One thing that wasn’t mentioned about cleaning brushes is to use cool water, warm or hot water can melt the glues in the ferrules and you can loose bristles over time and ruin the brush.
I truly appreciate the education on brushes that you’ve provided for us today. There was one thing you said that was of great help to me…”It to me a lot of years” in sorting out what you like and your style (my wording with yours). We watch edited videos so not always seeing the full process and I for one have had to remind myself that it takes the artist I’m watching much longer, as a rule, in painting something very nice and finished. I’ve been painting with watercolors now for over six years and I still consider myself a newbie😊
I keep trying to make friends with my dagger brushes 🥴. I used my angle brushes for adding shadows mostly. Funny you didn’t like the comb brush- I love it for painting fur. I bought a quill brush that I think is mostly meant for lettering but I love it for everything- it can make super thin lines, thick lines, it holds a ton of paint or water, I have painted entire paintings with this one quill brush! Thank you for posting such great content- I always look forward to your videos!
It’s so easy to go monkey brain and just try to do everything with just one or two brushes. (You know, just holding on to what’s in my hand lol.) This is a great reminder of the possibilities! Thanks!
I've just mentioned you to another artist RU-vidr who reminds me of you, named Jacqueline Baer. I'm sticking with digital for now, but I'm checking out this video to compare notes with the brush simulation results I'm getting while trying out Rebelle painting software. Your fan brush seems to have a bit in common with the rake brush you demoed at the end, with the sticky pointy bristles. I notice I don't see a lot of people "beating the devil out of" their two-inch brushes outside of Bob Ross videos, although I would think for bigger canvases a huge brush like that might be a big time-saver. Thoughts?
I really still struggle with softer bristles when it comes to gouache. It’s different with watercolor. But soft bristles makes it harder to control and blend. I bought a set from etchr and didn’t like them at all. HIMI brushes are cheap..ok to use but doesn’t give me predictable controls. I’ve been debating if I wanna buy your set just because I don’t want to have another set that sits there making me feel bad not liking them 😭
I think it is such a personal thing - and really depends on your style of working. If you like to layer, the softer hairs are better because they don't dig into the underlayer. Even with wet paint you can layer on top a little easier. But that's a specific way of working. I suggest going to an art store and feeling the brushes with your own hands. Get a few of each type - stiff, medium, soft and compare them in the studio
i can hardly wait for my first subscription box to arrive! I think my fave brush is the flat. I am really looking forward to learning how to use the other brushes you have in your sub box.
Sarah, I bought your original fresh set of seven. I absolutely love them. If I wanted to buy the rest of the set, the mops and the rigors and all the rest of them without subscribing to the monthly program, is there a way to do that?
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge, much appreciated. Looking forward to more. (You voice tone and speed are calming, thank you for that. Some are unbearable, like last one I watched . Lol )
Hey Sarah! Just wanted to let you know how happy I am with the subscription boxes. I hesitated in signing up because we're trying to save money these days; but, the quality of all of the included products is great, and the video content is just incredible!! Can't believe how much I've learned in just the first three months!! Well worth the investment!!
Great video! For me, my favorite brushes are quill mops for watercolor and long flats for gouache. I haven't found any super weird brushes yet, but I haven't quite figured out fans yet. One day!
Thanks for the video, it was very helpful! Do you also clean your brushes with the brush cleaner after using watercolour? Or only after gouache? I've just been rinsing my watercolour brushes until the water runs clear and I've never thought about using a cleaner with them.
Not so much after watercolor...since it comes out of the hairs so easily. I just notice a difference after gouache so that's why I tend to use it every few days
I am pretty good at taking care of the material, so when I found what kind of brush/brushes I like the most I get one little expensive, but it doesn’t have to be the most expensive either. I wanna buy 2-3 of them at the time that I buy them in a different sizes (one smaller and one bigger and a mop brush, in the same brand those that accidently was in water too long got some tape around it and I used it for masking tape with sopa on first. I also use it for white ink splashes.
Can you buy the brushes without the subscription boxes? I already have the box set of brushes but would like a few more. I have lots of paint so the subscription boxes are not the best option for me.
hi!! im new to gouache and new to your channel, thank you so much for your authentic and informative experience! are you going to be bringing the subscription boxes back in the future?
That was such a great explanation of the types of brushes, especially some I was curious about like the rigger and the cat’s tongue. Thanks for all the education you provide. It is very much appreciated. I’m so sad to have missed your subscription boxes. Do you think you’ll be repeating them or creating new ones?
Love your brushes!!! Wish I could do your subscription boxes but currently on a newly retired budget from hell low/no buy. Brush story. This week have been acrylic painting and noticed a long handle brush which I ended up LOVING. Soft... great shape/size. But after a few days I noticed it was showing some wear n breakage on lower edges. Decided to buy another only to discover it was like a $28 sable brush. Mew mew. Not replacing. Good gracious. Very nice but ... 😮
Honestly, the newer synthetic brushes perform on a par with natural hair brushes. They are often cheaper and involve no cruelty to animals, so it's a win-win.
Are your other brushes available in additional to the seven piece set? Are the the brushes in the monthly gouache box the same as the ones in the available in the set?
Short useful video. I have most of the types you covered, except the filbert and the fan brushes. Thanks for the tips on washing them out. I worry that gouache will wreck my watercolor brushes, so wash them after each gouache session@
Thank you for this video. I just bought a pedal brush. It's a prinston velvet touch I love how it feels and it makes some great pedals! I don't know if you had ever heard of it? Jk FLORIDA
Will your full brush set be released as a separate purchase? The subscription is sold out and not everyone wants to wait all these months to build up a collection of brushes. Your small set is great, but is missing essential brushes that come with the subscription. To be able to purchase the full set without subscription would be awesome.
Perfect timing, I was just playing with all my brushes yesterday like this to see which ones did what. I found a hog hair? Stencil brush that makes great marks for foliage and love using a dip pen for fine lines in watercolour.
Oh, thanks for that. Great video about brushes. I just bought some cheapo ones to practice with. I think there's one of those you mentioned at the end in there. Haven't tried that one yet. Looking forward to your next video. Take care. 🥰
Hi Sarah! This video was so useful, I've saved it in a playlist to refer to it in the future :). The grass brush is the weirdest brush I've ever used as well, I actually still use it from time to time to paint fur without having to paint each individual hair. For that I find it quite useful! Lots of love
Maybe I just got a dud. I remember it being frustrating because it barely held water/pigment for more than one stroke. I can use my other brushes much easier to create grassy texture
This is helpful information and it was fascinating to see how the different brushes act on the paper and the paint. The only brush I don't quite know is the cat's tongue brush and I'm interested on trying it.
Thanks so much for your great explanations and demos! I do have a unique brush I bought quite a while back... In the 70s, when I was a teenager learning how to paint, I spent what was a LOT of my babysitting money ($15) on a small paintbrush... I can't remember if it was a size 0 or 1 round. It was made of white ermine hair. I don't even think you can find those anymore! I took AMAZING care of that paintbrush and it lasted for years, although I eventually did have to toss it. I wish I'd kept it just for the memory of it! lol! I think $15 then is around $100 now!
The wyrrdest brushes I use are Sumi-e brushes on rice paper. You must be REALLY good at water control. You can differentially load them with various values of ink. You must spin them as you use them to maintain the point. They do not snap back into shape like Western watercolor and gouache brushes. Rice paper is very close to kleenex type of paper 🙂.
I think I've used one of those without realizing it...it was a really cheap bamboo brush in a 'sale' box from an art store, no name or anything. I actually really love those
Clara Lieu who has the art prof youtube channel is an absolute master at painting with Sumi brushes. She uses them in amazingly unconventional ways that are mind blowing.
I bought the original set of brushes from Craftamo and they are wonderful. I'm wondering whether there are plans to release the new brushes as a set, separate to the subscription? Really informative video, thank you.
Thanks Sarah! I always appreciate your videos: logical but also inspired/inspiring! I don't know why, but I have better control with angled brushes than with flats - maybe because I'm left-handed? I know, that doesn't make sense, but it seems to be true: much easier for me to lay down a flat wash and make consistent gradients (I just do watercolor, not gouache - yet!) with an angled brush. I also wanted to share my DIY brush drying system: I took an old clamp-style pants hanger, and added some non-slip foam on the inside of each slat of the clamp. After cleaning my brushes, I put the tips of the handles between the padded slats, close and fasten the hanger, then hang it on a nail or hook or whatever's convenient. The brushes dry with the bristles hanging straight down: no bent bristles, and the water's draining away from the ferrule. LOL, I know, silly, right? But as a beginning hobbyist, I want to keep my brushes nice without spending $$ on one of the fancy drying racks. I guess it's a different kind of creativity!😄
I have a set of five 'special effects' brushes. After playing with them for an afternoon, I went back to my usual set of three: 1 inch flat, size 8 round, and a rigger.
Thank you so much for this great video, Sarah, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Your brushes look amazing and I’m considering purchasing some. I have a problem with floppy brushes like the Silver Black Velvet line for example. Don’t get me wrong they’re great brushes, just not quite stiff enough for me. And I wish I’d known this before purchasing the 0-12 rounds LOL
My favorite brushes are the flat brushes. I am really enjoying your brush set from Craftamo. I hope you can release some more brush sets in the future!
I really enjoyed your brush video. I was wondering how much the brush set is and is shipping reasonable. I have watched a few of your videos and am quickly becoming a fan. Your work is beautiful.😊
Thank you so much! If you go to the links in my description the product page will show you the price :) They ship worldwide They are doing a sale at the end of November
I have one of those rake brushes for fur. I find it too uniform and unpredictable.. I’ve subscribed to you boxes. I’m really excited about trying your brushes.
Your idea of the boxed set w tutorial is just fantastic. I don't know of anyone else doing this. Perfect for anyone who wants to get started in a medium (like gouache) that's new to them. BRAVO!
Can you change your subscription frequency later? I've never bought a subscription box before but I am interested. I thought six months would be a good interval to start with, but then I'm worried I'll have fomo if I don't finish the year. Can I order another six months at the end? Or switch to the 12 month option? Please to advise me!
I would love to sign up for the Monthly Tutorial boxes but I just do not have the money right now as I just had my front brakes on my Saturn Vue fixed- and it so nice to have dependable brakes on this car!! Anyway, is there any way I could sign up in March 2024 as I should have the funds then? I actually plan to get all the rest of my cars problems fixed at that time too-it will be nice to have my all wheel drive and air conditioning working again. Please advise.
Working brakes are far more important than art supplies!! Good call! Actually in March or April we will probably do a second pre-order window, so people can sign up who missed it. So it might work out great
Hi, though not brushes related, I've noticed that people in the UK area pronounce gouache as gou-ash, like goulash, not gwash. What is the right pronunciation I wonder...
How do you control the amount of water in the hairs of flat brushes? Is it the amount of time you dip them before use? Or the depth? The way you wipe them on a towel before digging into the paint? Or something different? I've been laying out my gouache colours on a wet paper towel, as some recommend. And while it does slow their drying on the palette (for some colours more successfully than others), I find it also lets a really unpredictable amount of water into the paint.
I can control how much water is in the hairs by how long it sits in the water, how much I wipe it off on the paper towel, and for different marks I need different amounts of water. It comes with lots of repetition, thousands upon thousands of brush strokes until it's intuitive. Flat brushes hold less than round/mop because the shape and amount of hairs
Ever since I saw Liz Steel using only a dagger brush for her plein air sketches, I’ve been using one in my kit. I think it’s a really versatile brush and she was so right, it’s such a good choice if you only bring one brush with you.
Do you use these brushes for your watercolors as well or only for your gouache? I know you have shown us brushes in the past. But I just don’t recall if you prefer a different style of rush for watercolor.
I like the angled brushes for 'outlining' in the same sense that I use an angled brush for 'cutting-in' edges when painting a wall. But smaller. I don't know if it appropriate for a stranger to be proud of you, but I am. Of your progress in painting skill and your video skill and of your entrepreneurship. Way to go!
I want cat's tongue brush. Because of the name, not that I need it😂 Probably, if it would be called a " fat filbert", I would pass it without trepidation...
@@SarahBurnsStudio No, the tongue is not pointy. I just checked with my cat. But it is very very cute though...😍 I can feel it in my bones, that despite everything,I am going to get one. 🤣
Hello Sarah, thank you so much for all the videos you do, especially when you are out and about plein air painting in the Highlands and forests of Scotland. Just love those videos. But this one was really great too. Your assessment of all your favourite brushes was superb. I did enjoy it. We do not have a teacher for our art group now as our original teacher retired with ill health. We all watch art videos and bring the expertise of professional artists like yourself to our group and share our researches. My favourite brushes are the Winsor and Newton professional pointed round brushes. They hold large amounts of water/paint and have a long fine and delicate point, all real sable hairs. Had my set for years and with care, they will last me out. Kind regards, Kathy Moffat.
