kristof65 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I know that Dick Blick has been a quality company for many years - my favorite Aunt used to work at their corporate headquarters in the late 70s - early 80s. I had completely forgotten about them until I started hanging out here - I checked, and some of my cousins still buy their art supplies from them, even though my Aunt hasn't worked for them for years. The only reason I'm going to buy locally is I want some new brushes for the painting classes I'll be taking at Ghengis Con, and by the time I decided that, it was too late to order the brushes from Blick and get them in time. So I'll be stopping at Meiningers on my way to the Con. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artists Wren Posted February 14, 2007 Artists Share Posted February 14, 2007 I only recently started ordering from Dick Blick. I didn't have a problem with any of the brushes in my order, but something else I'd ordered was missing. I sent an email to the indicated address and had a reply within a day or so, and my missing item shipped out promptly. I previously ordered from Jerry's Artarama. I tried Blick this last time because they had more of what I wanted in stock. I didn't have any problems with Jerry's in several orders over 2+ years. There is a Jerry's locally in town, but I've honestly had more luck buying sable brushes online. When the local store gets an order in, it's just a few of each brush size, and they don't get new stock on the fancy brushes until they've sold almost all of the other ones out. So there's often little to no selection in the brush sizes we use. I still go in and check sometimes. Recently they had Escoda brushes in, so I tried one of those and really liked it, but then had to go order online to get the sizes I wanted, they were sold out at the store and the clerk didn't expect to get more in for some time as it's so expensive for them to order a set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattmcl Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Hey Kristof- When I was looking, Meninger's didn't have any in stock. I'm taking classes all day Friday and Saturday, and one on Sunday- you can borrow my WNS7 #00 or #1 if you can't find any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vutpakdi Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I've placed a couple of orders with Dick Blick for brushes, and I've been very happy each time except with the shipping costs, which seem excessive if you are just ordering brushes. I've not had any problems with the brushes that I've ordered. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristof65 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 When I was looking, Meninger's didn't have any in stock. I'm taking classes all day Friday and Saturday, and one on Sunday- you can borrow my WNS7 #00 or #1 if you can't find any. Thanks for the heads up. Made me nervous enough that I called down there for a stock check. They've apparently received them back in, and I've got them placed on hold for pick up. They've got a web cam you can control - I actually watched the guy go to the brush section and pick them up, then go behind the counter and place them there while I was on the phone with him. Ain't technology wonderful? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilesuck Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 I test when I buy (since I go to a real Blick store in Schaumburg), but the good online dealers at least claim they will replace any brushes not up to quality standards. I haven't bought brushes online, so I haven't put them to the test. I have good luck with the same store, but I have found a few there that were bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabascojunkie Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Dick Blick will replace bad brushes no problem. I got a couple of bad Series 7 #0's once and they replaced them at no cost, didn't even want the bad ones back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastman Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 I test when I buy (since I go to a real Blick store in Schaumburg), but the good online dealers at least claim they will replace any brushes not up to quality standards. I haven't bought brushes online, so I haven't put them to the test. I have good luck with the same store, but I have found a few there that were bad. Yep, I've found a number of bad ones, but generally they looked abused (in transit or someone didn't handle them well taking them in&out of the locked display). The bad ones also were typically missing the plastic caps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilesuck Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 The bad ones also were typically missing the plastic caps.Very true. As a totally different subject, Zach and a couple of us are doing some painting on Thursday night's at GP if you want to drop in. Of course for the next three weeks I will not be attending because of work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastman Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 The bad ones also were typically missing the plastic caps.Very true. As a totally different subject, Zach and a couple of us are doing some painting on Thursday night's at GP if you want to drop in. Of course for the next three weeks I will not be attending because of work. For the last couple of weeks, I've been there on Tues & Wed (trying to finish some entries for the Wyrd Minis "Femme Fatales" Contest. I'll be there again this week, but work will prevent me from being there the last week of Feb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerridwyn1st Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 I'm as bad with brushes as I am with paint. I've got lots of the things, many different manufacturers and a variety of hair types. It doesn't help that I need brushes for demos. I have one of those containers that household cleaning wipes comes in full of demo brushes. I really like my WNS 7's. They are excellent brushes and will take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. I don't use them for everything, though. I have some very cheap (like $1/dozen) brushes that I use for washes. I like the Reaper Pro Round #1 and #2 for basecoating. When the rounds get a bit scruffy, I'll cut down the hair and use them for drybrushing. The most important thing about brushes isn't who makes them or what they are made out of - it is how you maintain them. The most expensive brush in the world will be trashed in no time if abused. Even inexpensive brushes will last a long time if properly cleaned. My cheap demo brushes take a real beating, but as long as I clean them they are still useable. Try a variety of brushes for different techniques. WNS 7 and other Kolinsky sable brushes are great for layering and detail, but don't try using them for everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniffles Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 I was about to ask what folks thought of the Kolinsky sable brushes that Reaper offers, but after I read the thread I changed my mind. I do prefer being able to check them out in person before buying. I buy all my brushes at a local art store called ArtMedia here in Portland, OR. Lately I've been picking up some white nylon brushes from them - they have their own brush line as well as selling W&N and other well-known brands of art brushes. I know using nylon goes against the general trend for natural bristle brushes in mini painting, but I'm finding the nylon brushes work quite well for me. The tips don't curl as fast as those on natural bristle brushes, which is what my main problem seems to be. I usually have to replace my brushes after about 3 months when the tips of the bristles start to curl. I keep the brushes in plastic tubes inside a brush case and clean them regularly with brush soap, but it doesn't seem to prevent the curling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All-Terrain Monkey Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 If the tips are curling, then they're not natural bristles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant_Crunch Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 Something I've found useful for CAV minis is a #1 flat shader, especially for the larger panels. Why a #1? It's kinda like Goldilocks and the Three Bears. It's not too big, not too small, but just riiight for most applications on a CAV model, and that size flat shader (at from Loew-Cornell) is as wide as the side of the hex bases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vutpakdi Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 Synthetic-natural blend and all synthetic (nylon) brushes will curl. I haven't seen a natural hair brush curl. I do like synthetics for some uses: painting quickly, rough surfaces, jabbing into recesses. But, I like my W&N Series 7 for most painting since it just feels better than my synthetics, the point is wonderfully sharp, and the brush lasts (15 months and counting). Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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