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BRUSH HAIR TYPES

BRUSH HAIR KOLINSKY PONY HAIR The least The material used to form the is not really sable at all, strong of all the natural tuft of a brush that picks up and but comes from the tail of hair options, pony hair is spreads the paint is the most a of that is primarily used in scholastic- important part of the brush, and a member of the weasel grade brushes and more determines the performance family found in and economical watercolor and and the price of the brush. northeastern . It is touch-up brushes. Pony hair There are distinct advantages of generally conceded to be the best material for lacks "snap" (or memory) and will not return both natural and synthetic hairs. oil and watercolor brushes due to its strength, to a point after a brushstroke. spring, and ability to retain its shape ("snap"). NATURAL or hair is a Long, fine hairs hold a very fine point/edge HAIR does not by-product of the food and fur for precise control. Considered a professional- actually come from . industries. Tiny, microscopic grade hair, Kolinsky will last for many years if It is found in watercolor “scales” along the shaft of the properly cared for. and lettering brushes and hair superior paint-holding is usually made of pony, ability. Price and performance RED SABLE comes from goat, ox, or a blend of of a natural hair brush is any member of the weasel several hairs, depending determined by the “grade” family with red hair — not on the desired softness and intended cost of animal it was taken from, from the animal known of the brush. Camel hair lacks "snap" (or and the availability of its hair. as the sable. It is found in memory) and will not return to a point after a Shorter-length hair is more a variety of brush styles brushstroke. for various mediums, with readily available, making the HOG BRISTLE Sourced longer lengths more expensive. quality and characteristics that vary greatly. A good-quality pure red sable brush is a good from around the world, the Natural hair may be used alone most highly sought hog (pure) or blended with other alternative to the more expensive Kolinsky, with similar performance and durability. Often, bristle comes from China. It hairs or synthetic filaments weasel hair is blended with ox hair to make a is unlike other natural fillers to achieve a combination of more economical brush, but the fine point is in that it forms a V-shaped performance and price. sacrificed. split or "flag" at the tip and tends to have a natural curve. A brush with SYNTHETICS are manmade FITCH HAIR is a "interlocked" bristles has a natural resistance of either or traditional, rare hair for oil to fraying and spreads medium to thick paints filaments. They can be tapered, painting that is similar to smoothly and evenly. A selection of pure hog tipped, abraded, or etched to and sable. Fitch bristle brushes is recommended for artists increase color-carrying ability. is super smooth, ideal for who work with oils and acrylics. Often, synthetic filaments are blending and portrait painting dyed and baked to make them but (unlike sable), does not SYNTHETIC Developed softer and more absorbent. The have fine hair tips. Sourced from , fitch to mimic the qualities common name for this filament is a more affordable substitute for sable and and working properties is “Taklon.” The advantages to great for detail. of the best natural hair using synthetic brushes are: brushes, brushes made with 1. They are less prone to OX HAIR The best quality synthetic work well damage from solvents, insects ox hair comes from the ears with a variety of media and or paints. of cattle or oxen. The hair techniques. Sometimes blended with natural 2. They are easier to keep has a very strong body, a hair, the manmade filaments in these brushes clean than animal hair brushes silken texture, is very resilient, can be stiff, firm, medium, or soft, rivaling because the fila- ments don’t and has good "snap," but it natural hair in their performance. have animal scale struc- tures to lacks a fine tip. Therefore, it trap paint. is most useful in medium-grade wash brushes 3. They are less prone to or flat-shaped brushes. Frequently, ox hair is breakage and are durable on blended with other natural hair to increase the many different surfaces. resiliency of a brush. 4. They are better suited for SQUIRREL HAIR Gray painting with acrylics because a squirrel (Talahoutky), most synthetic filament will withstand highly in demand for lettering the caustic nature of acrylic brushes and quills, is native paints with less damage. to and nearly always in short supply. Brown squirrel FYI (Kazan) is more readily available, and used mainly for medium-quality DickBlick.com For the protection of the hairs, and scholastic watercolor brushes. A very most brushes are treated with a fine, thin hair taken from the squirrel's tail, it watersoluble sizing. This should points as well as Kolinsky, but lacks Kolinsky's be removed by thoroughly strength, stiffness, and "snap" (or memory). washing with brush soap and Because it has the best water-holding capacity water or special brush care of any natural hair brush, it works best with products before use. watercolor paints and inks.