Brush Wars
Buying paint brushes has to be, without question, one of the most confusing things a beginner artist ever has to do. It’s truly impossible, and even my friend who is part of a group of top interior designers say that they also have trouble knowing what to look for, and it is something that isn’t always taught. They all look the same, yet some are expensive and some are cheap. They all look the same yet some are for oils and some are for acrylic and some are for watercolour. When you ask an assistant they will tell you that the more expensive brushes are better, yet there seems to be no real reasoning to back this claim up. Then, just as you have resigned yourself to this being the most difficult challenge your art career will ever have to face, someone comes over and starts picking them up, and it’s clear they know exactly what they are doing, and you feel like a berk.
The truth is that where brushes are concerned, this is just the beginning. After you’ve decided how much you want to spend, the real task begins–working out what all the different brushes are for–
In reality it isn’t that difficult. Basically, you get what you pay for. Here are a few reasons why both kinds are good, along with disadvantages of using both:
1) Cheap brushes:
Good: cheap, obviously. You can get ten cheap brushes for the price of one expensive brush made from the finest horse-hair.
Bad: the bristles have a habit of coming off in your painting. Then they get stuck in there and you might not be able to get them out, which will be annoying.
2) Expensive brushes:
Good: fantastic quality means that they will last a long time. And you get better control of your brush-strokes, too.
Bad: if you’re using acrylics then be sure to wash your brushes out thoroughly or all that money might be wasted. Secondly, in truth there isn’t a huge difference between the control of an expensive brush and that of a slightly cheaper brush, and it doesn’t always matter anyway, especially if you are just slapping it on. When it comes down to it, it’s really down to personal preference.