An
artist always strive to use the best quality brush possible as the
brush, more than anything else, massively affect the outcome of his
endeavors. Quills are made the same way as other artist' brushes except
that the hair is placed in ferrules made of hollow tubes cut from the
base of bird feathers instead of being placed in metal ferrules. Quill
brush have plastic or natural quill ferrule, with a permanent or
detachable handle. Long hairs and a natural-shaped tip, these brushes
generally have a round ferrule and a short handle. Useful for lettering
and poster work, they are good on smooth surfaces such as glass. The
silky smooth bristles of quill brush holds a huge reservoir of color and
acts in concert with the hand movements to lay down sweeping strokes
with beautiful precision.
Providing a perfect combination of flow and performance, a sign writer
or sign painter uses a "quill" brush as a main tool. The quill
brush is usually made from ox hair, which is more durable than many
other artist brushes. It has a quill ferrule which attach the hair to
the brush handle and is tied together with wire. In a quill brush the
bristles are inserted into the quill of a feather rather than into a
metal ferrule; the resilience of the quill gives the brush a special
feel. The sizes of quill brushes are named after the birds that
originally provided the feathers. From small to large, the sizes are:
lark, crow, small duck, duck, large duck, swan, small goose, goose,
large goose, condor.
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.
