The Brush Off

I'm tired of babying a sore arm and am going to paint today. As I began preparing my work table and palette, I found myself nearly giggling with the anticipation of sitting down with my beloved brushes and getting to work.  The brushes I use the most I've had for nearly 10 years.  They are my friends and familiar to use.

My entire arsenal of watercolor brushes

You've probably heard that old saw, "A Craftsman is only as good as his tools."  You may also have heard that the only paint to buy is professional grade, get the best brushes you can afford and only use high quality paper.  When you are beginning, you might even read the catalogs from the art supply dealers and come away confused, wondering what paints, brushes and papers are really the quality to buy to help your work be the best it can be.

These may look like junk to you, but for scrubbing, masking, splattering or lifting, this group of brushes are my dear friends.  Except the Hake.  That's the wide one.  It's a piece of junk.  I keep it because I paid for it.  

I still believe that my paper and paints have to be the very best I can afford.  Brushes, however are another matter. Although I'm talking about watercolor brushes here, I believe it holds true across mediums. Here's what I wish I had known 24 years ago when I began my watercolor adventure:   An art teacher and friend, David Vega Chavez told the following story in the first session of classes I ever took with him.  He had invested hundreds of dollars in sable brushes and had a collection well worth over $1,000.00.  He had them in a case away from home one day and they were either lost or stolen.  The whole collection.  He couldn't afford to replace them with more sable brushes and so bought some made by the Silver Brush company from their Black Velvet line.  He loved them so much that they became the only brushes he used.

My pride and joy brushes.  These are just about the only brushes I ever use for applying paint dry brush or wet, washing and detailing.

So, I bought two.  I quickly saw what he meant and bought more.  I love my Black Velvet brushes.  They are a combination of squirrel and synthetic fibers with a quick snap and thirsty bellies that hold a lot of paint and keep a sharp tip when wet.  They are my work horses.  This isn't a commercial for Silver Brush.  What is is though, is me, arguing that a fancy brush is not going to make you a better painter.  A good, solid, mid range brush will do the job just as well as the pricey sable one.

My three thoroughbreds.  L to R, Isabey and two Escodas.  Meh, they aren't that special.  The Isabey won't make a sharp tip and the two Escodas can't hold nearly the paint/water as the Black Velvet brushes.  

A few years ago I decided I wanted to see for myself, so I ordered three sable brushes, Two Escodas and one Isabey.  They are beautiful and soft.  They have nice snap and thirsty bellies, too.  What they don't have is any better performance than the Black Velvet brushes.  In fact, I still reach over them to pick up a Black Velvet brush every time.  

This painting, 30" x 41.5," is pretty darn big for a watercolor.  The Silver Brushes shown above are the only things I used on this.  They were up to the job of washes on something this big.  

If you are looking to buy new brushes, you might look at these.  In fact, look at all of the mid range brushes.  Chances are, they will perform just as well as the ones that cost considerably more.  Save that money you planned to spend on high dollar brushes for paint or paper and put it where it will make a visible difference.  You're welcome.

Thanks for stopping by!  Alice