Another Q about brushes

I am thinking of getting a brush that's finer than a #1 from LC (7000C series). I see things like:

LC Liner 7350C-0
LC Liner 7350C-18/0
LC Round 7000C-18/0

Does anyone know what the difference is between these and what is recommended?

Is a script liner nice for incredibly fine lines/swirls? I'm still having some trouble getting nice even THIN lines with a #1 (due to the pressure issue - or perhaps it's due to the newbie issue )

Any ideas would be great, thanks so much!

I'd probably just keep practicing, rather than buying tinier and tinier brushes... You'll soon wind up frustrated that you can't draw a decent length line before you run out of paint on something that small! I have that problem even with a number 1. You will get the hang of the pressure needed, and turning the brush as you lift to get a fine point to the ends of your lines. It's all just practice.


Good luck!

As a new person, I too thought it was the brush
But I sure agree with Painted Faces: practice...practice...practice...and suddenly the line work gets better, even with the same ol' brush you had trouble with in the beginning
Might be your paint too....even though I use mostly dfx, I found Wolfe the best for linework.

I love to practice with my script liner. You can get some really nice flowing fine lines. In actual use however, I have never bothered to reach for it. Just use a #2 round.

Thanks for the replies guys! I am using Wolfe, DFX and TAG... I suppose I'll just keep on practising then. I guess I can't expect to be a pro in just a few weeks Patience is not one of my strong points, hehe and getting the pressure correct with using just the tip of the brush is such an ordeal when my little one just won't sit still long enough - sigh She's 4 at the moment, perhaps when she's 6 she'll be a little less energetic

Ah, wiggly clients. That doesn't help. Try practicing your swirls, teardrops and lines on ordinary baking paper. No cleaning, no wiggling.

The longer I paint the larger my brushes get.

Willowby, have you looked over in the "New to Face Painting" section? There are newbie challenges (one was practice with linework) and a Show and Tell. You can add to those threads anytime. It is rather nice having fun with the other newbies because we are all at various stages of learning AND people there have set goals for themselves that are inspiring.
Join us, please

Willoughby wrote:Thanks for the replies guys! I am using Wolfe, DFX and TAG... I suppose I'll just keep on practising then. I guess I can't expect to be a pro in just a few weeks Patience is not one of my strong points, hehe and getting the pressure correct with using just the tip of the brush is such an ordeal when my little one just won't sit still long enough - sigh She's 4 at the moment, perhaps when she's 6 she'll be a little less energetic

I can tell you something, though - practising on that wiggle-worm of a 4 year-old will be the best practice you can get. When I did my first gig, I was amazed how easy it was to paint on the vast majority of children there, because only one was anywhere near as wriggly as my son.

So...while I might curse (inwardly!) at the time, I should really thank him for all the messing about he does when I'm painting his face. I couldn't BUY training that good!

Misha wrote:The longer I paint the larger my brushes get.

I'm finding that too! Although I'm still very new at this, I'm getting comfortable with more "general purpose" brushes now for finer line work. At first, the only way I could do thin lines was with a teeny-tiny brush, but (as someone said above) I got frustrating having to reload it constantly. Now I tend to use a #2 for fine line work, and it holds a good bit more paint for the same-thickness lines, so it's less vexing to use.

Eventually I'll be using a house decorator's brush for sugar-skull details. Honest.

I agree with the above , a wiggly 4 year old is great practice, and as I paint more, I too use larger brushes. i practice alot on my own arm and leg, you can paint wash, paint wash, and so on, when its just swirls and things you dont need a shape for. I have been painting for years, and only earlier this year added this new medium, and its my favorite