HoW dO yOu PiCk A bRuSh?

[BeaChoas]

Can you give me advice in how to buy a watercolor brush? I am trying to
start watercolors and need to buy a round no.8, 1 inch flat and a rigger.
I am confused how to pick one when at the store. Send any suggestions to
Peach...@aol.com, or Beac...@aol.com. Thankyou

[larry seiler]

Peaches..
I teach workshops..though primarily acrylic and oils. I was an art
teacher for seven years though and am familiar with materials. The truth
is..many artists would refuse to work with the brushes that I use
because I simply cannot afford to keep buying new brushes or the BEST!
Yet, I have developed prowess in my field mastering techniques enough to
have won some major art competitions.
I guess what I'm trying to say is..with patience and determination you
can learn to work with what you can afford. It would be nice to have a
$45-$75 red sable flat watercolor brush for washes. But for that same
amount of money you could buy an arsenal of cheaper brushes.
I would look to the brushes that are a synthetic imitation of red sable.
The ones I'd stay away from are brushes with cheap looking metal furrels
with camel hairs. They are notorious for having hair fall out all the
time. Also, becareful not to use warm/hot water in cleaning brushes as
it loosens the glues that hold the bristles within the metal furrel.
Good luck! Larry

[Takeitdown]

i usually am a great advocate of the cheapest thing possible. But when it
comes to watercolors, the brush is the most controlling factor on your
performance. So, buy the best, which is usually the most expensive. I
prefer synthetic brushes, but over time the ends will begin to fray, but
they generally last longer than sables. I would just buy a variety of good
brushes so you can tell over time which type you prefer.. we all have
different tastes, apparently, or they wouldn't make so many of them.