Kevrin/
Mongoose hair comes from many different countries, but most used for
artists' brushes are produced in India. The hairs have a dark brown tip,
cream-colored center, and dark roots. These brushes are strong,
resilient and makes a good long wearing, medium to professional quality
brush for oil and acrylic painting. Mongoose hair has a unique
structure, giving it a stiffness somewhere between sable and bristle and
is distinguished by it coloration of dark brown tips, a light middle
band and dark roots.
Mongoose hair makes a very good medium-quality brush; the best brushes
are manufactured in Europe. It makes a very good brush for use in
acrylics and oils because of its ability to snap. Now-a-days there is a
growing demand for mongoose hair. It is being used for making shaving
brushes and hair brushes too. Imitation hair and synthetic mongoose
brushes are also available.
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.
