Brush brands

[Gary Hoff]

I got similar information as Michelle did from Bill Whitaker years ago, and I've happily used Trekkel sables. The bristle brushes I've had from them are serviceable but tend to deform rather more than I'd expect.

In my experience Silver Brush makes good bristles--I've been using those for perhaps 5 years and have never had a problem with splaying, loss of hairs, or deformity. But I hasten to add that I've not purchased new bristles from them in a long while. Instead I've used their Ruby Satin line of synthetics--they're smooth to use, easier to clean than natural hair, and wear down very slowly.

Dunno much about da Vinci or Raphael brushes.

I was taught the same brush care tips as Rich was, btw.

[Sharon Knettell]

I wasn't aware that DaVinci was considered the Ferrari of paint brushes. They do not seem to have an extensive line of bristles.

I have both the Silver Brush and the Raphaels. I prefer the Raphaels as they give me more control and their bristle filberts come in long and short.

I don't like the dratted curvy ends of the Silver Brushes, the Raphaels are boiled and straightened.

Try the Raphael Kevrins for skin, it is the best for that purpose that I have found.

[Richard Bingham]

Originally Posted by Sharon Knettell

I wasn't aware that DaVinci was considered the Ferrari of paint brushes . . .

I just received three "experimental" series 5026 DaVinci's, (extra long 24" handles) and now I'm not only not aware, but unconvinced . . . unless Ferraris have slipped to the quality level of a used Chevrolet while my back was turned. (!)

Once again, as I've found European-made brushes, the bristle seems to be good quality, two of the three brushes I ordered show the hairs were cupped from curving bristle, and are interlocking. Then they trim off the flags, squaring up the end of the brush, ruining the hairs !!! (dammit!)

Although the handles are "raw", they are nicely shaped, and the ferrules and crimp are above reproach. Why don't the Euros seem to understand the value of flagged hairs ??

I may attempt to rectify this problem, experimenting on the near-unusable brushes from other sources . . . more anon.

[Marcus Lim]

Originally Posted by Richard Bingham

I just received three "experimental" series 5026 DaVinci's, (extra long 24" handles) and now I'm not only not aware, but unconvinced . . . unless Ferraris have slipped to the quality level of a used Chevrolet while my back was turned. (!)

*Faint*
Good god! So Da Vinci's aren't exactly what they're hyped up to be then!

[Richard Bingham]

Marcus, I feel rather circumspect about "trashing" a brand on the basis of examining only three brushes, and those from a specialty series at that. I don't know where the long-handled series fits in the DaVinci system, I can only appraise what I'm looking at.

My gripe is the lack of flags resulting from trimming off the bristles. Examination shows the hairs are very likely fully flagged when cupped in the round, but perhaps they don't conform to an ideally regular shape when the ferrules are flattened, so the brushmaker trims the hair at that point?

This would be either to satisfy customers more concerned with cosmetic symmetry than what constitutes a really good brush or because they are not truly skillfully well made to retain good form when the ferrules are flattened ??

I'm expressing a personal preference. I know quite a few painters who seem unperturbed by brushes I don't like. In every other regard, they seem very nice . . . although they are not better than the best of Trekell's, nor Silver's Grand Prix (which do have nicely flagged hairs) or the W&N Rathbones I just unpacked. (made in Japan)

Re-enforcing what I've said about European-made brushes, they seem quite at par with the "top tier" brushes I've tried, presented as hand-made (there's no other way) in England, France, and Spain - all of them well-enough made, but clipped to shape. (The DaVincis' handles are stamped "Germany".)

[Richard Bingham]

Originally Posted by Gary Hoff

I was taught the same brush care tips as Rich was, btw.

Yeah, but I learned 'em even though I was in the "slow" group!

Re/ Raphael . . . are those Frenchies? Several years ago, I ordered some French made brushes from NY Central, on the recommendation of a friend. They cost about half again as much as top-tier brushes I was buying at the time . . . when I received 'em, I was appalled to see that while they seemed well made, the bristles had been trimmed at the tips! They were next to useless, except perhaps for daubing paint remover, or at the lathe for a chip brush. (We're still friends, in spite of this . . .)

Good natural bristle brushes use carefully selected hairs that have "split ends", i.e., they are "flagged". The hairs have a slight natural curve, and it's the master brush-maker's craft to assemble (cup) an amount of hair properly arranging them to form the tip of the brush before tying off and hafting.

Recently, in a vainglorious quest for brushes with longer handles, I ordered some brushes represented to be hand-made (there's really no other way) in the UK in a sort of "cottage industry" situation, presumeably to ensure very high quality. Same thing . . . clipped ends.
Is this a European "thing", or what?

[Gary Hoff]

Originally Posted by Richard Bingham

:...natural bristle brushes use carefully selected hairs that have "split ends", i.e., they are "flagged". The hairs have a slight natural curve, and it's the master brush-maker's craft to assemble (cup) an amount of hair properly...

I've had similar experiences, Rich. I don't know why that clipping business happens but my hunch is that its because they either use a lower quality bristle, or perhaps they're using the cut ends of other bristles (the tips already having been used), or they simply don't know any better.

As I understand it, the reason why the flags are so desireable is because they add to the volume of paint the bristles will hold when the brush is charged.

[Richard Bingham]

That's just so, Gary. Even more, each hair is a "tool" of special shape. From the flag through the shaft, the hair tapers, which makes it possible to manipulate the brush with accuracy and tact. Trying to paint with a brush which has been clipped is like trying to drive an 18 wheeler through a BMX course.

[Sharon Knettell]

Here is their web-site: http://shop.raphael.fr

There is a description of their manufacture.

These brushes are not cut or clipped but in my opinion beautifully formed, at least the numbers I posted.

I like them much better than the Silver Brushes, which in my opinion are overrated.

There is a painting I did way back on unveiling's called "Alicia Rose" which I did completely with the aforementioned brushes. I would use few else, since quality and performance are paramount to me. The Kevrins are wonderful for faces as you can manipulate the stroke from the flat side to the thin edge quite beautifully. They wear like iron. I have gotten them both from NY Central and the Italian Art Store and have never had the problem you described. Very confusing.

But as they say different strokes for different folks. You have to find the brush that performs best for you. I have tried them all, even ordering brushes from Cornellisens in the UK.

[Joan Breckwoldt]

My two instructors recommended Robert Simmons Signet bristle filbert brushes, which I have been using for the most part. I like the way they hold and manipulate paint, but the bristles start to splay out after about 3 paintings and I am constrantly replacing them.

I also use the da vinci brushes, the series 1845 black sables are wonderful. I've had some of mine for years. They are still luscious and thick and a joy to paint with. I also use the da vinci maestro bristle brushes and like them. I also have some da vinci series 1865 brushes, they are also wonderful, I'm just not sure what they are. I'm guessing some kind of sable. The da vinci's are made in Germany.

In a pinch I use I've used some Grumbacher filberts that I've had a long time, they have held up very well.

After reading the helpful info on this post, I'm going to get away from my Robert Simmons brushes and experiment with some others.

Joan