I've learned a lot of hard lessons cutting corners when it comes to hobbying. I've been burned by cheap paints, bad glue and "home made" washes. But I've never been let down by cheap brushes.
When I started in the hobby, I had a mid-range set of sable brushes. I purchased them at a local art store and used them until my lack of care and handling destroyed them. Truth is, I don't want to spend time cleaning and caring for brushes when I'm done hobbying. I just want to rinse the brush off in the water dish, stand up and leave.
This causes them to have a short lifespan, of course. But thankfully, I discovered some cheap brushes that deliver great performance - and I don't feel bad when I have to chuck them after 4 months!
I grab these pre-packed, inexpensive brushes from (drumroll) walmart. Yes, the seventh circle of hell made manifest on Earth. I've memorized the fastest path to the art materials tucked away in the back of the store, between electronics and sewing. A quick glance through the peg to make sure I'm grabbing the 10 pack of detail brushes, and I'm out the door before my IQ drops.
This kit contains everything shown here:
and it costs less than a coffee at starbucks.
And they're surprisingly well crafted. I can get results like this.
When the paint builds up along the bristle base, due to my lack of proper care and cleaning, I just chuck them and buy another 10 for $4.
PROS:
- inexpensive
- excellent control / very fine points
- varied selection
- well crafted / no bristle loss
CONS:
- You gotta go to walmart
Usually, you get what you pay for. This is one of the exceptions.
-trip
You can get this set from michaels as well...and sometimes michaels has a 40% off single item coupon.
ReplyDeleteyou had me at "not walmart".
DeleteI still get my engine oil from walmart, because its just so cheap there...but I hate going there twice a year for that....
DeleteMichaels also has a pretty wide selection of slightly better brushes (and great terrain brushes), you can apply their coupons too. Just make sure to get the app for your phone, and you can see all the current coupons (don't need to sign up for anything).
As I've recently rediscovered my crappy synthetic brushes, I won't completely argue with this. I really prefer a stiffer bristle for most base coating. For freehand though, you get what you pay for. My results are SO much better with a quality brush.
ReplyDeleteI use a combination of cheapo brushes from Bunnings along with the occasional good brush bought from an art shop. I like GW Drybrushes the best so I pay the premium for them. Good article.
ReplyDeleteCheap brushes get a bad rap because they are lumped in the same category as cheap BAD brushes.
ReplyDeleteTaklon is a good material so just because a brush is cheap doesn't necessarily mean it won't be a good brush if it's made of good materials and shaped properly. If you don't like the absorbency and limpness of sable, the snap of a cheaper, stiffer artificial brush may be up your ally.
Yeah cheap brushes aren't bad aslong as they keep their point or even have a point to begin with, You really got to sift though to get the one pack thats good.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand I've had a Windsor and Newton size1 for nearly three years and is as good as new, not bad for seven pound, All depends what your using them for I suppose, One thing though the 00000000+ sized brushes are a waist of time...paint drys before you get it on the mini lol.
Know of any UK alternatives? Buying brushes from art shops such as The Works is not a good idea...
ReplyDeleteTry the range , they sell these gold taklon brushes in packs .
ReplyDelete