Hiya John, thanks very much for another really great show. The practice of licking brushes caused several watercolour artists in the early to middle Victorian period to die. The reason was the pigments like Orpiment which was a popular yellow colour and Verdi Gris both of which are highly toxic and built up in their systems killing them in fairly short periods of time. There were other very toxic substances used but they are just two examples. The worst practice that I know of, was used by oil painters colour men from about the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries. It was making black oil as the medium for the oil paint and was made by placing bars or big lumps of lead into a large cast iron cooking vessel that was a third full of oil, and then they brought it to the boil over an fire and simmered it for around four hours. The room was filled with highly toxic smoke which they must have inhaled because they had to keep an eye on the mixture while it was cooking!! This was all done indoors in the same place as they cooked their meals!! When I consider all the weird and wonderful things that humans have done it's a wonder that any of us have survived 😂😂!

@ShopKeepArty

Жыл бұрын

What a great bit of history. Thanks David! And you’re right, we are a funny species, continually trying to kill our selves for the sake of ‘advancement’. Glad you’re enjoying our shows 👍

Best brush set for medium size paper: Raphael 803 Quill mop no4,Raphael 8404 (or 8408) no6,Da Vinci Cosmotop Spin Rigger no2. You can do anything with a set of just those 3 high-end brushes. If anybody has tried these and have a better suggestion,please share your opinion,I 'll be glad.

When I bought some brushes, I bought a variety of brands, hairs and shapes. I found that was the only way to find out what I really liked and for what purpose. I also found out which brands had good customer service. I rate Rosemary & Co for some of their brushes (particularly my small eradicator) and rate their customer service as excellent.

Wow that’s a lot of great information. Thanks for sharing this.

I have used many different brushes - have recently ended up using almost exclusively - Princeton Neptunes - - also Princeton Aqua Elite long rounds for some things. They are always available & reasonably priced. Thank you for sharing 🙏

@MiniGoat75

4 ай бұрын

Those are my gotos as well. They hold up really well to my artistic abuse

For your brush maintainance: You don't have to buy an expensive soap. Just use the most natural one you have at home. I use Natural Olive oil soaps. It may take some work if the brush has synthetic fibers and you didn't clean it fast enough, but soap eventually will do the trick. Just rinse them well, to avoid soap staying on the bristles, you don't want that. Then store upside down ( I use Bostik Blutack White for that,) and after they dry completely ( I leave them there until next day, you store them in a bamboo roll and you're good to go until your next paint!!!

Outstanding presentation, John. Thankyou.

Hello, I'm from Australia and a beginner to watercolour. I've been wanting to add some brushes to my one round brush but have been hesitant. There are too many types and various qualities, I just didn't know where to start, totally confused. I have enjoyed this post very much and learnt so much. Particularly the wisdom and knowledge provided from Joe Dowden. Thank you everyone.

@ShopKeepArty

Жыл бұрын

Hi Leslee, really pleased that you found this helpful. As an art service, we have recently started a range of courses that you might find useful. Please visit www.shopkeeparty.com/courses

So much information about this subject with some humorous stories as well. The only warning I would give is never lick a brush of any sort. I know someone who became ill enough to have to stay in hospital for as time with poisoning from the paint. Elinor Fletcher

@ShopKeepArty

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it Elinor. Thanks for the warning. People - please take note!

@Mimi-Photography

3 ай бұрын

Why would you lick a brush???

Thank you, it was really useful and informative!

@ShopKeepArty

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed the show!

Thank you!

Important info economical in time - we’ll done

Use synthetic due to animal issues

Thank you so much for this. I really appreciate your efforts here. I understand that you have the reports available to your premium members but for sure it would be most useful for us who for what every reason have not or cannot become members. Perhaps you can release this report later.

@ShopKeepArty

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your kind words. The reports are exclusively for our patrons. However, this free show does summarise a good amount of the information collected, so that anyone can benefit :)

Use almost exclusively ROUND brushes

I have one of the Anna Mason's botanic sets (Rosemary & Co) and a couple of flat Escoda. Synthetic. I haven't had the opportunity to test natural versions.

Currently I’m using some Princeton aqua elite, Princeton Neptune, Davinci.

@mashteeh8691

2 ай бұрын

Me too, and I'm quite happy with the princeton brushes. My favourite is their Neptune mop brush, which I use a lot. Aqua elite so far holds a sharp point, but all of my synthetic brushes have gotten a dent in their tips over time, even with proper care. It's a little frustrating tbh, but hoping the aqua elite will hold that point. How was your experience with those brushes?

@SuperCutealien

29 күн бұрын

I love my Aqua Elites.

I'm fully on the budget end of the market. My most used Jackson's Studio Synthetic size 8 is well into it's 2nd year of almost daily use. It may not be the best brush in the world, but it's been a workhorse. I do look after my brushes, though (brush soap, drying bristle down, and storing bristle up).

@ShopKeepArty

2 жыл бұрын

Nikki it sounds like you've found your Harry Potter wand! :) As you have proven, it doesn't have to be expensive. It just has to be one that you feel most comfortable using.

@nikkia9506

2 жыл бұрын

@@ShopKeepArty The only thing that's shown signs of wear is the paint on the handle, but that's nothing a swipe of acrylic paint won't protect. It's never had a loose hair and it still keeping its point. Perhaps I just got the best of the batch 😉

@greekveteran2715

Жыл бұрын

Do you mean, that after the brush dries out, we have to turn the brush (bristle facing up)?? Is it wrong to keep them bristle down after they dry out?

@giespel68

11 ай бұрын

@@greekveteran2715 good question! I'd like to know too. Anyone?

I use rosemary brush es. A ny discussion on length of brush handles.

It seems I have all types of that brushes in my case. But mostly use round and mop and teke them outside) Last time I adore to draw outside. But I just learn to draw. Hake - for wet techniqs just necessery

As future subject matter..I'd appreciate input on lighting in my studio. TY

I use the #8 ,round

For realistic illustration work the Winsor and Newton series 7 seems to be the brush of choice. Alex Ross only ever uses these sables. There seems to have been a drop in quality control with the series 7 recently. There is only a fifty fifty chance you are getting the best watercolour sable on the market - even though you are paying the same price. Some illustrators have now switched to the Raphael 8404. The Belgian military artist Patrice Courcelle uses the Raphael 8408, which is a longer version of the 8404. For some mysterious reason Raphael has rebranded the 8408 as a brush for botanical art.

@ShopKeepArty

Жыл бұрын

Hi Henry, sounds like you really know your stuff. Thanks for your feedback. Would you be willing to do a follow up piece with us on brushes? please contact us via our website shopkeeparty.com. Thanks

@vincemincevince

9 ай бұрын

yeah I agree the last 4 Series 7 i have bought have been absolute trash hence me watching this video to see what other people use. i like the 8404 and 8408 ive only really used them for inking.

I PAINT WITH STICKS, BUT BEFORE YOU LAUGH OR GET MAD AT ME, JUST REMEMBER, I HAVE JUST AS MANY PAINTINGS HANGING IN THE LOUVRE AS YOU DO - - - LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PS - THIS WAS A GOOD VIDEO, THANKS, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!!!!

@sped17373

Жыл бұрын

I haven't tried it myself yet but have seen vids of several artists who use twigs to make nice random thickness lines for tree branches in their watercolors. Whatever works for you.

@jehovahuponyou

Жыл бұрын

@@sped17373 THANKS FOR THE KIND REPLY, AND IT IS CERTAIN THAT SOME TWIGS DO MAKE GOOD RIGGER, LINE BRUSHES - BUT THEY RUN OUT OF PAINT PRETTY QUICK, LOL!!! THANKS AGAIN FOR THE NICE REPLY - KEEP UP THE GOOD VIDEOS - LORD BLESS!!!!!!!

Have you done a。similar report on water colors?

@ShopKeepArty

2 жыл бұрын

Hi, we intend to do future shows and reports on paints, paper and palettes

What’s the name/brand of the chinese brushes he was talking about?

We have art tutorial workshop videos (2-3hrs in length) with all the artists featured. See www.shopkeeparty.com/video-library

Escoda best ever optimo and reserva, on the cheap end creative marks

I lick my travel brush in a pinch if its too fluffy to fit back in the holder ....but never if it has paint on it. I didnt know people licked paint off their brushes

@ShopKeepArty

Жыл бұрын

...Neither did we until doing this research! Thanks for the comment

There are some excellent synthetic brushes out there. No need for animal cruelty. I love my princeton aqua elite.

Some good info! [PS: I cringe when people pronounce Hake as "hayk." It's pronounced like "hock-ee" or like "ho-kay" (more Japanese). Thank you.]

@ShopKeepArty

Жыл бұрын

Well spotted - you passed the test! ;)

This drove me crazy thinking it was my computer and TV was out of sync then figured out it was actually your video that's out of sync...lol, Lips don't match sound.

Filbert

Round, rigger, mop, dagger

Please don't use animalhair brushes due to animal cruelty

@ladyhecate9450

Жыл бұрын

The USA does not allow for Sable brushes. We cannot even buy said hair brushes from a different country.

@tavenchristensen3157

5 ай бұрын

It’s not good either way. Plastic is horrendous too‼️

@anonymousmc7727

2 ай бұрын

I have hundreds of sable brushes they do sell in America 😂

How are synthetic brushes ecological? Yes they are animal free but they're plastic brushes with all the ecological issues plastics have.

@farben_

7 ай бұрын

@@nonamepainter Been using japanese brushes made of bamboo and goat hair and they're not only great but everything is bio-degradable which is a major plus for me. Hair follicle cloning could be a reality, we could have huge farms generating ultra quality hairs without an animal ever suffering but this is science fiction at the moment.

Hake is pronounced "ha-keh" it's a Japanese word.

@SharonH11100

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Why can't Brits pronounce Japanese, which is really quite simple? My other bugaboo in this regard is my fellow Americans who pronounce it , "hockey." 💁🏼‍♀️

@adonishtar

2 жыл бұрын

For me it’s about the sound. Hake pronounced as “lake” sounds more pleasing to my ear. Ha keh breaks the cadence and flow of my sentence.

No apostrophe in the word "pros" when it is an abbreviation for "professionals"

No sable for me. My sable brushes got eaten by some small critter. Plus, Russian sable? These days? Also, poor little sables.

I hope your brush lickers aren't licking any cadmium! It's like licking pencils, or licking fingers to turn pages. So much weirdness.

@ShopKeepArty

2 жыл бұрын

haha! it's like chewing the end of ballpoint pens :)

A pro uses cheap brushes , budget , why ? They do the same as the expensive ones , they paint.

political ads here are insane

@ShopKeepArty

5 ай бұрын

I don’t control what ads are shown. We are in a ‘super’ election year around the world, so I guess they’re all spending big to win your vote!!