Norma ,….and other students in my Charleston SC Class….

Please don’t stress over brushes that I use and recommend.  I use ordinary brushes and very inexpensive ones as well…so no worries, OK!

I recommend you not buy a “set of brushes” to get a “couple of brushes”….unless you think it is advantageous to you.  If you already have a good assortment, you most likely have more brushes than we will use in class. 

As a brand of choice, at this time, I am using Royal/Langnickel brushes and the numbers are below.  If you already have similar brushes, don’t buy more just to have the same brand.  Since many brush manufacturers call brushes by different names, I am listing the name Royal/Langnickel and the corresponding catalog numbers for you for reference should you need to fill in a brush or two. 

Also, I remind all to go to my website and view the pictures of all these brushes before you go shopping.  Looking at a brush is much more advantageous than reading a stock number.  All these are on my website for your viewing.

Basically I use:

A range in flat bristle brushes…

For blocking in the background I often use a large (hardware store type) bristle brush with tapered tips

·         2” bristle flat  Background brush L280 size 2”

For painting skies, trees, shrubs etc…I use a range of bristle flats and a large bristle round occasionally – and have from time to time enjoyed a bristle filbert.  I use a large, medium and small flat bristle (artist type brushes).

·         #12 bristle flat SG 400 F - 12
·         #6 bristle flat SG 400 F - 6
·         #2 bristle flat SG 400 F – 2

I use a small “bristle fan (the synthetic fan brushes will not work well for my style of painting)

·         #2 fan bristle SG405FB – 2

On occasions I use a filbert to get stylized foliage and a large bristle round for billowing clouds.

      ·         #2 filbert bristle SG 404F - 2

·         #12 round bristle SG400R – 12

For doing more detailed work I use synthetic brushes similar to what is described below

·         #0 synthetic liner SG 585 – size 0
·         #4 synthetic detail flat SG150 – 4 (this is about ¼” wide or a tad larger)
·         #2 round synthetic SG252 – 2 (small round for doing detail work)

·         ½” synthetic comb SG730 – ½” (some call this a rake)

Another fun synthetic brush that I use on occasion is a wisp…it is much like the comb or rake, but with wider spaces between bristles

For blending large areas I use a goat hair hake or Mop ….

·         3/4” mop SG 1400 – 3/4”

I use a crooked handled tapered palette knife for mixing paint…occasionally for application…

·         Palette & Painting Knife #P-3

I use a natural “lacy tipped” natural sea sponge – small – for painting foliage occasionally and for erasing mistakes while they are wet. 

·         2020 sea wool sponge size 5-6

From time to time I use other specialty brushes…just because I have them.  Not because I “need” them.  Bring all your brushes.  If you have painted much, you will most likely have a good assortment.  You cannot hang around a group of landscape painters and not have a wide range. 

If you are a decorative painter you will have far more detail brushes than me.  Bring your favorites.  Even if I have not listed them as many of your may work better “for you” than what I use for myself. 

Please share this information with all attendees…in hopes that it helps ease worries.  I look forward to seeing you there!!!!

Brenda Harris

Painting With Brenda Harris