Availability of brushes - possible change of brand?

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Hi folks,

For the last few years i have pretty much exclusively been using Winsor and Newton #7 brushes for my mini's and am very happy with them.

I got them when a large Hobbycraft opened up in Aberdeen and had an impressive range and i saw them by accident and had heard good things.

However whenever i go back to hobbycraft i find their stock is never replenished and only have a few #2 or #00's left.

They did have a 4/0 brush from Pro Arte Series MP which i bought as it was long n thin and great for doing eyes etc, however as these are synthetic i dont know how the larger sized brushes would be, has anyone any experience of the brand.

Also does anyone know a good UK source for W&N 7 brushes, i know i can get from amazon but would rather a proper art place, or if anyone knows of a good art store in Aberdeen, UK where i could go have a look.

As i dont want to have to order online if i can avoid it, as i like to have a look at the brush first, not bent, splayed etc.

cheers

 

[Einion]

...i dont want to have to order online if i can avoid it, as i like to have a look at the brush first, not bent, splayed etc.

Don't know a source close to you but wanted to say that this is especially wise given the notoriously poor QC for Series 7s.

Pro Arte brushes are okay, not the best and not the worst IME. The thing with synthetics is that past a certain quality there's really not much difference between a two-quid brush and one priced five times more. Actually that's not quite right, one of the things you do often get is better paint/lacquer on the handle, but personally I prefer to pay primarily for the hairy bit! So synthetics are always worth a punt if you see them cheaply.

The tips won't perform like a decent sable or a Kolinsky (persistent problem with tip-curl) but if you can live with this they make great workhorses that last and last and last. And the less you need to use your expensive Kolinskys the longer they'll last in top condition.

Einion

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Thanks for that Einion,

I saw the Pro Arte as a set of all of them at about £2.50 each, worth a punt for half decent brushes for the legwork, i.e. applying base colours and such, and they would last well enough as i am pretty precious about cleaning them.

Might be the case i try and find a good art supplier here, i know of one but it may have closed its doors, to get the No7's and make them last as long as possible.

Cheers

 

[Dragonsreach]

Options.

I can recommend Ken Bromely for customer care, plus they are only a stones throw from where I live.
If wanted I can pop down to Ken Bromley's and select Brushes on your behalf to ensure quality. (Any excuse!)

http://www.artsupplies.co.uk

Also recommend Rosemary & Co brushes for mail order.

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Thanks for that dragonsreach, awfully decent of you.

At the moment its just my #0 brush thats losing its length, but i may order a set of the Pro Arte for a go, at £15 for all of them I cant complain.

Keeping my #7's for the fine stuff.

If the art shop in town is doomed i may grab you for a #0 and a #00 for postage

 

[Dragonsreach]

Thanks for that dragonsreach, awfully decent of you.

At the moment its just my #0 brush thats losing its length, but i may order a set of the Pro Arte for a go, at £15 for all of them I cant complain.

Keeping my #7's for the fine stuff.

If the art shop in town is doomed i may grab you for a #0 and a #00 for postage

Any time, its another "toy shop" as far as I'm concerned.