brushes for miniatures
- Thread starter SamuraiY
- Start date
Painfully
First Post
Here's a must read article on brush selection that just about covers it all.
When I go shopping at my local art store, they don't have test paper available, but I make sure to buy only the pointiest brushes with absolutely no fray. A good brush conditioner is a must, and proper care will extend the life of your brushes.
The more zeros in the brush size mean that it's a smaller brush, but sizes can vary among manufacturers. A size 2/0 is smaller than a size 0. And a 4/0 is smaller than a 2/0, etc. Sometimes they write it out, so a size 3/0 is really the same as size 000.
When I go shopping at my local art store, they don't have test paper available, but I make sure to buy only the pointiest brushes with absolutely no fray. A good brush conditioner is a must, and proper care will extend the life of your brushes.
The more zeros in the brush size mean that it's a smaller brush, but sizes can vary among manufacturers. A size 2/0 is smaller than a size 0. And a 4/0 is smaller than a 2/0, etc. Sometimes they write it out, so a size 3/0 is really the same as size 000.
I use the cheaper brushes for dry brushing.
I like the Winsor & Newton brushes for fine detail (000 Series 7) and the Royal Aqualon (10/0 #2250) has served me well for detail as well. Both brushes have lasted me for over three years. That is with me painting at least three figures a week and never using them for drybrushing.
You can see my work in the art section of this message board under favorite mini's I painted. The Blue and Red guys Scale mail was done with the winsor & newton brush. The red guy had a casting problem with the armor that is why he doesn't look as clean.
Jen Haley recomended the brushes to me and I haven't looked back. She has the article here:
Trick & Tips - Jen
Enjoy,
Darius
I like the Winsor & Newton brushes for fine detail (000 Series 7) and the Royal Aqualon (10/0 #2250) has served me well for detail as well. Both brushes have lasted me for over three years. That is with me painting at least three figures a week and never using them for drybrushing.
You can see my work in the art section of this message board under favorite mini's I painted. The Blue and Red guys Scale mail was done with the winsor & newton brush. The red guy had a casting problem with the armor that is why he doesn't look as clean.
Jen Haley recomended the brushes to me and I haven't looked back. She has the article here:
Trick & Tips - Jen
Enjoy,
Darius
Once you have a base coat on and have inked your mini then you take a bit of color and use either a tile or paper towel and wipe paint off til it looks like there is very little on the brush. Then you lightly go over the area on the mini til it is highlighted.
Train painters sometimes call this weathering.
A wash is also used many times instead of an ink coat. A wash is where you take a little paint then add a bit of water to thin it down. Then you take this paint/water and brush it on your mini. the recessed areas will hold the paint pigments and the raised areas will be left the way they are with this technique when done correctly.
Dry brushing takes a bit of practice but it really helps. My Dwarf's face in my thread was drybrushed.
Here is his pic which I am posting as an example:
Darius
Train painters sometimes call this weathering.
A wash is also used many times instead of an ink coat. A wash is where you take a little paint then add a bit of water to thin it down. Then you take this paint/water and brush it on your mini. the recessed areas will hold the paint pigments and the raised areas will be left the way they are with this technique when done correctly.
Dry brushing takes a bit of practice but it really helps. My Dwarf's face in my thread was drybrushed.
Here is his pic which I am posting as an example:
Darius
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KnowTheToe
First Post
Check out http://www.paintingclinic.com/
This is a great site that will answer most of your beginning questions. Since you are a beginner, I do not suggest the $15-20 brushes. Go to a local hobby/art store and buy the $5-10 brushes to start. You will want a # 1, 0 & 00 to start. Hope you enjoy painting.
M@
This is a great site that will answer most of your beginning questions. Since you are a beginner, I do not suggest the $15-20 brushes. Go to a local hobby/art store and buy the $5-10 brushes to start. You will want a # 1, 0 & 00 to start. Hope you enjoy painting.
M@
