best brushes?

I am planning on updating my brushes.

What are the best for thin lines and teardrops?

Pandora's box, It depends entirely on what you like to use, I have a mix of loew corrnel, royal, esscodda, mark reid and tag brushes. The loew round 4# is the brush I use the most.

Unfortunately, after two years of trying to listen to other people's opinions, there was no way to save money in the brushes department. I had to waste my money and just buy different ones to find what I liked and some of them are hated by other artists. There is really no right answer. You just have to try them out and go with what works for you.

Brushes are definitely a world to themselves. Only way to find one that works for you is to keep trying them out. Eventually you'll notice that one of them stands out for you as a real work-horse.

ditto... I have a box of brushes that I don't even touch anymore. It took a bit, but I'm in love with the Mark Reid round brushes. I love the Vargas kabuki brushes. I haven't found the perfect flat brush yet for me. But it comes down to personal preference.

Sorry there isn't a straight-forward answer. Good luck!

yes Im still looking for the right brush..I like the loew cornell comfort ones they have a blue handle and are kinda shaped toward the metal part of the handle...can't get them at Michaels any more
but the loew cornell 7000 series seam to work well for me I like the size 4 round for tear drops...

So pleased you asked this question posiefairy, I'm really new and already have heaps of brushes, I was starting to think that maybe I just suck at the FP thing but was not willing to give up yet. So the next round of buying is about to begin (I'll try some of the brands mentioned), I seem to have problems with either over loading or not loading enough paint onto the brushes so that I get either runny or jagged lines. Fingers crossed that we all find our dream brushes!!

Telling someone which brushes to use is like telling them who they should date. It's a very personal preference. I get a lot of my brushes when I have coupons for Michael's. I can pick up a brush & study it for a while & then pick another, etc. Right now I'm in love with thin line script brushes that I'd ignored for almost 3 yrs.

For me it was all trial and error, and i buy most of my brushes from A. C Moores they have a huige selection at the one near me. But like i was saying its alot of trial and error and finding what brushes you are most comfortable with for me i absolutly love my round brushes. you can use them for pretty much everything and if you gave me one and that was it i could do wonders with just that one brush. but then again i have grown very comfortable with it. good luck with everything.

I have been able to get some really fabulous brushes from A.C. Moore especially when they put them on sale and you use thier 40% and 50% coupons on top of the sale price.............which probably explains why I have so many dang brushes now...lol smh.

Brushes are just like the paints we use...............there is no one " right" brand or type. You will only know what you like and don't like after having used them.

Those of you still looking for your soul mate (aka favorite brush) just take a few potentials, sit down for a while and make stroke after stroke on your arm or leg. Practice thin-thick-thin and tear drops and swirls again and again in sections on your skin, then repeat with a different brush.

Most round brushes have potential. I am finally learning, after years of painting, how to take even cheapo brushes and make clean lines and swirls with them.

Well brushes are personal but every newer painter asks and some of us teach whole classes about brushes. And so they are not that personal - just like asking about which makeup brand. There is basicly a few brands of brushes and a few sizes most folks use - and most folks sell.

You can get an idea of what type of brush will work for you by defining your style. For instance the first thing is do you have a light touch or are you heavy handed. Neither is wrong or right - bu one yo which side to you lean. If you lay down the brush lightly go towards soft, longer bristles like Loew Cornell 7000s or Mark Reid Signature - if you need more spring to balance the weight of your touch lean towards Wolfe Face Art FX or Loew Cornell Comfort brushes.
Or brushes with the feel of those brands.

There are indeed difference to brushes which can help you improve - some brushes are much sharper other have more rounded points. Some fibers hold the makeup some allow it to flow more readily. While there is trial and error what you are more likely to find is once you learn about brushes and brush types you can find what fits your style and, as your style grows and changes so too may your brush choices.

Mark didn't always use such long bristles he has grown, and unless you move your brush much like he does you won't get the tiny fine lines to your strokes. And the Wolfe team can produce wonders with their inexpensive brush line. Don't under estimate those brushes. They are wonderful for details - Look at the deilcate work April prodcues with them.

So what's your style, what types of designs do you paint most often and are you painting children or adults for he most part. Size does matter. But if you have any of these two basic sizes on most any brand you can paint any face. Round #2, #3 or #4. And I never use flats in face art but do enjoy having a Paradise chisel in the mix. When I do use a flat it is always a Kryolan flat brush.

My advice would be buy a good brush and stick with it. Master your strokes with that good brush. Make it about your style before you move to another brush. You can learn to master both thin lines and teardrops with the same brush.

Boy, have I missed you Sweet, Sweet Loretta!

me to..good thing to think about on brushes..thanks for the info Loretta

Just bought a (cheap) brush yesterday and through it in the trash today.
It came in a set loew cornell set number 4136, it's the #2 round - EEK! So many stray hairs, I thought my lines were made with a rake, hahaha

In this set the number 4 round is okay, the liner, not so good, the 3/4 glaze works fine, I just rarely do anything with a 3/4, the number 2 shader is soooooo small, but I was able to make over 40 small dots with one loading. There are five other brushes in the set that I havent used, this set was $5.99 at Joanns and I used a 40% off coupon so $3.60, so it's not like I spend a lot of money, but I hate to throw something away so quickly!

The Royal Majestic Brush series is my absolute favorite for several reasons.

1. I've never had a Royal Majestic brush separate at the ferrule and handle. I don't know how many times I've had to glue my Paradise brushes back together.
2. The handle is not made of wood - the plastic handle last a lot longer than wooden one including the Snazaroo brushes.
3. They clean off easily - I still have Paradise and Snazaroo brush handles that I just can't get clean.
4. The brushes are great for teardrops, swirls, flowers, hearts, etc...

I can always find them at my local craft store (Hobby Lobby) and if I catch them on sale or find a 40% off coupon I like to stock up. I've built up my stock - enough so that I use one set exclusively for white, black, blue/green, and yellow/orange/red brush work. This system seriously saves time and paint.

http://www.cheapjoes.com/cat/5685/

I also love royal majestic but I have never seen them at my local craft store. I wish we had a hobby lobby here.

Thanks for the explanation Loretta.

I am in LOVE with Simply Simmons brand of brushes from Michaels. They're the white handled brushes with the black ferrule and sable taklon bristles... like this...



And here are some of the brushes I have...



I'm typically a round brush painter... I don't use a lot of flat brushes or filberts, but I have a little bit of everything and these are my faves. They make some fantastic liner brushes going down to a size 00 I believe and they hold up well to boot. Not saying they're for everyone, but I highly, and very fondly recommend them.

What I love most about them is that they are such a high quality, and EVERY single brush is only 2.99, that's including the large 1" flats for split cakes and everything. They're really affordable.

I just got the 1" flat brush from Paradise(in Metina's shop) & finally found out what was wrong with my 1 stroke stuff! All my brushes were too long & holding too much water. This brush is amazing!!!!

I've been painting with the same brushes for several years now. I've added a few loew cornell along the way. I've been recently thinking of getting the Majestic set & Mark Reid Signature brushes to add to my collection. The ones I've been using, are still going ok, but are getting a bit tired. My favorite is a #4 round.

I have one of the Simply Simmons brushes-- a 1 inch flat. Boy does that sucker hold a lot of paint! I haven't bought any more because of that, it just felt so wastefull. (even though I guess it would be a good trait for your Black/White rounds, maybe I'll try again)

Linda, thanks for the tip.
Sophie, I am going to have to try that brush.

OK specific to your question " Which bush is best for fine lines and tear drops?"
I have heard ( I say this as I don't have my hands on one yet) that the Ultra rounds are like cheat brushes for these particular strokes. I know a couple of artists that swear by them.
Gotta say I look through all the posts here and was surprised when no-one mentioned them.
I can't remember where I saw them but when I find them I will post a link.

Ah ha! I found it......
http://www.cheapjoes.com/cat/5880/