is totally worth it, but not necessary. As we say in the sport shooting world "the gun is more accurate than most shooters". The better brushes will definitely make things "better"/easier, but you really don't get much more out of them compared to cheap brushes until you have some skill built up
This is interesting to hear. I've only been getting into miniature painting over the last year, and I don't have much time to paint so I just bought myself a pack of 100 little synthetic brushes for 9 bucks. I've been thinking about getting myself a natural hair brush since the first miniature I painted, but I'm just very nervous that I'll destroy it.
@@cripplelord6383 getting a single size 1 or 2 for doing the finer detail stuff and only ever using it for that is a good way to go as well. even though i've a whole set of sable hair brushes now i still tend to use the synthetics for base coating or stippling and whatnot. Basically get the one mid range natural hair to practice with and keep using the synthetics for everything else. it certainly isnt a bad thing to spoil yourself now and again
@@cripplelord6383you really can’t destroy it that bad if your not being reckless (keep paint out of ferrule, don’t jab, etc). Grab some brush soap too when you get one and keep the bristles well conditioned.
I use a Van Bleiswijck 6 Brush set (2 bucks for 6 brushes) for everything not detail related. Does the job and if they die I just rip open another set every 1/2 year or so. It's nice when you have to care only about keeping the higher end detail brushes in top condition.
Great video as always. However i think you could have at least made reference to the ethical concerns with sable brushes. Yes they might perform better but it's at a cost and that's why for some people (myself included) sable isn't really an option.
I have a couple W&N series 7 brushes (20 bucks each or so) that ive had for 20+ years. They are worth it if you take care of them. I have synthetic brushes for weathering amd washes. And other things like stippling or dry brustes. Again. It comes to how you use and treat your brushes. If my 20 dollar brushes can last 20+ years then its worth it
I have several brushes that I bought for $1 each a number of years ago, and still use for painting. I've had brushrs that I paid $14 for that fell apart after a couple of months...
I just use hobby lobby synthetic brushes. Its fine lol. Holds paint well, retains water, feels like quality. Yes they will hook, but they'll do what they need to do. I dont recommend taklon for fine point brushes, but its good for anything else. I use synthetic squirrel mainly from HL and a bulk pack and its great! Dont waste more money on warhammer than you already have lol
After watching the entire video, and given that I ALSO experienced tip splitting on my Windsor & Newton (after A LOT of usage, thought), I'm going to try the DaVinci Maestro 35. At least where I live they are cheaper than W&N, and from the video I'm liking the belly shape. Thanks!!!
I have tried all the high end brushes that exist, (so much so that if I remember correctly the Da Vinci Maestro Series 10 was per your recommendation) no brush on the market compares to the Windsor Newton series 7. The others are still on the rack for when I'm desperate, but if the series 7 stops being functional then painting stops till a new one comes in the mail. I may have to clip a stray hair from new ones which I don't have to do to the others brands, but they are inferior to paint with so they may as well not even shipped. I don't really think it matters if your using an uncurled synthetic or an Artist Opus M, from experience I can tell you that if your not comparing them to a series 7 then it is not really possible to answer the question in your title.
I bought these cheap "sable" brushes the other week on amazon. They don't feel like synthetic brushes for the most part but the tip still hooks. I think I'll just stick with regular quality synthetics in future.. and proper sable kolinsky brushes.
My W/N split significantly less quickly than my Raphael brushes (which tbh seemed dead on arrival) but it split quickly enough that I was turned off natural hair for a while. But now I'm kicking myself for not getting a Da Vinci brush while overseas for cheaper. I know for drybrushing, I just use cheap brushes from a brand called elf we have in the ~land of no universal healthcare.~ On synthetics though.... I notice for *watercolor* applications that synthetic squirrel is better than synthetic sable. Holds water a hell of a lot better than synthetic sable but it's too soft for even the thinner acrylic usage in minipainting.
When I started painting, I have picked up several artist brushes and picked the smallest ones :D I like the big ones but the small ones are atrocious. I some times use them for eyes and what not, but they literary dry out on the way from the palett to the mini :'D So usually I can touch the mini once and I have to get paint again :'D They are sooo baaaaaaad :D Since then I tend to use big chunky boys :D
Loved this comparison video! I use Artis Opus Series S and Dry brushes, which have been terrific for me! Also, does the extra "five inches" only apply to new subscribers? I've been a subscriber for quite a while now and haven't noticed any..uh..new growth!
Has anyone used the Vallejo Pro Modeller natural hair brushes? I’m a beginner and am currently using their synthetic brushes but can’t get a sharp tip.
For some reason YT won't allow me to reply to your reply. Are they different enough to... make a difference though LOL? I use Artis Opus myself and would love similar for cheaper. I only paint busts and 75mm figures these days and I use the no.1 and no.2 mostly. 🙂
No it is definitley not bad luck. W&N was my standby for years, but I think I'm done. My latest W&N Kolinskys get stray hairs. I was actually starting to wonder if I inadvertently got some counterfeits off amazon in the past year because how unimpressed I have been with the quality of my latest batch of brushes. The brushes can't hold a point for sh*t, and I keep seeing stray bristles. I take really good care of my brushes, but this current roster isn't taking good care of me. I'm watching this vid because I'll be damned if I am going to pay Series 7 prices for the latest crap I got. EDIT- I am trying to get into oils, and the biggest struggle is getting used to taklon brushes. It's not easy. As said above, I feel I am fighting with my tools. I am not a super artist, but damn, anyone painting even for a few weeks will feel the difference with a kolinsky vs. synthetic or synthetic blend (GW brand.)
Replying to myself because I just shopped the Da Vinci Maestro's in the U.S. A/o today, they retail individually for ~$30 on Amazon. Needless to say, I just ordered a couple of AO's.
IM surprised you didnt mention anything about synth brushes and tip :) curving and fraying. I can clearly see it happening at 7:29, the tip is slightly curved and loses precision. im sure there are cheap sable brushes available, for 5-6 €/$, im sure, where you're at, or on ebay/your local hobby shop.
Maybe I didn't communicate it clearly, but near the end summary, I mentioned that the tip goes away faster than with natural hair brushes. You are correct!
@@Zumikito i must have momentarily blacked out for a second or something, you clearly say they lose the tip quickly. thanks for the quick reply to my unnecessary remark and a nice video 👍
I have had success by soaking the curved-tip synthetic brush in very hot water for a short while and then re-straightening it. Similar to straightening bent resin parts. Not a lot you can do about fraying though 🙂
Great video, watched all the way through, I would love to see a video 3 months in, with them all heavily trafficked, and used and abused. Keep up the great content, love your work!
As we say around here, a poor person can't afford to buy cheap things. Personally, I'm fed up with the synthetic brushes. It's not worth the aggravation of constantly having to replace them or trying to paint with a shitty tip that can't be fixed. There's a niche for them, but it's not painting details.
Little late to the party here but Wind River Arts distribute Rosemary and Co in the US. When I got mine a couple years back I had to call in but they were really nice folks and my brushes arrived pretty quickly (about a week). Getting back into the hobby recently so going to put mine back to good use!
I use both the cheapest and premium. Cheap synthetic for base coating and rough handling, then my nice ones for sharp detail finishes. That way my nice ones live longer. Also giving both types a good wash with brush soap really helps. Use the right tool for the right job.
I have been saying for YEARS that the best brush is like the best paint - it's the best FOR YOU. For me, I prefer the stiff throw of a synthetic brush over the softer natural brushes.
Large natural brush is even better, holds a lot of paint, allows you to paint smaller details I also use cheap synthetics for this, but they almost immediately lose tips, just after a couple sessions
@@willthorson4543 Dude-- how is that remotely possible? Bristles fall out over time even with gentle use and care. My old W&N's would keep their point even when they wore down to nubs, but they still wear down to nubs after a good 6-12 months.
It's useful to say, if you do go the natural bristle route, do not get paint deep into the brushes belly and let it dry in there. That will 100% have the brush start splitting as the dried paint is literally keeping the bristles from returning to shape. Rinse your brushes often and try to keep them relatively clean even during a longer paint session, to preserve their quality and extend their lifespan. Also, at the end of your painting session take the time to more thoroughly wash your brushes. Use soap and water, clean them and repeat if there is any color left on the paper towel as you pat them dry. Only when there is no trace of color left are you done washing your brushes. Take care of your brushes like this and your natural hair brushes can last a really long time, making them WELL worth the added cost compared to cheap brushes.
Something to help stray hair and splitting for me has been dip in boiling water then message conditioner into the hair and leave till you next use it or even hair wax that you normally use to style with works well then just rinse off before use again
Hey Zumikito, it's not related to the video but are you still using the just dark sea blue and white recipe for your NMM? I'm painting gobs too and love how your metals look. Also gotta say I really like the monument pro sables, I use the size 3(around $13USD) from them(its similar size to a size 1 W&N) and i use that as my daily driver work horse. they stand up to decent abuse and the company does QC by hand so Ive have better luck than the crapshoot W&N has been these past few years
I have to say that I tried an Artis Opus (well, three of them, to be precise) brushes and I was very disappointed. Yes, very sharp tip, good belly, BUT after removing quite an amount of loose hairs, damaged hairs, etc. Not what I expected for the price. And yes, I may have stumbled upon a 'bad' lot, but I've read people sharing similar stories. So, no my first choice. This said, I'm a kolinski guy, but I prefer Windsor & Newton and Spanish local brands like Escoda, IMHO much better than Artis Opus and at better prices, too. Synthetics? Yes, I use them all the time for basecoating, metallics (I haven't damaged a good brush EVER using metallics, but the flakes are nearly impossible to clean, so I have specific brushes for them), drybrushing, stippling, etc. I love them, they're very cheap, and weren't for the horrible hooking they present after a few uses, I would not use any other brushes for my painting.
I've bought several W&N brushes and Artis Opus because of hype from videos like this and they have been universally terrible and had split hairs on the first use. No matter what I do in terms of shaping, conditioning, etc they are split and fucked up. I have a set of Citadel "Masterclass" brushes I got decades ago that are kolinsky that are perfect even after all these years, but none of the new stuff I've tried has even come close. I've had better luck with just buying basic brushes than with expensive brands. Not sold at all on W&N or Artis Opus, absolutely not worth the price.
hey I'm buying one of each of artist opus and a da vici, you got any refers codes for any of them as you are adverting them? seems a shame for you not to get a quid or so from your work, Also i learnt more watching you paint during your review of the artist opus than in any number of your other videos. Most painting gods have probably been through the fine art track and forget that mere mortals really don't know the basics, like how to hold the brushes and what part to stick against the mini. In fact, until we see it, we didn't even know we didn't know it. Anyway, keep it up. Your dulcet tones help me de-stress and keep me addicted to the hobby of slapping paint on toy soldiers. Actually don't worry, I've just ordered. ill just show my appreciation by buying a membership.
Ha! No worries! Honestly I don't feel like I am advertising them, because I genuinely like those products, so I don't mind talking about them. If only AO was a bit cheaper, it would be like a perfect brush. I have tried Rosemary's brushes as well (as people suggest they are produced in the same factory) but it doesn't seem to be the same brush. Either way, I am excited for you to find out which one you like more. Thank you!
In Poland you can buy genue kolynsky brushes made by Ukrainian company ROSA. They cost 3usd a piece, and are very good. They should be available in most of europe.
Paying 15 EUR for a short wooden stick with a few hairs from cows butt ... thats how to do the business baby! I use both - cheap and usually bigger synthetic ones for basecoating or contrast paints and then the exclusive ones for the details.
The last DaVinci Series 10 that I bought was pure garbage. It completely exploded after the first touch of water and was even worse than a 20cent china brush.
Can you make a vid on how to maintain and most importantly how to make and create tips on your brush? My brushes from GW the standard even the synthetic and the premium ones kind off all dont hold any tips. Do i paint wrong? To strong to light, is the paint wrong?! How to create sharp tips? Is it even possible or is it just a factory made problem?!
I used to paint with kolinsky, but stopped when I did my research about how it is harvested in russia. I hate synthetic brushes, but I don’t want to have fun abusing animals. I haven’t found any significant difference between cheap and premium synthetic, tip is becoming shit in both cases in very fast and predictable manner.
The biggest problem of synthetic for me is the durability, the tip curls after like a few months of usage and it's extremely difficult to fix. It makes the brush impossible to do any detail painting
Short answer is no. You dont need anything other than what you need. Veterans will know what I mean here. Dont over buy stuff, but if you got a vision then I say go all in. They are the projects I most end up proud of.
![DDG & G Herbo - Nosey [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/I9Ra0Zc2NlQ/mqdefault.jpg)
3:05 You saying "All about holding the tip" while wearing a shirt that says "I love edging" is great
great video. I've found that the cheap brushes do just fine for most applications, and for tabletop quality, will do the job well enough. Keep the synthetic cheapos as your workhorse brushes and save the nice expensive natural brushes for more detailed and delicate work
Exactly. It's a shame to "waste" expensive natural brushes to use them on EVERYTHING when synthetics work for 80% of the painting process.
This is the only real answer, basecoating, washes, rough work, etc… can be done with a trash brush. Use high grade kolinsky for detail work, use some form of natural mid range brush for detail metallics work
The killer for me with synthetic brushes is the hooking. It feels like some of them can't maintain a straight tip for more than a few brushstrokes.
I use cheap $3.50 synthetic brushes a lot and that is frequent issue
What about hybrids?
I actually like that aspect. When they develop the hook, it allows me to paint in hard to reach areas between limbs and some such. Or inder the hair, between a weapon and the body, etc. So I keep several hooking brushes for this :D
I use supercheap (like 0.4$ per unit) 1-size synthetic brushes for metallic paints and they are ok waaaay longer than I thought it would be
With such low price I am ok with hooking
Also I think it really depends on the specific manufacturer
Hooked brushes are great for painting spears and gun barrels.
Unsurprisingly, an excellent and helpful comparison video about brushes made of hair comes from a chap with such an impressive beard. You obviously know, what you are talking about. ;-) Thank you very much!
Literally just bought three Rosemary & Co brushes for highlighting and details because my cheapish brushes frayed and dumped paint most unceremoniously. I’ve done the chest eagle and highlighting of one Raptor Space Marine today and the results are leagues ahead of what I’m used to.
In my amateur opinion, most sets for £20 or 30 freedom dollars will do fine for most things but a good tip for one or two brushes is worth the expense, just be sure to WICK IT OFF!
Artis Opus are made by Rosemary & Co.
@@AndrevwZAwithout the price tag
I like Hobby Lobby brushes for synthetic. They cost $2 on sale. I do REALLY like my Windsor and Newton size zero. I only use it for highlights and small details (so like 2 hours a week)... But Ive had it for a year and it's like new.
I've been using Windsor and Newton synthetics for years and had very few regrets. Only recently bought some natural hair brushes, and I can confirm that there's nothing wrong with synthetic bristles, so long as you're prepared to adjust your painting techniques to your brush.
A non-trivial part of the problem of the Da Vinci series 35 is availability: Here in the US, they aren't in many places, and when they come in, they can go for $25 buckaroos instead of the 10 Euros I pay in my trips to Spain: More expensive than getting a Winsor & Newton series 7! But it's not brushes that limit us: See how the newest vallejo Xpress color series 2 is still not available to US distributors.
So yes, it's not just that we need to go to Spain for Universal Healthcare, or extremely high quality Spanish Water, but all kinds of painting supplies at a sensible price
But what about less cheap synthetic brushes ?
I personally choose to only use synth brushes and I truly understand the problems you describe with them. Also your video perfectly shows what I can see myself versus what I see with people using "natural" brushes.
But it would be nice to see the difference between the very cheap brushes you can find everywhere against (for example) the Raphael 8394.
Also, I've tried the W&N synth brushes and they are also bad, especially considering the price...
Still a nice video and comparison and it explains the limitations I have with my regular synth brushes. By that I mean, it's not just me, it comes from the brushes that doesn't help what I could do with a better brushes :D
I think expensive synthetics are the worst from both worlds, expensive and at the same time losing tip very fast, almost the same as $1 synthetics
Also agree on W&N synthetics, not the best experience
I also have nothing but issues with windsor and newton. Splitting hairs or in some cases they are shipped damaged because someone damaged the hairs when they place the plastic cover on it. And this is when they are sealed. So no tampering.
It's a problem with W&N, had the highest amount of defects with them
Rosemary are cheaper and have better quality control (they also manufacture Artist Opus brushes too, just twice the price)
I’m not the best painter by any means but I’ve found dollar store natural hair brushes work amazingly if you can find some with a good tip. My $5 (AUS) brushes came in a pack of six and while I only use 2 of them they have been a god send compared to my citadel synthetic or natural and I’m never going back. This could just be citadel being a pile of crap but I’m not about to fork out extra cash for another good brand brush while I can get something amazing for so cheap.
I took advantage of a trip to London to buy the Artis Opus size 0 and 1, I must have been unlucky cause the tips are not that fine they do nothing but split while I use them. I had bought them for the highlights but given this problem I now only use them as brushes to paint the basecoat now.
I really like the Raphael 8404 brushes
These are the ones I use and I really like them more then series 7.
For me the best too.
yes, they're mentioned a lot, but prices vary also depending on location which can be a factor. they're "local" for me since they're made in saint brieuc in france, and i'm not impressed by my W&N in comparison, for its price...
I still prefer Winsor & Newton. For the last three years I tried many alternatives. But the spring and the tip of W&N are still the best. I tried Davinci but they lost the tip during the first paint session. There are still some brands I'll have to test but so far I stay with W&N.
I would recommend trying Raphael, I think this is the best brush, actual top tier, not just repackaged mid-range Rosemary & Co as Artist Opus for twice the price
I like W&N but this brush probably has the highest amount of defects out of the box, probably a half had some issues
@@gi1dor I testest Raphael for two years. I forge to buy new ones had a W&N in in my drawer and never switched back. Raphael feels to me more soft. And they didn't last any longer than W&N. I still use one for darklining as I find the soft bristles an advantage. They are definately very good brushes.
@@redrooster7371 yes, I don't say that they last longer than W&N, but I just never had a single problem with them, but about half of my W&N have some issues with tip or do not hold form properly for long enough
I've honestly bought waaay to many brushes, but I can agree the Windsor and Newton S7 was the worst of the lot, and I returned it after 2 uses. I'm now awaiting some Rafael 8404's to compare to the Davinci series 10 and 35 I have, and I'm still in the return window for all of them, so will stick with the best of the lot. The 10 is definitely the winner, right now, only because the 35 has the stray hair problem from time to time as you explained.
I also have the Monument Hobbies Pro Sables and Rosemary and Co series 33, and are quite solid performers, however for those who can't get the Series 33, The Monument Hobbies brushes are almost identical to me, and i actually favor them a bit more than the 33's - just from my experience of course, so others mileage may vary.
I definitely use cheap synthetics or even makeup brushes for drybrushing and stippling, but I found Rosemary and Co. Kolinsky series 33 sable brushes are pretty cheap but really nice quality. I'm not a great painter or anything but I just find the kolinsky ones are so much less frustrating to paint with, so I'd recommend them even to beginners because you spend so much less time fighting your brush.
I've barely even started the video, but my own take is, simply, no. I've been just getting back into miniatures over the last year after more than a decade away from the hobby and done most of that painting with a cheesy set of $4 for the whole set synthetics. If you take care of them properly they do just fine for most things. That said, I've also just got a good set of kolinski's now i feel confident i won't destroy them and the quality difference is astronomical. If you've got the skills a good set of brushes is totally worth it, but not necessary. As we say in the sport shooting world "the gun is more accurate than most shooters". The better brushes will definitely make things "better"/easier, but you really don't get much more out of them compared to cheap brushes until you have some skill built up
This is interesting to hear. I've only been getting into miniature painting over the last year, and I don't have much time to paint so I just bought myself a pack of 100 little synthetic brushes for 9 bucks.
I've been thinking about getting myself a natural hair brush since the first miniature I painted, but I'm just very nervous that I'll destroy it.
@@cripplelord6383 getting a single size 1 or 2 for doing the finer detail stuff and only ever using it for that is a good way to go as well. even though i've a whole set of sable hair brushes now i still tend to use the synthetics for base coating or stippling and whatnot. Basically get the one mid range natural hair to practice with and keep using the synthetics for everything else. it certainly isnt a bad thing to spoil yourself now and again
@@cripplelord6383you really can’t destroy it that bad if your not being reckless (keep paint out of ferrule, don’t jab, etc). Grab some brush soap too when you get one and keep the bristles well conditioned.
I use a Van Bleiswijck 6 Brush set (2 bucks for 6 brushes) for everything not detail related. Does the job and if they die I just rip open another set every 1/2 year or so. It's nice when you have to care only about keeping the higher end detail brushes in top condition.
Great video as always. However i think you could have at least made reference to the ethical concerns with sable brushes. Yes they might perform better but it's at a cost and that's why for some people (myself included) sable isn't really an option.
I have a couple W&N series 7 brushes (20 bucks each or so) that ive had for 20+ years. They are worth it if you take care of them. I have synthetic brushes for weathering amd washes. And other things like stippling or dry brustes. Again. It comes to how you use and treat your brushes. If my 20 dollar brushes can last 20+ years then its worth it
You need month old syntetic brush for full test
I have several brushes that I bought for $1 each a number of years ago, and still use for painting. I've had brushrs that I paid $14 for that fell apart after a couple of months...
I just use hobby lobby synthetic brushes. Its fine lol. Holds paint well, retains water, feels like quality. Yes they will hook, but they'll do what they need to do. I dont recommend taklon for fine point brushes, but its good for anything else. I use synthetic squirrel mainly from HL and a bulk pack and its great!
Dont waste more money on warhammer than you already have lol
After watching the entire video, and given that I ALSO experienced tip splitting on my Windsor & Newton (after A LOT of usage, thought), I'm going to try the DaVinci Maestro 35. At least where I live they are cheaper than W&N, and from the video I'm liking the belly shape. Thanks!!!
I have tried all the high end brushes that exist, (so much so that if I remember correctly the Da Vinci Maestro Series 10 was per your recommendation) no brush on the market compares to the Windsor Newton series 7. The others are still on the rack for when I'm desperate, but if the series 7 stops being functional then painting stops till a new one comes in the mail. I may have to clip a stray hair from new ones which I don't have to do to the others brands, but they are inferior to paint with so they may as well not even shipped. I don't really think it matters if your using an uncurled synthetic or an Artist Opus M, from experience I can tell you that if your not comparing them to a series 7 then it is not really possible to answer the question in your title.
This great video also reminded of Goobertown Hobbies' content sbout brushes.
Video idea:
Make a brush out of your beard hair and paint a Mini with it. Preferably a very beardy one
I bought these cheap "sable" brushes the other week on amazon. They don't feel like synthetic brushes for the most part but the tip still hooks. I think I'll just stick with regular quality synthetics in future.. and proper sable kolinsky brushes.
So in terms of the biggest difference would you say it's...
just the tip?
My W/N split significantly less quickly than my Raphael brushes (which tbh seemed dead on arrival) but it split quickly enough that I was turned off natural hair for a while. But now I'm kicking myself for not getting a Da Vinci brush while overseas for cheaper. I know for drybrushing, I just use cheap brushes from a brand called elf we have in the ~land of no universal healthcare.~
On synthetics though.... I notice for *watercolor* applications that synthetic squirrel is better than synthetic sable. Holds water a hell of a lot better than synthetic sable but it's too soft for even the thinner acrylic usage in minipainting.
When I started painting, I have picked up several artist brushes and picked the smallest ones :D I like the big ones but the small ones are atrocious. I some times use them for eyes and what not, but they literary dry out on the way from the palett to the mini :'D So usually I can touch the mini once and I have to get paint again :'D They are sooo baaaaaaad :D Since then I tend to use big chunky boys :D
Loved this comparison video! I use Artis Opus Series S and Dry brushes, which have been terrific for me! Also, does the extra "five inches" only apply to new subscribers? I've been a subscriber for quite a while now and haven't noticed any..uh..new growth!
Has anyone used the Vallejo Pro Modeller natural hair brushes? I’m a beginner and am currently using their synthetic brushes but can’t get a sharp tip.
Interesting. I’ve never had a W&N split on me like that, and I don’t handle them delicately.
But which one is best at rimming? 😀
2:24 you filthy brush killer. I see that paint near ferrule :-P
you shuld not use expenive brus for base coding; ist for the detalis; 1:00 [ or is it a point of that segement?]
Subbed for those 5" lmao
For some reason YT won't allow me to reply to your reply. Are they different enough to... make a difference though LOL? I use Artis Opus myself and would love similar for cheaper. I only paint busts and 75mm figures these days and I use the no.1 and no.2 mostly. 🙂
Thanks for sharing. 👍
In the US, the Artist Opus brush is cheaper than the Da Vinci. ($23.00 vs. $25.05).
Kind of a no-brainer given that…
Raphael 8404 much better than the opus
Zem makes kolinsky brushes for $5-$8
No it is definitley not bad luck. W&N was my standby for years, but I think I'm done. My latest W&N Kolinskys get stray hairs. I was actually starting to wonder if I inadvertently got some counterfeits off amazon in the past year because how unimpressed I have been with the quality of my latest batch of brushes. The brushes can't hold a point for sh*t, and I keep seeing stray bristles. I take really good care of my brushes, but this current roster isn't taking good care of me. I'm watching this vid because I'll be damned if I am going to pay Series 7 prices for the latest crap I got. EDIT- I am trying to get into oils, and the biggest struggle is getting used to taklon brushes. It's not easy. As said above, I feel I am fighting with my tools. I am not a super artist, but damn, anyone painting even for a few weeks will feel the difference with a kolinsky vs. synthetic or synthetic blend (GW brand.)
Replying to myself because I just shopped the Da Vinci Maestro's in the U.S. A/o today, they retail individually for ~$30 on Amazon. Needless to say, I just ordered a couple of AO's.
23 Freedom Dollars. 😂
IM surprised you didnt mention anything about synth brushes and tip :) curving and fraying. I can clearly see it happening at 7:29, the tip is slightly curved and loses precision.
im sure there are cheap sable brushes available, for 5-6 €/$, im sure, where you're at, or on ebay/your local hobby shop.
Maybe I didn't communicate it clearly, but near the end summary, I mentioned that the tip goes away faster than with natural hair brushes. You are correct!
@@Zumikito i must have momentarily blacked out for a second or something, you clearly say they lose the tip quickly. thanks for the quick reply to my unnecessary remark and a nice video 👍
I have had success by soaking the curved-tip synthetic brush in very hot water for a short while and then re-straightening it. Similar to straightening bent resin parts. Not a lot you can do about fraying though 🙂
The green paint next to the ferrule at 2:23 makes me cringe a bit...
No! NO! Don't lick the brushes! PAINT EATERS BE DAMNED!
Great video, watched all the way through, I would love to see a video 3 months in, with them all heavily trafficked, and used and abused.
Keep up the great content, love your work!
Take my freedom dollars!
So basically, if you can afford decent brushes and want nice details, then buy them 😅
As we say around here, a poor person can't afford to buy cheap things. Personally, I'm fed up with the synthetic brushes. It's not worth the aggravation of constantly having to replace them or trying to paint with a shitty tip that can't be fixed. There's a niche for them, but it's not painting details.
2:39 that must be really inconvenient for your female subscribers😂
I use Walmart brushes because I’m way too rough on brushes.
Has a dry brush ever won golden demon
If you want a challenge and don't like brushes, paint with your fingers.
Better still, fill your mouth with paint and blow it on. You now have an airbrush🙂I don't get paid for this advice LOL
@@darkcommission thank god you wrote mouth.
@@pablocamargo8744 LOL 😂
@@darkcommission 😁
The reason you have universal healthcare is the reason we don't.
But continue.
Without foreign aid and military protection, you guys wouldn't have healthcare either. Pay your own bills then talk smack.
Cheapest i can find the “medium” brush is $28
So to conclude, we all just need to get as good as you and then we can paint really well with whatever brush we grab. Easy!! 😅
Artis Opus are made by Rosemary & Co. Obviously to their specs but I'm sure you can get something similar from their stock range for much cheaper.
Well I've just bookmarked my soon to be favourite brush retailer I expect.
The series 33 or series 8 are the go to options for mini painting.
@@mirkyd5944yeah, Series 33 are like £7-8 a pop and absolutely worth every penny.
Enjoy that non-US customers. Clearly, AO, got an exclusive deal for U.S. distribution. We're stuck with the AO markup.
Little late to the party here but Wind River Arts distribute Rosemary and Co in the US. When I got mine a couple years back I had to call in but they were really nice folks and my brushes arrived pretty quickly (about a week). Getting back into the hobby recently so going to put mine back to good use!
"But if you live in a country without universal healthcare..." 😂😂😂 I slammed the like button as soon as you made that joke 🤣
I use both the cheapest and premium. Cheap synthetic for base coating and rough handling, then my nice ones for sharp detail finishes. That way my nice ones live longer. Also giving both types a good wash with brush soap really helps.
Use the right tool for the right job.
I don't understand people buying artis opus brushes when you can have raphael 8404 for less...
I have been saying for YEARS that the best brush is like the best paint - it's the best FOR YOU. For me, I prefer the stiff throw of a synthetic brush over the softer natural brushes.
For me, I like using "cheap" brushes for large areas, or really basic layering... but for details, more expensive brushes are a game-changer.
Large natural brush is even better, holds a lot of paint, allows you to paint smaller details
I also use cheap synthetics for this, but they almost immediately lose tips, just after a couple sessions
I settled on some decent Rosemary and Co Red Dot Synthetics along with some Princetons. Very good brushes without paying absurd amounts.
Interesting about the W&N Series 7 splitting - literally so true! They get better with use and soap, but I shouldn’t have to groom a £20 before use!
I've used series 7 brushes for the past 20+ years and still have my original brushes. I've never had issues with those brushes.
@@willthorson4543 Dude-- how is that remotely possible? Bristles fall out over time even with gentle use and care. My old W&N's would keep their point even when they wore down to nubs, but they still wear down to nubs after a good 6-12 months.
It's useful to say, if you do go the natural bristle route, do not get paint deep into the brushes belly and let it dry in there. That will 100% have the brush start splitting as the dried paint is literally keeping the bristles from returning to shape. Rinse your brushes often and try to keep them relatively clean even during a longer paint session, to preserve their quality and extend their lifespan. Also, at the end of your painting session take the time to more thoroughly wash your brushes. Use soap and water, clean them and repeat if there is any color left on the paper towel as you pat them dry. Only when there is no trace of color left are you done washing your brushes. Take care of your brushes like this and your natural hair brushes can last a really long time, making them WELL worth the added cost compared to cheap brushes.
Something to help stray hair and splitting for me has been dip in boiling water then message conditioner into the hair and leave till you next use it or even hair wax that you normally use to style with works well then just rinse off before use again
Hey Zumikito, it's not related to the video but are you still using the just dark sea blue and white recipe for your NMM? I'm painting gobs too and love how your metals look. Also gotta say I really like the monument pro sables, I use the size 3(around $13USD) from them(its similar size to a size 1 W&N) and i use that as my daily driver work horse. they stand up to decent abuse and the company does QC by hand so Ive have better luck than the crapshoot W&N has been these past few years
Ye pretty much, combo of dark sea blue, white and sometimes I mix in a bit of pale/purulent yellow
Wish I watched this before I bought a series 7 lol same crap happened to me. GARBAGE brushes! Luckily I was able to get refund
I have to say that I tried an Artis Opus (well, three of them, to be precise) brushes and I was very disappointed. Yes, very sharp tip, good belly, BUT after removing quite an amount of loose hairs, damaged hairs, etc. Not what I expected for the price. And yes, I may have stumbled upon a 'bad' lot, but I've read people sharing similar stories. So, no my first choice.
This said, I'm a kolinski guy, but I prefer Windsor & Newton and Spanish local brands like Escoda, IMHO much better than Artis Opus and at better prices, too.
Synthetics? Yes, I use them all the time for basecoating, metallics (I haven't damaged a good brush EVER using metallics, but the flakes are nearly impossible to clean, so I have specific brushes for them), drybrushing, stippling, etc. I love them, they're very cheap, and weren't for the horrible hooking they present after a few uses, I would not use any other brushes for my painting.
I've bought several W&N brushes and Artis Opus because of hype from videos like this and they have been universally terrible and had split hairs on the first use. No matter what I do in terms of shaping, conditioning, etc they are split and fucked up. I have a set of Citadel "Masterclass" brushes I got decades ago that are kolinsky that are perfect even after all these years, but none of the new stuff I've tried has even come close. I've had better luck with just buying basic brushes than with expensive brands. Not sold at all on W&N or Artis Opus, absolutely not worth the price.
hey I'm buying one of each of artist opus and a da vici, you got any refers codes for any of them as you are adverting them? seems a shame for you not to get a quid or so from your work, Also i learnt more watching you paint during your review of the artist opus than in any number of your other videos. Most painting gods have probably been through the fine art track and forget that mere mortals really don't know the basics, like how to hold the brushes and what part to stick against the mini. In fact, until we see it, we didn't even know we didn't know it. Anyway, keep it up. Your dulcet tones help me de-stress and keep me addicted to the hobby of slapping paint on toy soldiers. Actually don't worry, I've just ordered. ill just show my appreciation by buying a membership.
Ha! No worries! Honestly I don't feel like I am advertising them, because I genuinely like those products, so I don't mind talking about them. If only AO was a bit cheaper, it would be like a perfect brush. I have tried Rosemary's brushes as well (as people suggest they are produced in the same factory) but it doesn't seem to be the same brush. Either way, I am excited for you to find out which one you like more. Thank you!
In Poland you can buy genue kolynsky brushes made by Ukrainian company ROSA. They cost 3usd a piece, and are very good. They should be available in most of europe.
Paying 15 EUR for a short wooden stick with a few hairs from cows butt ... thats how to do the business baby! I use both - cheap and usually bigger synthetic ones for basecoating or contrast paints and then the exclusive ones for the details.
The last DaVinci Series 10 that I bought was pure garbage. It completely exploded after the first touch of water and was even worse than a 20cent china brush.
Can you make a vid on how to maintain and most importantly how to make and create tips on your brush? My brushes from GW the standard even the synthetic and the premium ones kind off all dont hold any tips. Do i paint wrong? To strong to light, is the paint wrong?! How to create sharp tips? Is it even possible or is it just a factory made problem?!
I used to paint with kolinsky, but stopped when I did my research about how it is harvested in russia. I hate synthetic brushes, but I don’t want to have fun abusing animals.
I haven’t found any significant difference between cheap and premium synthetic, tip is becoming shit in both cases in very fast and predictable manner.
The biggest problem of synthetic for me is the durability, the tip curls after like a few months of usage and it's extremely difficult to fix. It makes the brush impossible to do any detail painting
Short answer is no. You dont need anything other than what you need. Veterans will know what I mean here. Dont over buy stuff, but if you got a vision then I say go all in. They are the projects I most end up proud of.
30 years of painting figures with serie7 and never have one losing his tip...never. Losing bristels yes but never the sharp point.🙂
W&N S7 used to be better in the past, now are so low quality for the price. Artis Opus is the new King of the Realm now.
Bottom line (and it applies to any tool) : Buy the best brush your money permits.
Remembering, Kalinski sable come from a living animal. And what read, those animals are killed for their hair.
Try Russian Roubloff 301T series, 5$ for a very good kolinsky brush
Funny enough i am unable to find cheap synthetic brushes. Only these kids school sets or 3-4 bucks single ones.
I use synthetic brushes but I have to buy a new one every few weeks for 4.50€. Good enough for me.
I’m still waiting for that extra 5 inches
I just hate the development of the hook with synthetic brushes
I use a green stuff silver series number 2 and its enought for everyone, for 10 euros its enought
What night goblins are these? 40k or old world? never saw the model before.
guys, what do you think about army painter brushes?
So cheap brushes rock, and some are paper weights
You guys basecoat with sable brushes??
Daaaaaamn, that wet palette is really... wet.😅
Dude...your double entendres...😂😂😂
nail art brushes are the best imo
Almost had the sub.
yes you do
/thread
WTF? 😂😮 2:37