For watercolour washes,
squirrel hair typically carries
the most water and pigment
Why is natural hair so prized?
Are there situations where synthetic
brushes are as good or better?
I realise that, for most artists, it can
be a difficult decision knowing which
brushes to choose. It is important to
know your options and that there are
huge differences in the strokes you
can achieve with synthetic brushes
compared with natural hair ones.
Natural hair brushes cost more
money to make, hence the cost to the
artist is higher. However, in this day
and age, the synthetic alternatives are
usually pretty brilliant and, in some
cases, exceed the natural hair choices.
What is a sable?
The term ‘sable’ is a misnomer. In the
brush-making trade, we refer to it as
‘weasel’ hair. The hairs for Kolinsky
sable brushes, for example, come
from the kolinsky – a Siberian weasel
that is from the same Mustelidae
family as the sable.
Kolinsky is the best hair for artists’
brushes due to it being conical in
shape and strong in character with a
long, tapered point and thick belly.
Are there certain types of brush hair
that I should avoid if I’m vegan?
We offer many vegan-friendly brushes.
Any of our synthetic ranges are
perfect. Arguably some artists prefer
nylon as an excellent substitute for
sable and other natural hair.
I want to create big watercolour
washes. What holds water the best?
Squirrel hair typically carries the most
water and pigment. However, we do
make a synthetic version which is a
great background brush and they sell
like hot cakes. Our Series 222 is a
must-have for all mediums.
How do I know what size brush to
use? Should I use larger brushes on
larger canvases, for example?
This is a difficult question. Firstly,
artists tend to go for all even or odd
sizes, for example 2, 4, 6, 8 and so
on, so that their brushes are not too
close in size to one another. All of the
brushes are photographed actual size
in our free mail order catalogues.
Are certain types of brushes better
suited to working outdoors?
It’s not that they are designed for
being used outside per se, but some
brushes are easier to clean and easier
to achieve the stroke you need quickly
when painting en plein air. I’d
recommend short-handled synthetic
brushes, like our Ivory or Evergreen
ranges, for use with oils and acrylics
on the go. For watercolours, we have
a great range of travel brushes.If I want to paint impasto, what types
of brush would you recommend?
For impasto you need a really thick
brush that can carry a lot of pigment.We make an impasto brush range and
the smallest one is one-inch wide. The
bristles are stiff and synthetic, so they
are easy to clean and hard wearing.What are the differences between a
swordliner, a dagger and a rigger?
A dagger brush is angular with a
sharper point. It is great for painting
petals, waves, clouds, and organic
shapes. A swordliner is a longer
version of a dagger, which allowsyou
to loosen up and carry more pigment.
Both have a sharp edge for fine lines.ABOVE AND OPPOSITE
All of Rosemary &
Co.’s brushes are
made by hand