Xintao | 20 Feb 2014 9:41 a.m. PST |
Dick Blick has been out of stock on WN Series 7 brushes for over a month now. Other suggested suppliers? Thanks, Xin |
Royal Air Force | 20 Feb 2014 9:55 a.m. PST |
There are issues importing sable brushes currently, you'll have to find someplace that has old stock. |
Xintao | 20 Feb 2014 10:32 a.m. PST |
Damn, I found this, supposedly an email reply from W&N to a query. I sent an Inquiry to the Fish and Wildlife Seevice for explanation on the ban of importing Kolinsky Sable. Here is their very lengthy response:"Thank you for your inquiry regarding the importation of artist brushes manufactured with Siberian weasel hair that will require clearance by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our mission is, working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Please be advised that kolinsky paint brushes are not categorically prohibited from importation. However, the importation of paint brushes manufactured with kolinskyhair of Chinese origin has been problematic for the reasons described below. The Siberian weasel, Mustela sibirica, is listed under Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The species covered by CITES are listed in three appendices according to the degree of protection they need. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but for which trade must be controlled in order to avoid overutilizationthat may threaten them with extinction. Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Party countries for assistance in controlling the trade in that species. Imports or exports of Siberian weasel products must be accompanied by appropriate CITES documents from the country of origin and any re-exporting country. The first document authorizing initial export must be valid for any receiving country to issue valid permits for subsequent re-export to other CITES countries. The Chinese CITES Management Authority has confirmed that CITES documents certifying the origin of certain Siberianweasel hair shipments exported to companies in Europe were not issued by the appropriate organization and are not valid for CITES purposes. Countries receiving these shipments cannot issue valid CITES re-export certificates for artist brushes manufactured from Siberian weasel hair imported with an invalid CITES certificate, and these artist brushes cannot be lawfully imported into the United States. We acknowledge that this situation is creating difficulties for you and other U.S. importers of Siberian weasel hair artist brushes. As a CITES member nation, however, the United States must uphold the terms of the treaty. We understand that the CITES Management Authority in China is working to ensure that shipments of Siberianweasel hair are accompanied by valid CITES documents in the future. We hope this information proves useful to you. Please feel free to respond to this message with any further inquiries that you may have regarding this matter."
Xin |
Endless Grubs | 20 Feb 2014 11:31 a.m. PST |
Funny you should mention it, I spent a bit of time last weekend going to various hobby and craft stores (Michaels, Hobby Lobby, HobbyTown, etc.) just trying to find ANY sable brushes. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting Teklon or synthetic blends of all shapes and sizes in these stores, but sable brushes just don't seem to be around much anymore. I'm about to hit ebay and amazon and hope I get lucky with some decent brush tips on the sables they have available. Can't remember the last time I saw a Kolinsky! |
Xintao | 20 Feb 2014 11:49 a.m. PST |
Some on Amazon, after shipping it's like $40. USD I will hit some local stores and failing that, go synthetic. Honestly, I would not use Kolinsky brushes if it meant harming the Siberian Weasels. Xin |
Thomas O | 20 Feb 2014 11:53 a.m. PST |
The United Arts and Education store close to me was selling out all of their Kolinsky Sable brushes last Spring/Early Summer, needless to say I bought up all the 000 and 00 brushes they had. Was in there the other day and they still had a few Kolinsky brushes, but nothing in a size for miniatures. |
elsyrsyn | 20 Feb 2014 11:58 a.m. PST |
With my level of painting skill, the synthetics are just fine. Doug |
GildasFacit | 20 Feb 2014 2:07 p.m. PST |
Will someone tell me why a SIBERIAN weasel product is being imported from China. Siberia isn't in China. As fas as I was aware the best quality sable hair came from captive animals and taking it doesn't harm the animals in any way – it is effectively a farmed product and not a wild source. I am getting suspicious of W&N since they got taken over – all sorts of their products are changing and not for the better. I'm sure the recent Series #7 brushes I've had are poorer quality than previous batches – maybe getting cheap Chinese hair is the reason. |
Fizzypickles | 20 Feb 2014 5:05 p.m. PST |
I've had two bad series 7's. From now on I only buy Raphael 8404's. I actually think it is a superior brush and the quality is consistent. Not sure of the availability in the States though? |
Syrinx0 | 20 Feb 2014 6:57 p.m. PST |
I have not had a bad W&N S7 but I have not been able to buy any new brushes lately either due to their import issues. The Raphael brushes are in stock or expected shortly at Blick's site. Might be a good time to try them out. |
Xintao | 20 Feb 2014 7:44 p.m. PST |
Syrinx, I suspect Raphael is in the same boat WN is in. It's not just WN's brushes that are the issue. It's the supply of hair coming out of China. I think it's effecting all Kolinsky Sable(Siberian Weasel) coming from China. Xin |
Blake Walker | 20 Feb 2014 9:09 p.m. PST |
Great, I paint with Winsor/Newton Series No. 7 brushes. I'm down to my last brushes. Xin, I logged into the Dick Blick website. They were out of them. They said they would be restocked March 31, 2014. We'll have to see what happens. Anyway, W/N Series No. 7 brushes are some of the most reliable brushes I've used for painting miniatures. I swear by them. If I can on longer get them, I'll be up a creek
Blake |
Fizzypickles | 21 Feb 2014 6:48 a.m. PST |
I'm pretty sure one of us guys in the UK could manage to arrange something to get W&N 7's to you lot in the States. It would just mean paying postage twice. |
Fizzypickles | 21 Feb 2014 6:57 a.m. PST |
As a side note, I found quite a few reports concerning this issue like this one. link I can certainly vouch for the Brushes from Rosemary & Co to, I have a number of 'Red Sable' Brushes made by them and they are of pretty good quality and extremely good value. |
StarfuryXL5 | 21 Feb 2014 10:26 p.m. PST |
You can't swing a dead cat without hitting Teklon or synthetic blends Now hold on a minute, there. Do you have your CITES documents for that cat? |
Heisler | 22 Feb 2014 8:34 a.m. PST |
I know its been a while since anything was added to this thread but currently Raphael Kolinsky brushes are consistently in stock at Dick Blick again. Still no sign of DaVinci or W&N brushes though. Raphaels 8404s and 8408s are the ones you would be looking for, they are fine brushes, although I still prefer the DaVinci series 35 brushes |
Fizzypickles | 23 Feb 2014 10:39 a.m. PST |
although I still prefer the DaVinci series 35 brushes Not sure I have ever used series 35. How do they behave Heisler? Are they 'snappy' like W&N 7's or softer like Raphaels? |
Heisler | 23 Feb 2014 2:10 p.m. PST |
They have a bit more snap than Raphaels but not quite as much as W&N 7s. They have the Maestro with longer hair and the Restauro with much shorter hair. In both lines you will find a series 10 with the regular round style handles and a series 35 with triangular handle which I have found is more comfortable in my hand. |
Fizzypickles | 23 Feb 2014 4:05 p.m. PST |
Cheers Heisler, I just might try some. Sounds like the 'Maestro' is a pointed or designer brush and the 'Restauro' more of a spotter. I do like my series 7 'miniatures' for spotting. << can never have too many brushes |
Heisler | 17 Mar 2015 4:21 p.m. PST |
And now, a year or so later, W&N, DaVinci and Raphael brushes are readily available again at least through Dick Blick. |
Syrinx0 | 18 Mar 2015 6:36 p.m. PST |
I restocked my W&N 7's and Raphael brushes in December through Dick Blick. It made for a nice xmas present. They don't seem to stay in stock for long though. |
Kensboro | 22 Mar 2015 4:00 p.m. PST |
I am getting suspicious of W&N since they got taken over – all sorts of their products are changing and not for the better. I'm sure the recent Series #7 brushes I've had are poorer quality than previous batches – maybe getting cheap Chinese hair is the reason. To those on miniatures/artist forums who say… "I think the W&N brushes I got a few years ago were of a better quality". You're 100% right about that. Series-7 aren't made in the U.K. anymore, they're made in China. That change happened about 5-years ago. As for their paints… take a look at the label on the back. Some of their paints (that used to be made in France) are now made in China. I'm told some artists have noticed a decline in quality with the imported paints (and I'm talking about paints that go for $30 USD-$40 a tube). It's a shame. Profit before quality I guess :( Tip: Escoda still makes good brushes. |