My W&N brushes in their natural habitat: my workbench

No other tool is more important to the painter than his brush. Other things are important, like good quality paint, a proper light source, and a suitable workspace among them, but it all counts for nothing without a top quality brush. The brush is the interface between the artist and his work, and trying to use a poor-quality instrument will frustrate the best efforts of even the most skilled painter and makes the task of the novice needlessly more difficult,

There is one brand of brushes that is nearly universally acclaimed by painters both amateur and professional around the world: Winsor & Newton. Founded in 1832, this English firm has been living up to their ambitious pledge of manufacturing :”The World’s Finest Art Materials” for over 175 years.

I first remember reading the effusive praise for the W&N Series 7 when I was getting back into painting perhaps two years ago after a long layoff. My brushes were old, and a lot of them were Games Workshop junk even when they were new, so I was looking for a good brand to try out. The best painters at places like CMON all seemed united in their praise of the W&N, so I decided to take the plunge. It was perhaps the best decision of my painting career.

18 months and still going strong!

When painting miniatures, a good sharp point is the sine qua non of an artist’s brush. Given the tiny details and small contours of the average mini, a brush that can’t put just the right amount of paint exactly where the painter wants it is largely useless. The ability to retain a point over time is one of the big characteristics that separate cheap, inferior quality brushes from top quality ones.

The W&N Series 7 holds its point better than any other brush I’ve used by a vast margin. I use a number 0 as my brush of choice for most painting tasks other than drybrushing or ultra-micro work. I use it almost every day, and I’ve had my current one for over 18 months. The handle is cracked (my fault for using it to open stuck fliptop paint jars), and there are paint smears galore, but the point is very nearly as sharp as it was when I first bought it. There is absolutely none of the “hooking” that usually marks the beginning  of the end for a miniatures brush, and no stray hairs at all.

In fairness, I do take exceptionally good care of my brushes with cleaner and periodic applications of brush soap to condition the bristles, but the fact remains that the W&N has proved to be an excellent investment, outlasting perhaps half a dozen cheaper brushes on my friend’s workbench. If you totaled up the cost of those “cheaper” brushes I’ll wager I’ve spent half the money or less, plus I’ve had the use of a truly superior quality tool.

A major contributor to the Series 7’s remarkable quality is the fact that the bristles are made from 100% Kolinsky Sable hair. Any professional painter will tell you that there is just no substitute for Kolinsky Sable when it comes to flexibility and “carrying capacity” (the ability to hold and deliver paint). You see a lot of cheaper brushes labeled “Red Sable” or God help you “Kolinsablon,” but don’t waste your money on anything less than a Kolinsky Sable brush if you’re serious about painting. My fellow blogger BigLee does a good job of breaking down the different grades of sable brushes in his own Series 7 review.

Perhaps most importantly of all, when I pick up a Series 7 it just fits my hand perfectly. I can comfortably handle the brush for hours and it delivers the paint exactly where I want without me having to really think about it. The analogy may not mean much to non-cooks, but it’s like a fine-quality knife in that it becomes an extension of your arm and “gets out of your way” so you can pay attention to the creative side of your task, rather than the mechanical.

In short, if you’re a serious miniatures painter, or even aspire to be one, you owe it to yourself to pick up some Winsor & Newton Series 7s. They cost a bit more than the junk you’re likely to find at your local hobby shop, but they more than pay for themselves over time with their durability. A workman is only as good as his tools, and the Series 7 is easily the best painting tool I’ve ever used.

For those without a convenient art supply store, Series 7s are available at great prices from Dick Blick Art Materials, which also sells all kinds of useful stuff like brush cleaner and palette paper and the like. Be sure you get the “miniature” version of the brushes, as they have shorter bristles for delicate detail work.

Pros: Easy to control, Holds a point amazingly well
Cons: Relatively expensive
Final Verdict: 5/5
MSRP: Varies by size. $22.70 for Size 0
Source: Dick Blick

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