Are complete sets of brushes necessary? Advice please...

I need a/some filbert(s) and guess I should get some flat/shader brushes too. I'm just wondering which sizes are used most or should I just get the whole toot? Is one of each sufficient (2,4,6,8,10,12 for flat and 2,4,6,8 and 10 for filberts) ?
I don't know which I'll need, please help me

I think the general opinion from the pros is that you'll find your favourite size of brush, so you should then buy several of that one. If you're working with one brush per child, you'll obviously need more.

I did buy a Royal Soft-Grip set so that I could experiment with which brushes I like. I find I gravitate towards #3 round, #6 round and 3/4 flat brushes (with a sideline in tiny ickle round sables sometimes), so I have a few of each of those.

Buy what YOU like to use. When I am working I tend to use only rounds, and an occasional filbert. I am comfortable with them and they can do anything I need them to.

If you buy a whole "set" you'll find there are some you won't end up using. But you'll only figure that out once you start working with them.

I have lots of rounds, #0, #1 #2 #4 #6 are favourites. I have a few of each as occassionally at gigs one might get knocked on the ground and then it's out of play until I get home - even though I could sterilize it on the job I just feel it looks bad to use a brush from the ground! Plus also occasionally a germ bag kid slips under the radar and I realise as I'm painting that they are germy - same deal - brush is out of play for the day. I also like to have one of each of 2's 4'S and liner brushes specifically for black and white, the white brush has white on the top and I only ever put it in white paint. Even though brushes get washed out between people at the end of a full day painting there is a risk of greyness in the white otherwise. I like filberts and have a few, but mainly rounds. And also it is worth spending to get good rounds as it does make a difference. I like Lowel Cornells.

I do almost everything with a #4 round. I have a few other brushes, but you'll find yourself reaching for your favourites all the time and the rest won't even get touched. I have 2 or 3 of each of my favourites, one of a couple others and that's it. I sponge more than anything, Snaz works better with sponges

I use rounds 90% of the time. I do have many types and sizes of both in rounds and the others. I like to have the other types on hand for different techniques, and I have noticed I use them more now than when i fist started as I painting. Truthfully though, rounds are my go to.

Thanks for the replies guys. Thing is, as I'm just starting, I don't have any of the flats (except a 1/2 " and a #12), and no filberts at all so I can't really tell at this stage which I'll like to use. I guess I'll have to buy a set then and try them.

I found a set of 12 Royal Soft-Grip brushes (including rounds and flats of different sizes, including a one-stroke 3/4" flat, and a zip-around case) on sale at Amazon, and bought those so that I could have a play and find out what I liked.

If you can pay out for a relatively inexpensive set, it might be a good way to find out what works for you. After that, you can specialise in the ones that work best for you.

I don't use flats at all and only have one filbert that I rarely use.

If you're not a one-stroke painter then you should get in the practice of using sponges to block in the shapes and a couple of different rounds and a couple of filberts ought to do it.

Now if you are a one-stroke type painter like me (I know, I'm crazy) you'll need the above and I like 1/2" flat (for batman wings and spiderman eyes and large calligraphy), 3/4" angled shaders (or flats) 5/8" angled shader (or flat). If you don't mind cleaning out your brush often you can get away with only having a single of everything....so what's that #2 round, #4 round, #8 & #12 Filbert, 3/4" Shader/Flat, 5/8" Shader/Flat. I like my American Painter Filberts because they are skinny and you can get a nice thin edge.

Depends on what you use! I never go anywhere without a flat, #1 or #3 round. I rarely use a filbert, if ever...

This essential brush set gives you all the tools you need to apply makeup like a pro. Includes six brushes: Concealer, Foundation, Face Blender, Eye Shadow, Eye Liner and Eye Brow, all smartly tucked away in a portable black case.

....Victoria, I'm confused by your recent posts. You posted about portrait painting on another thread, and then about make-up brushes on this one. You do know this is a face painting forum, right? Not a glamour or other make-up forum??

Unless you're suggesting we use make-up brushes for face paint application...which I believe would be a bad idea.

Yeah...I'm confused too.

Anyway, the brushes I usually use are:
Flat: 1-1/4, 1" and 3/4" amd 1/2"
Rounds: #2, #3, #4 (primarily), and #6 (I have larger but only for body work)
Filber: #8 and #10
Specialty: A rake brush, a stunted round (for petals), Mark Reid Chisel brush and an angled brush.

Of course I bought a LOT of brushes before figureing out what I actually use, but now that I know, life is a lot easier for me.

Victoriaclarke77 looks like a spambot to me.

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