"Sabeline"
is hair designed to resemble red sable. Sabeline brush are made of light
ox hair taken from the ears of oxen and then dyed to a reddish tint to
resemble red sable. The hair is cylindrical in shape and has a blunt tip
but has spring similar to sable. Sabeline is most commonly found in
watercolor, stroke and lettering brushes. A good Sabeline brush carries
a lot of fluid and becomes springy and soft.
Sabeline brushes are less expensive than red sables and maintain
similar characteristics. There are many trademarked brush labels with
variations of "Sable" in the name. The actual fibers used can
be synthetic or natural hair, or blends. Sableine is a natural hair
which many painters prefer for its softness. This brush is superbly
crafted for a flat, straight edge and square corners.
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.
