Paint Brushes

Want to know the right brushes to use in the right situations? SYMI JACKSON from world-renowned brush manufacturers Rosemary & Co. has all the answers

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.

"For watercolour washes, squirrel hair typically carries the most water and pigment"

How do I know what size brush to use? Should I use larger brushes on larger canvases, for example?