Bristles
obtained from hogs are the most sought after brush hair in several parts
of the world. Hog bristle is unlike any other natural filler in that it
forms a V-shaped split or "flag" at the tip and tends to have
a natural curve. Hog bristle brush with "interlocked"
bristles, with the curves formed inward to the ferrule, has a natural
resistance to fraying and spreads medium to thick paints smoothly and
evenly.
A selection of pure hog bristle brushes is recommended for oil and
acrylic painting, and is a far less expensive alternative to
good-quality softer hairs. It is very stiff and because Hog hair has a
natural curve, two bundles, facing each other, are used to make a brush.
The finest quality Hog Bristle comes from Chungking China and can be
identified, after 'dressing', by a beautiful sheen. For the finer work
in a painting, an artist usually turns to Sable brushes.
Most brushes used for oil painting are made of hog bristle because they
are strong and robust for use with the heavy paints and the roughness of
the canvas. They maintain their stiffness and shape, both in use and
over a long period of time. A Hog Bristle brush provide the best
possible cleaning and works well when dealing with sticky, crusty
materials or viscous fluids.
