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Hello Dakkanauts.

I'm in the market for some high quality brushes and I was hoping to pick peoples brains about a few things.

-So my current leading contenders are of course W&N Series 7. However they are boarding on prohibitively expensive if I buy them from a store here. Not that I wouldn't buy them, just that I wouldn't be getting all the ones I wanted. I've found them on an American site for a much more palatable price, but they won't/can't ship them outside the US.

-Another I've looked at is Rosemary & Co. Series 33. brushes. They seem to be held in high regard as well and are quite cheap. A good selection of sizes too. Including a 10/0 which just must be frigging miniscule. The shipping, if buying direct from them, isn't crazy either, which is nice.

-One i'd not heard of until about a week ago, although it appears they've been around for a while, is Broken Toad. Slightly more mixed reviews on these, but still regarded favourably. I checked their site though and they only seem to have triple 0 size and it's currently out of stock.

-Lastly, and this is the one i'm sort of most interested in, is Artis Opus. They've got a few big names attached to their brand, but i'm wondering if they're really up to snuff. Price is high, but not extreme. $88AUD for 4 brushes (00 through 1). They also don't appear to charge for shipping either, which is strange, but Ok i'll not argue.


If anyone can help shed a bit of light on any of these for me, especially the Artis Opus brushes, or can point me in the direction of a top quality brush that I might have missed, it'd be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys!

YMMV based on personal style, price range, availability, etc.

I stand by W&N 7 Series. They're great quality brushes, although they have been known to drop the ball on occasional batches.

Raphael 8404's are also solid brushes. Slightly cheaper than the 7 series, but just as good IMO. They're sometimes harder to get to (locally, 7 series are easier to get), but I bounce between the above two.

I used the Opus brushes for a while and hated them. The bristles are too long, and lack the snap of the 7 series or the 8404's. For the manner in which I paint, I have absolutely no control when I use the Opus brushes compared to the above two, so mine sit in a box collecting dust.

Hanover brushes are brilliant for their price point as well, although their longevity isn't quite as great as the 7's or 8404s. Still, great value for your money.

I also stand by W&N 7s they rock, the two I have were worth every penny I paid. In NZ they go for $35 for one on Mighty Ape and I am sure it would be cheaper in OZ?

DV8 wrote:Raphael 8404's are also solid brushes. Slightly cheaper than the 7 series, but just as good IMO.

Ahh Raphael. I knew there was one I had forgotten about. Thanks! Gotta look these up. I'll check out the Hanover brushes too.

I used the Opus brushes for a while and hated them. The bristles are too long, and lack the snap of the 7 series or the 8404's. For the manner in which I paint, I have absolutely no control when I use the Opus brushes compared to the above two, so mine sit in a box collecting dust.

Ah interesting. Could you possibly elaborate a bit on that? Do you paint in short fast strokes or longer slower strokes?

ingtaer wrote:I also stand by W&N 7s they rock, the two I have were worth every penny I paid. In NZ they go for $35 for one on Mighty Ape and I am sure it would be cheaper in OZ?

From Ekersleys, the only local place I could find that stocked them, I was looking at $207 for 5 brushes, which are currently on sale. Normally they're $257. Saving 20% is great and all. But still getting gouged out the arse for them. From Dickblick, I can get the same 5 for... $70USD I think it was. Ends up being $140ish in AUD but they won't ship them here due to manufacturers restrictions.

Wow, that is uhm, excessive... what sizes are you after? I just got these 2 and have found them plenty for my needs;
https://www.mightyape.com.au/product/winsor-newton-series-7-brush-1/23038452
https://www.mightyape.com.au/product/winsor-newton-series-7-brush-0/23038448

I want a 000, 00, 0, 1 and 2.

The brushes I use at the moment is a W&N Galleria. With my mainstay being a 0 that I use for just about everything and a 00 for highlights and details. But i'd like a 2 for base coats and a 1 just for a general workhorse brush.

I know I probably don't need the 2 or the 000, but I just kinda want them. If I dropped those two then I'd be saving myself $80.

 ingtaer wrote:
Wow, that is uhm, excessive... what sizes are you after? I just got these 2 and have found them plenty for my needs;
https://www.mightyape.com.au/product/winsor-newton-series-7-brush-1/23038452
https://www.mightyape.com.au/product/winsor-newton-series-7-brush-0/23038448

I cant tell if it comes with several brushes or just the one brush, if it is for just the one, man thats expensive, they must be really good compared to what i currently use ( 5 dollar brush fine detail from warehouse stationary ). What makes your brush so good, is it also synthetic bristles?

Thank, you.

 Stormatious wrote:

 ingtaer wrote:
Wow, that is uhm, excessive... what sizes are you after? I just got these 2 and have found them plenty for my needs;
https://www.mightyape.com.au/product/winsor-newton-series-7-brush-1/23038452
https://www.mightyape.com.au/product/winsor-newton-series-7-brush-0/23038448

I cant tell if it comes with several brushes or just the one brush, if it is for just the one, man thats expensive, they must be really good compared to what i currently use ( 5 dollar brush fine detail from warehouse stationary ). What makes your brush so good, is it also synthetic bristles?
Thank, you.

That is for one brush, yes they are expensive but if you look after them then they last for ever. They are Sable and have a very decent reservoir, they also hold their point really well and the bristles don't fray.

Snrub, I am fresh out of ideas! Only other thing I can think of is to have a look at art suppliers local to you, I had a brief glance at the hobby stores I know in Melbourne and the stockist list for Rosemary and Co as well as Windsor and Newton but that seems to be pretty much the set price. There is a much cheaper sable brush that came up frequently but as they appear to be OZ only I have never heard of them (Rolinsomethingorother) so I have no idea of their quality.

Interesting, i wonder if i could handle such quality a brush with out ruining it in 1 week like i normally do...ill do some research.


Thanks!

 Stormatious wrote:
What makes your brush so good, is it also synthetic bristles?

W&N Series 7, are the creme de la creme of brushes. They are the rolls royce of brushes, if you will. They are natural fibre bristles as opposed to synthetic and are made from the tail hairs of a small weasel like animal. And they are all hand made as well. So it takes a bit of extra effort to produce them. Which in turns jacks up the price a touch.

A weighty investment, but one that is generally considered to be well worth it.

Artis Opus also have a new M series of brushes that are supposed to have shorter snappier bristles. I backed their Kickstarter so mine should be here in July and the new set should be available on their site shortly after.

 Snrub wrote:

 Stormatious wrote:
What makes your brush so good, is it also synthetic bristles?

W&N Series 7, are the creme de la creme of brushes. They are the rolls royce of brushes, if you will. They are natural fibre bristles as opposed to synthetic and are made from the tail hairs of a small weasel like animal. And they are all hand made as well. So it takes a bit of extra effort to produce them. Which in turns jacks up the price a touch.

A weighty investment, but one that is generally considered to be well worth it.

Wow cool stuff, thanks man never knew about that.

Ive had some dissapointing experiences buying brushes online. Had them arrive with bent bristles, or with the tips ruined where some ham fisted warehouse attendant had mashed them or they haven't been stored properly. I prefer buying from a shop where I can see the bristles and hand select my favourites. If there is an art shop you can get to nearby I'd suggest going there. I also find large craft chain shops often store their brushes terribly too so smaller art shops are definitely the place to go.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I have a series 7 but I'm like a nerd with an action figure.. I very rarely remove it from its tube.

 queen_annes_revenge wrote:
If there is an art shop you can get to nearby I'd suggest going there.

I did ring around a few places to see who stocked what. Of the 3 only one store carried Series 7. None carried Raphaels or Rosemary & Co.
Which I found a bit disappointing.

I also find large craft chain shops often store their brushes terribly too

I've found this too. My last batch of brushes I went and bought, I had to root through probably a dozen before I found one that was fit. They tend not to keep the protective caps on them.

Jamie Shred wrote:Artis Opus also have a new M series of brushes that are supposed to have shorter snappier bristles. I backed their Kickstarter so mine should be here in July and the new set should be available on their site shortly after.

My concern is that the bristles being shorter means less paint to be held in the well of the bristles. Which is fine for some, but I like loading up my brush and hammering my models with paint, working quickly. If the Opus brushes were priced reasonably well (say, 1/2 to 2/3 the cost of a 7 series), I might consider the M series. But (at least locally) not only are they harder to get, they're priced equivalent (their current line) to the 7. I'd rather just spend the money on the 7's.

Snrub wrote:

 Stormatious wrote:
What makes your brush so good, is it also synthetic bristles?

W&N Series 7, are the creme de la creme of brushes. They are the rolls royce of brushes, if you will. They are natural fibre bristles as opposed to synthetic and are made from the tail hairs of a small weasel like animal. And they are all hand made as well. So it takes a bit of extra effort to produce them. Which in turns jacks up the price a touch.

A weighty investment, but one that is generally considered to be well worth it.

Don't forget that the 7 series have a guide hair that runs down the center of the brush. It's what gives the 7's their phenomenal snap.

Snrub wrote:

DV8 wrote:I used the Opus brushes for a while and hated them. The bristles are too long, and lack the snap of the 7 series or the 8404's. For the manner in which I paint, I have absolutely no control when I use the Opus brushes compared to the above two, so mine sit in a box collecting dust.

Ah interesting. Could you possibly elaborate a bit on that? Do you paint in short fast strokes or longer slower strokes?

I work very quickly, with a lot of short, fast strokes. I work back and forth from model to palette, mixing and laying down paint broadly and quickly. So having a brush that holds its shape and snaps back quickly is very important to me. The Opus brushes, I've found (I've tried the 00, 0, 1, and 2), lack that snap, and I can't use them for anything other than edging a sharp corner. I'm also not a gentle painter, and I've found that the 7's and 8404's can handle the abuse much more readily than an Opus can.

Additionally, for painting fine detail, the Opus bristles tend to just give, and seem to have no strength with them at all. I can't paint a thin line with them to save my life (say, freehanding). I spent 30 minutes trying to paint a skull on one of my Titanicus models (say 3mm x 3mm) and failed miserably with the Opus. 30 seconds with a size 2 (no kidding) 7 series and I got the job done.

Now, I'm not saying the Opus brushes aren't. You have a lot of big names (like Angel Giraldez) who stand by them, and I'm sure they're great brushes for the way they paint. But they're definitely not for me.

queen_annes_revenge wrote:Ive had some dissapointing experiences buying brushes online. Had them arrive with bent bristles, or with the tips ruined where some ham fisted warehouse attendant had mashed them or they haven't been stored properly. I prefer buying from a shop where I can see the bristles and hand select my favourites. If there is an art shop you can get to nearby I'd suggest going there. I also find large craft chain shops often store their brushes terribly too so smaller art shops are definitely the place to go.

I have a series 7 but I'm like a nerd with an action figure.. I very rarely remove it from its tube.

Oh man, I go through brushes like a fiend. I probably replace my size 2 every 6 months at minimum. That said, I've been using my size 0 for 5 years now and it's still going strong.

arent citadel brushes good enough?

 ez_86 wrote:
arent citadel brushes good enough?

Their durability is terrible. For the price I'd rate them fairly low. I've probably owned only 20~ citadel brushes in a decade. Very "ehh it's okay but let me use a nice brush for anything complicated"


I cant get past how good W&N Series 7 brushes are

I'll never go to another brush set or company. Well worth the price and investment if youre going to bother to paint your models

 Snrub wrote:

 Stormatious wrote:
What makes your brush so good, is it also synthetic bristles?

W&N Series 7, are the creme de la creme of brushes. They are the rolls royce of brushes, if you will. They are natural fibre bristles as opposed to synthetic and are made from the tail hairs of a small weasel like animal. And they are all hand made as well. So it takes a bit of extra effort to produce them. Which in turns jacks up the price a touch.

A weighty investment, but one that is generally considered to be well worth it.

The Siberian weasel to be precise, known in the brush making trade as kolinsky. It's not unique to W&N by any means; most of the brushes mentioned in this thread are also hand made kolinsky.

OP, note that the reason you struggle to find broken toad is that they pulled out of the brush market a few months ago, citing that they were struggling to find a supply of kolinsky that they were happy with for a reasonable price. So you won't be able to find broken toads any more unless somebody has some old stock. Which is a shame because I really liked them.

Rosemary and Co. always get positive reveiws and are not super expensive.

It probably wont help those out side the UK, but these have been recommended to me a few times:

https://www.cassart.co.uk/painting/brushes_2/view-all/cass_art_short_handled_sable_cs40_sable_round_brush.htm

Haven't needed new brushes for a while so i haven't tried them my self.

DV8 wrote:I work very quickly, with a lot of short, fast strokes. I work back and forth from model to palette, mixing and laying down paint broadly and quickly. So having a brush that holds its shape and snaps back quickly is very important to me. The Opus brushes, I've found (I've tried the 00, 0, 1, and 2), lack that snap, and I can't use them for anything other than edging a sharp corner. I'm also not a gentle painter, and I've found that the 7's and 8404's can handle the abuse much more readily than an Opus can.

Additionally, for painting fine detail, the Opus bristles tend to just give, and seem to have no strength with them at all. I can't paint a thin line with them to save my life (say, freehanding). I spent 30 minutes trying to paint a skull on one of my Titanicus models (say 3mm x 3mm) and failed miserably with the Opus. 30 seconds with a size 2 (no kidding) 7 series and I got the job done.

Thank you for that. That's actually very helpful. It would appear that you and I have a similar painting style. Which would leave me to believe that the Opus brushes might not suit my needs either. I'm not a particularly gentle painter either, which is partly why I've put off getting expensive brushes in the past, but it's good to hear that the S7's can handle a bit of abuse.

ez_86 wrote:arent citadel brushes good enough?

My experience with Citadel brushes has been hit and miss. I've probably had... ooh. 8 or 9 citadel brushes over the years. None of the current range it must be said, but the old blue handled ones. Some of them weren't worth the brain power I used thinking about buying them and others have been superb. Probably the best citadel brush i've ever had came out of their old starter kit. That one lasted me probably 2 years or more. And that would have been before I knew about proper brush care.
With that said, I can't comment on the current range because I haven't bought any. Although I am interested in trying some. The Conquest partworks eventually supplies you with a few, so I am looking forward to getting my hands on them to see what they're like. But like everything else in this life, i've seen people say they are fantastic and i've seen people say they're utter gak.

Bellerophon wrote:The Siberian weasel to be precise, known in the brush making trade as kolinsky. It's not unique to W&N by any means; most of the brushes mentioned in this thread are also hand made kolinsky.

OP, note that the reason you struggle to find broken toad is that they pulled out of the brush market a few months ago, citing that they were struggling to find a supply of kolinsky that they were happy with for a reasonable price. So you won't be able to find broken toads any more unless somebody has some old stock. Which is a shame because I really liked them.

Hmm, I knew that Kolinsky wasn't unique to W&N, but I didn't know that others were hand made as well. I thought that was just W&N and what gave them their edge over everyone else.
Unfortunate to hear about Broken Toad. How much did their brushes normally go for, do you know?

 Stevefamine wrote:

 ez_86 wrote:
arent citadel brushes good enough?

Their durability is terrible. For the price I'd rate them fairly low.

I agree. I had a bunch of the Citadel brushes and they are excellent... for a while. They always shed hairs and seemed to fall apart within about a year. By comparison, my W&N S7 #0 is 6 years old and is still my primary workhorse to this day.

I owned a W&N Series 7. I also own a ton of cheapo sable ZEM brushes. The W&N held a tip slightly longer, but once it began wearing out, it died really fast. Since then, I have used only ZEM brushes. I can get 4 for the price of one W&N.

Anyone used these ??

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Professional-Kolinsky-Acrylic-Watercolour-Roubloff/dp/B01IGIHVUY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

I'm thinking of investing in new brushes. The citadel ones I own seem a bit meh. Maybe they just worn out now but they seem to loose point the minute paint is introduced... Maybe they just worn out now.

Anyone have a scoop on a nice set deal?

Opus brushes are just rosemary and co

Get W&N s7 from the UK, ken Bromley is cheap

Wow. Kb, thank you for throwing that suggestion at me. Those prices were so good I placed an order on the spot. Got 5 brushes + shipping for about the same price as 3 from a store here.
I had to triple check to make sure i'd actually put the right things in my cart.

Also thanks, kb! Got a couple of new brushes cheaper than they would cost here even including the shipping and a Masters brush soap. Worth noting that they automatically remove the VAT during checkout.

Yeah I noticed that too, Ing. I was expecting shipping to covert into about 12 or 13 dollars. and it only added a dollar something to my total. Took me a minute to work out it auto-knocked the VAT off.

Took the leap and ordered some W&N Series 7's...

 Argive wrote:
Took the leap and ordered some W&N Series 7's...

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