Painting is a very personal activity that exposes the very core of the artist and is connected to the painter's desire to explore and share a connection with the viewer. As every artist has their own style and personal preferences, it is almost impossible to categorize one type or brand of brush as the gold standard. Thus, a wide selection of diverse varieties is available, affording artists an extensive range of options.
One of the most common variations in brushes occurs with the type of fiber or bristles used to create the painting tool. For the serious artist, natural hair brushes are the most standard fiber choice. This selection is pursued to establish the purist's integrity of stroke and create the finest of detail, or the most natural representation of their creation. Natural hair brushes come in several styles, with each being optimally used for a specific medium such as watercolor, oil or acrylic paints. The most common and popular type of natural fiber comes from sable. Sable (Martes zibellina) is a species of marten, a member of the weasel family. Of the natural sable hair brushes, the Kolinsky sable hair brush is one of the softest, and is the treasured standard of most professional artists. The Kolinsky brush gets its name from the origin of the bristles.
The hair comes from the Kolinsky (Mustela sibrinca) which is a species of weasels instead of a sable. Premium Kolinsky brushes are made primarily from the hair of the male weasel. Most brushes have a mix of hair from the male and female weasels but the higher the ratio of female hair, the lower the quality of the brush.
As with other art supplies, the more difficult or rare the materials are, the higher price they demand, and so it is with the Kolinsky brushes. The Kolinsky sable brush is customarily used for watercolors, but lesser quality Kolinsky sables are used for oils and acrylics.
Other natural hair brushes are created with everything from squirrel tail hair to hog's hair, and their use depends on the effect desired, or the medium being used. For example, a squirrel's hair brush can be used to work with watercolors and other light bodied mediums. A hog's hair brush is very coarse and is used with oils and acrylics.
Finally, synthetic brushes make a showing. These brushes are less expensive and deliver a lower quality effect but if you are just starting out, this is the brush for you.
One of the most common variations in brushes occurs with the type of fiber or bristles used to create the painting tool. For the serious artist, natural hair brushes are the most standard fiber choice. This selection is pursued to establish the purist's integrity of stroke and create the finest of detail, or the most natural representation of their creation. Natural hair brushes come in several styles, with each being optimally used for a specific medium such as watercolor, oil or acrylic paints. The most common and popular type of natural fiber comes from sable. Sable (Martes zibellina) is a species of marten, a member of the weasel family. Of the natural sable hair brushes, the Kolinsky sable hair brush is one of the softest, and is the treasured standard of most professional artists. The Kolinsky brush gets its name from the origin of the bristles.
The hair comes from the Kolinsky (Mustela sibrinca) which is a species of weasels instead of a sable. Premium Kolinsky brushes are made primarily from the hair of the male weasel. Most brushes have a mix of hair from the male and female weasels but the higher the ratio of female hair, the lower the quality of the brush.
As with other art supplies, the more difficult or rare the materials are, the higher price they demand, and so it is with the Kolinsky brushes. The Kolinsky sable brush is customarily used for watercolors, but lesser quality Kolinsky sables are used for oils and acrylics.
Other natural hair brushes are created with everything from squirrel tail hair to hog's hair, and their use depends on the effect desired, or the medium being used. For example, a squirrel's hair brush can be used to work with watercolors and other light bodied mediums. A hog's hair brush is very coarse and is used with oils and acrylics.
Finally, synthetic brushes make a showing. These brushes are less expensive and deliver a lower quality effect but if you are just starting out, this is the brush for you.
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