Best Value Brushes For Miniature Painting? - Rosemary & Co

It can be very easy to sink a lot of money into the miniature painting hobby simply finding the right brush setup that works for you. There is a lot of trial and error involved and can be difficult finding the right product to suits your needs. There are other factors to consider as well which I shall discuss. Today I would like to talk about Rosemary & Co brushes and why they are the right fit for me as a miniature painter & could be for you too.

Firstly I would like to state that this is not a direct comparison of different brands of brushes, but rather a showcase of some of my favourite brushes from my favourite brush manufacturer Rosemary & Co. I have been using their range exclusively for so long now that it would be unfair of me to compare to other brands, because quite frankly there's been no reason for me to change. I highly recommend them. The website is very accessible and they are always on hand to help if you have any questions.

Having picked up different brush types/brands over the years however I have always considered the best approach when evaluating a product is to look at three things in particular: quality, accessibility & price and this is where Rosemary and Co brushes come into a league of their own as far as I'm concerned, hence why I've stuck with them, particularly when it comes to their Kolinsky Sable brushes.

So let's look at the brushes I have settled on for my miniature painting services.

Series 42 Pure Squirrel Size 4

A very affordable natural hair brush at £4.85. This brush is excellent. Completely different characteristics to the sable brushes below in that the brush has next to no 'snap' ie it does not return to it's shape in the same way as a kolinsky will and is incredibly soft. I find this useful when basecoating miniatures as you can load up more paint and 'wrap' the brush around arms and legs quite easily. Because of its ability to carry more paint it also makes a lovely wash brush (if you look after it with lots of brush cleaner). It's a bit of a workhorse in my arsenal and preserves the life of my more expensive brushes as I don't need to use those for accurate base coating if I'm using this. I find I can accurately basecoat 15mm-28mm miniatures with this brush reliably for 6-8 months of daily usage on average.

Series 33 Pointed Round Kolinsky Sable Size: 2, 1 & 10/0

Beautiful brushes, they keep a sharp point and allow for fine detailing and highlights. I used to use the size 2 brush almost exclusively for most of my layering and highlighting work, even small details like buttons and eyes etc given that the brush keeps such a fine point. A larger brush like this can hold more paint and ideal for more advanced techniques such as glazing.

Painted with Series 33 Size 2 Brush

When my size 2 does eventually lose it's sharp point it stays in my brush box for basecoating and washes. Eventually after a year or two it becomes a basing materials brush, so I ensure that I absolutely get the most out of my brushes.

I use the size 1 for those small details and faces etc due to increased control from the smaller brush length. Picking out details such as fingers, and the woodgrain on weapons is where this brush shines. 

Size 1 for fine details

The 10/0 is good for those eyes buttons and panel lines. You need to thin your paints considerably I find using retarder as well with this brush as otherwise the paint can dry quite quickly. I could probably get by with the size 1 if I’m being absolutely honest. I haven’t mastered the tiny brushes due to the paint drying as mentioned. I think this is partly due to me so being used to using larger sizes. 

These sable brushes (if looked after properly with soap after each session) will last you a long time! Use other brushes for base coating and save these for highlights/layering/glazing techniques etc. Price wise the size 2 brush is currently just over £7.00. That is cheaper than a size 0 brush from other companies! For something that can last for 6-12 months with the right care you can't go wrong. Speaking of soap I recommend Masters brush soap for the care of my brushes.

I should also mention that since ordering the Series 33 brushes from R&C regularly for the best part of 10 years I have never received a brush that is terribly damaged/fraying and is due in no small part to R&C's professional packaging and care. Rosemary & Co clearly recognise that good quality packaging is every bit as important as the quality of the product. Other companies should definitely take note of this point.

A slightly cheaper brush option is the Series 99 range of brushes. They are sable, rather than kolinsky sable and also perform really well. Slightly less 'snap' than the 33's, but performance and shelf life is really good and I use these from time to time as well. A good alternative option if kolinsky sable is restricted in your country.

As mentioned earlier the three factors I look at when ordering brushes are quality, accessibility and price. R&C offer a great balance between the three. The website is easy to navigate with an excellent, passionate, helpful customer service, the prices are very reasonable, brush quality consistently excellent and last a long time. Are they the best brushes on the market? I’m perhaps not best placed to answer that question as I don't tend to shop around for them. But maybe that is an answer in itself - R&C have never let me down and I have no intentions of taking my business anywhere else!