Artisan Brushes

Introduction to the Artisan Water Mixable Oil Brush Range

Artisan Oil Paints are a genuine oil paint, but with the added benefit of being water mixable - meaning they are easily thinned and cleaned with water. This new development in their oil range spurred Winsor & Newton to create a new kind of brush. Artisan brushes have been specially designed to match the performance of hog bristle, yet maintain their spring and shape when in contact with water.

• For use with Artisan Water-Mixable Oil Colour

• Synthetic fibres which perform like Hog.

• Maintains shape and spring when used in water.

• Can be cleaned with soap and water

This range features a good selction of brushes to provide you with lots of choice and artistic freedom. There are a number of head shapes and sizes to facilitate a number of different oil painting techniques. Work with rounds, brights, flats and fans to create a a wealth of strokes and techniques with your water mixable oil colours. Whether your looking to work in the finest of detail or on the biggest canvases, there will be a brush size and shape to suit you.

What is Artisan Water-Mixable Oil Colour?

Artisan Water-Mixable Oil colours are a genuine oil paint range, that are manufactured from modified linseed and safflower oil. These modified oils mean these paints have the added benefit of being completely water mixable - you can both thin the colour and clean them up with water! In every other respect they behave the same as your favourite traditional oil colours. Their depth of colour, buttery consistency, lightfastness, opacity, transparency, performance and drying times are much the same as traditional oils, meaning they are fully compatible with most oil painting techniques. Instead of repelling water, these modified oils mix in with it. This feature makes them an excellent choice for those sharing a workspace or those that wish to avoid potentially dangerous chemicals.

Why use an Artisan Brush

A traditional Hog bristle brush is not the ideal match for Water Mixable Oils. When soaked in water a hog brush will gradually loose its shape and spring, causing it to become weak. This weakness in the brush will make it considerably harder to control your oil paints on your canvas or board.

Synthetic brushes are also not ideally suited to Water Mixable Oils. The majority of synthetic brushes have been manufactured to work seamlessly with watercolours and acrylic paints, which means that their fibres are more often than not too soft and flexible to be used with a thick, full-bodied oil colour, especially if it is used straight from the tube. Artisan brushes have been developed with this consideration in mind - their durable, synthetic filaments are stiff enough to cope with even the thickest oil applications. With this brush range you can achieve the best possible results with your Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colour.

Developed with a unique blend of high quality synthetic fibres, which have been specially selected because of their optimum compatability with Artisan Oils, this brush range provides many benefits:

• Excellent Spring - good resistance and spring provides better control of the colour.

• Fine Point - brushes have good shape and round brushes produce detailed marks.

• Durability - High quality synthetic fibres means the filament will wear less when used with the roughest surfaces and applications.

• Strength - The synthetic fibres give performance that is similar to that of a natural hog brush and has the right spring and strength for full bodied paints.

• A comprehensive range of suitable head shapes and sizes - makes it easier to execute a wide variety of techniques.

Brushes in this range

Round

Available in sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 20.

A Round pointed brush, ideal for general painting and suitable for a variety of techniques. It is the most popular and versatile brush shape. The smaller sizes are excellent for adding in fine details to your work and the larger sizes can be used to quickly block in larger areas of colour. They are specially designed to move thicker paints with precision control.

Filbert

Available in sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 14.

A short flat head with a rounded end. Similar to a flat shaped brush with rounded edges to provide a smoother application of colour with control. The rounded edges facilitate easy blending, and may other techniques.

Short Flat/Bright

Available in sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, 18 and 22.

A short flat brush ideal for general painting and suitable for a variety of techniques. It is similar to a regular flat brush but has added control due to shorter and stiffer filaments. Use it to create clean, sharp edges and move large amounts of colour.

Flat

Available in sizes 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12.

A long flat brush ideal for general painting and suitable for a variety of techniques. Large areas can be covered using the flat side of the brush and thin lines can be rendered with the edge. This brush is also an excellent choice if you want to apply a glaze to your painting.

Fan

Available in sizes 1 and 3.

A semi circular fan shape that can be used for delicate blending to soften the edges of your paint. It is also a great brush to use for special effects - especially foliage, hair and clouds.

Care and Cleaning of Artisan Brushes

Follow these steps to ensure the best performance and long lasting quality of your Artisan brushes.

1. Always clean brushes after use with plenty of soap and water until all traces of colour have gone.

2. Remove excess water and reshape the head.

3. Never leave the brushes standing on their heads.

4. Store the brushes carefully, laying flat or with the tip pointing upwards.

Click here to see our range of Artisan Water Mixable Oil Brushes