New Brushes!

So I decided I would like to order some new brushes because I just dont seem to be getting the best lines with mine...just a cheap set I picked up. Any suggestions for brushes? I am still new but I want to invest in something that isn't "creme de la creme" but isn't complete garbage either...please help! I have found that I like the plastic handles because I am still so new and I sometimes don't remember to take not leave my brushes submerged. Anyone know of a good plastic handled line of brushes?

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I love Loew & Cornell 7000C series.

My favorites are the loew cornell 795 series, sometimes called "gold handle". If you can stand to wait they go on sale at a c Moore every so often

Oops! Missed the plastic handled part. In that case I agree with Fesspenter, the 7000 series are nice

Thanks so much, soon as the hubby gets home with his plastic I will be placing an order I think!

The one-inch wide one-stroke brush from the Forum is really good.

Are the bristels long or shorter? I find the longer bristels harder to work with for one stroke...

They're the best I've found. I used to have somewhat longer bristles and the same problem - difficulty loading and getting consistent results. I always had trouble loading up from the one-stroke cakes without wrecking the cake and having to get everything too wet while trying to get the brush all loaded. These brushes I have now work well. I ordered on from the Forum, tried it, and then promptly ordered two more, at ten bucks a piece. It was well worth it and the brushes now save me time and struggle with busy festival lines.

They're the ones with the clear plastic acrylic handles. The handles are shorter than you'd expect, but really just fine, and I like them that way.

I meant "I ordered ONE from the Forum, then two more"

So it looks like my shopping list will include every Loew & Cornell 7000C series brush I can get my grubby hands on and one or maybe even 2 of those nice 1"'s you are talking about! Thanks guys! Like I said, I am still VERY new and don't really know brushes yet.

I spent (well, wasted) way more than thirty bucks when I first searched out one-stroke brushes (I didn't do the best research), so I now have about six brushes which are too thick, too lush, or too long-bristled to do all those snakes and rainbows and dragon wings. I basically just keep them on "display" at gigs because they are long and tall and look so artsy cool

You may be ahead of the game to try one and see how you like it. Good luck in your B.A.S.*

* Brush Acquisition Stage

i second the loew cornell 7000c series, and the prisma 3/4 is a good flat brush, I find that the 1 inch is too big for alot of small faces

Ok, 1 more question. Anyone know where I can find them for sale as a set?

I have never found a Loew & Cornell set that is truly useful for my needs as a face painter. It costs more money to purchase those extra brushes, that I do not truly use.
The FacePaintForumShop has competitive pricing and FAST SHIPPING!

So then the better question, which brushes DO you feel are useful? I am very new but I do want to learn to use more than just my #4 round lol. I can't seem to put that 1 down!

What I feel is useful to me may be different for you. There are so many brushes out there, and so many different opinions, it is better to try one of a few to see which works for you. I believe you can do a Google search for threads on brushes on face paint forum.

Meet up with your local face painters and see if you can try out your fellow face painters brushes. Different paint on different brushes load differently. You just have to try them out.

The 7000C series is still my absolute favorite for linework.

Happy painting!

That makes sense I just wondered which brushes were better for line work and which are better for swirls,etc. I have learned a bit from the forum and just trying the cheap brushes I have but I just don't feel like I am getting the results that I could get with better brushes. I might just order a few that I know I use like the #4 lol and the 1" flat. I haven't met any painters in my area but I might have to seek some out. Thanks for all the help, I'm sure it must be a pain to answer all these questions and I appreciate you taking the time to help!

You can do the vast majority of designs with a #2, a #4, and a 3/4" brush IMO. Having said that I have to admit to having more brushes than I can fit in my ice tube tray.

Brushes are tricky if you are not getting some hands on lessons and help in choosing what is right for you. Most the Loew Cornell's are good, but they have different bristles. Take a simple LC number 4 - some are stiffer than others, they have varied spring and the bristle body may be full or long.

No matter you must practice and learn to hold a paint brush properly, and get it up on it's tip. Marks Reid's first DVD "Get On Your Mark" has good stroke work instruction.

I suggest you order one number 4 from two or four of the LC series and test drive them.

I just bought my 2nd LC brush #6 round and I LOVE it. My first was a dbl filpert I have yet to utilize. I used a 50% off coupon at Michaels,got it for just under 4 bucks yay.... I have a seriouse brush and paint addiction. I also found a great brush case at Hobby Lobby that came with a royal/Langernickel set that seem to be very good. Also bought using a 40 % off coupon. My rule is.... Never pay full price!!!!

My favs are Robert Simmons Sapphires #4 and I will buy one every so often not on sale, but I usually wait until they go on sale or have a coupon.

I have two different types of 7000c. Some are clear plastic and some are black wood(those do split).

I know Christy from Daizy Designs like Snazaroo plastic handles. I haven't found them though

I like the cheap flat brushes from Walmart. I think the handle is blue. They are wood, but I haven't had any splitting issues with them. They work just as good as Donna Dewberry's, dare I say I have to really look at them to tell the difference

I also like Mark Reid #2 and the chisel brush. Great handles!

Oh, I also wanted to say that eventually you should be able to take a #4 and do everything with it from swirls to tiny line work and details. It's the way you hold the brush like a ballerina on her toes

When I bought my kit I got it at jestpaint, they have a big Diamond FX setup that comes with everything. I liked that because I really didn't have time to piece together a kit. Anyways, it came with a blue set of brushes by Royal/Langernickel that turned out to be total garbage...handles started falling off even though I was very careful to not leave them submerged. I have picked up a few brushes at Hobby Lobby, Master's Touch (these are ok but still wooden handle) and Royal Majestic (like these the best so far because they are plastic) but I have yet to see ANY Loew Cornell. I will have to check Michael's, did they have a large selection A New Face?

Michael's has a great selection of brushes...La Corneille (Loew Cornell), Royal Sapphires, Golden Edge, Master's Touch, as well as some cheaper sets. I too have a serious brush addiction!

My husband is tired of hearing my brush complaints lol he said I better find a good set "AT WHATEVER COST"! I will be running to Michael's today Thanks ANew Face and Martha for pointing me in that direction. Michael's is a bit further from home so I just don't journey there often. I believe I have a 50% off coupon for there though...