Too Many Oil Painting Brushes

A reader, and I’m sorry I never replied…I can’t seem to figure out the best way too on this blog, pointed me to a great website that compared and reviewed colored pencils. I really appreciated it! It helped a lot!

Since working at an art supply store, I’ve had more time than most to examine and stress out over brushes. You shouldn’t need many(yet they sell a million different types).

I keep reading in ads that synthetic brushes should be fine for oil painting, but my experience shows me that this is not the truth. That said, it’s a good thing that I’m not vegan because it appears impossible to be one and also be an oil painter. Ivory Black is produced with charred animal bones, and some reds have been or are made from crushed bugs. The best standard oil brushes are made from boar bristles(yes, the wild pig), and then there are sables and squirrels.

I’ve tried sables. I realize some oil painters do beautiful work with them to blend, but I don’t like how soft they are. That said, I want something softer than bristle(chungking is the standard…I guess? Why is it called chungking?)

I found some mongoose hair brushes at work, and they seem to be what I’m looking for when finishing a piece. Stiffer than sable and softer than bristle. I’ve been using the Vermeer brand(I honestly side-eye brands that use the name of a long-dead artist). The only thing I don’t like about it is, once again, it’s made from animals(I’m sorry, mongoose!), but the handle is a bit potentially crappy. I’ve found that painted handles are messes waiting to happen. The paint will chip off and end up on your canvas as soon as it gets wet, and then the ferrules will loosen.

I would really appreciate it if anyone reading this could recommend a good site or brand.

Also, I think the only weird brush I can’t live without is a winkle. It’s a short sable brush. The ferrule/end is hooked to help paint small, odd angles.