Badger
brushes appear bushy as the hair is conic shaped with a thick belly near
the tip and thin near the root. Actual badger hair are light gray with a
dark brown-black stripe through the center and is primarily used in
making blenders. Badger brushes comes from various parts of the world
and is more readily available than most animal hair, although the
quality varies greatly. Badger hair is thickest at the point, and
relatively thin at the root, so it has a distinctive "bushy"
appearance.
Badger hair is rather stiff and is taken from the back of the animal
and can be as long as four inches. Commonly, badger-hair brushes are
found in a fan shape or a bushy round shape with a flat top called a "badger
blender." The brush is swept across the surface to blend color and
remove strokes. It can also be used to gently clean the surface of
completely dry paintings.
Badger hair is available in many grades and corresponding costs. The
top grade is very soft and makes is excellent for blending, especially
in oil painting. It is also used extensively in 'faux' painting ,
decorating the walls or furniture of homes. The best-quality badger hair
has a white tip, black band, then white. Imitation badger can be created
by dyeing ox hair.
Brushes
used for acrylics have long handles that allow the artist to work at a
distance from the canvas. Acrylic paints are more caustic than oils, so
acrylic brushes are designed with synthetics and bristle. Acrylic
brushes are usable in other mediums, particularly oils, while brushes
designed specifically for oil painting and watercolors are unsuitable
for acrylics. Artists can very effectively use glazing and layering
techniques when using acrylic brushes.
Both natural and synthetic bristles can be used with acrylics,
depending on the artist's preference. But, acrylics, being alkaline in
nature, can be hard on natural hair brushes. Those made with high
quality synthetics have excellent durability and offers excellent
stiffness, snap and hair shape retention for maximum control. The
brushes must be kept clean. If acrylic paint dries in a brush it is very
hard to get out without using strong solvents that might damage the
brush. Brushes are cleaned promptly by washing them with warm water and
mild soap when finished painting.
