Brush recommendations for gouache?

[roxicus]

I like painting with my watercolor brushes, both natural and synthetic, but many are so thirsty that it makes keeping the paint-water balance tricky.

Anybody found the perfect gouache brush? It ought to be springy enough to stand up to the paint but less absorbant than wc brushes.

[contumacious]

I get my brushes fully wet before putting any paint on them, then blot some water out of the tip before you load it. This will help keep it from sucking the water out of the paint. You can also drip a bit of water on the bare fibers with a blunt needle squeeze bottle every now and then, up above where you are loading the paint to keep it wet without having to dip it in water.

As for more spring, try a synthetic bristle brush intended for oils / acrylics. It will not go limp with the water like a natural hog bristle brush will and will give you a lot more spring than watercolor brushes.

[Yorky Administrator Ormskirk]

I use white synthetics, they are bombproof.

Doug

We must leave our mark on this world

[Merritt]

Winsor & Newton SCEPTRE GOLD II Sable/Synthetic, I would NOT use Winsor & Newton series 7 water colour brushes, or any other top quality sable only brushes for gouache.

An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision.

[BobCantPaint]

This is a question for Yorky. I’m trying to get better at gouache, and I am sure my old tag sale brushes are part of the problem. What are “white synthetics?” Is white the brand, the color of the bristles, a style, etc? Thanks!

Bob Cant

Bob Cant

http://bobcantpaint.wordpress.com

[Yorky Administrator Ormskirk]

Just cheap synthetics Bob which happen to have white bristles, they are a little stiffer than the best watercolour synthetics. This makes them ideal for using my gouache pans.

Doug

We must leave our mark on this world

[BobCantPaint]

Many thanks! I think a new set of brushes will go a long way in my attempt to give gouache an honest try.

BC

Bob Cant

http://bobcantpaint.wordpress.com

[KreativeK Moderator]

I use those, too, and they are excellent.

Kay

Moderator: Watermedia, Mixed Media, Abstract/Contemporary

[John Peters]

HIMI is designed for gouache and watercolor. Given the watery nature of gouache, the nylon bristles enable me to grab and lay down the paint onto paper with good control. It almost feels like every strand responds to the direction of my stroke. Thanks to the sturdy ferrules, the bristles do not split up while I brush.

[Author]

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