Painting Guide - BRUSHES

Howdy folks,

A friend recently asked for my advice on what brushes (and paints, but I'll cover that in my next article) would a new painter really need, as it is that time of year when presents are bought and new gamers (and painters!) are born.

I thought I would share the advice I gave my friend, with the rest of the community in the hope it might be beneficial to others in the same position.

My 4 recommended brushes for the starter painter are as follows -

1x Dry-brush (A), 1x Undercoating brush (B), 1x Painting brush (C), 1x Fine detail brush (D)

A - A large soft bristled brush that you can use to 'dry-brush' a model. This type of brush tends to have a short life span, so you can pick up a cheap and easy brush from the packs you find in the local £1 store. Just make sure its a soft bristle. If they all look a little large, you can cut them down with a pair of scissors. Dry-brushing a model with the smallest pinch of simple white paint is a great and easy way for a beginner to highlight.

B - Undercoating brush is similar to a soft bristled £1 store, though as these tend to loose a lot of hairs, you may be best purchasing a brush for £2 from any art shop. Look for a size '3' or above. Undercoating brushes also tend to have a short life span so don't invest heavy on an expensive brush.

C - Your main brush for painting should be a standard size '0' or '1'. This will be your work horse brush, you will do the majority of your painting with this brush. Pick a brush with strong shape and good bristles that look aligned. Avoid any brushes where the bristles look like they are separating. As this is your main brush its worth spending £2-3 on this but avoid expensive brushes until you know how to keep, store, and correctly handle a brush.

D - A fine detail brush (size '00') is a must for any beginner. You may think an expert would prefer a fine detail brush and a beginner just suited to a standard brush, but let me tell you, there is nothing so off-putting to a beginner as slopping paint all over a model and not having a steady enough hand to paint the detail. A very small brush carries with it a sense of needing to be handled delicately, a beginner will naturally be more cautious with a fine brush, and a steady hand helps get the detail. If you can see good progress its a great morale boost to any painter, especially a new one.


I hope you found this little tutorial helpful. These 4 brushes are really all a new painter needs, and should set you back about £7.

And, if you ever do need a little help or advice, please feel free to drop me an email at Project_Vehemence@yahoo.co.uk  or send me a pm at any one of the forums (or Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/MarchingInColour/ )

thanks

Chris