"Artis Opus - Series S Brush Set Kickstarter" Topic

Artis Opus launched their Series S Brush Set Kickstarter

Main page
link

Amicalement
Armand

How do these compare with Winsor and Newton Series 7 – better, similar, worse?

I wish them luck with their Kickstarter. I would be interested in buying a brush to see if I liked it, but wouldn't initially buy a full set. I use W/N Series 7 brushes now, so the bar is set fairly high.

Okay, I've been following these brushes with interest and I'm becoming a little irritated by what I am seeing.

Social media is being flooded with articles by different people. They are all claiming to be reviews and they have a lot in common. They all say that they are the BEST brushes, they all say that they are affordable. But they are all being paid to review, none of them gets the brushes wet let alone paints with them, none of them say how much they are (we know now that the KS is live) and none make any comparison with current products out there.

It is just a flood of adverts.

I did ask a question on the KS and I did get a response but it didn't answer my question, just marketing blurb, just evasive fluff.

Now I expect they are very good brushes but the way they are being promoted isn't very good.

So please, give us some proper demos, some actual comparisons, some reasons to do the KS.

Glup!….

Amicalement
Armand

Wow – four brushes kit is roughly 64.00?? That's roughly 16.00 a brush? I know it comes in a nice case and has soap – but you can get a Winsdor Newton Series 7 size 0- from Dick Blick for 14.50 a brush. With no waiting.

On top of everything, this is their first Kickstarter…. I'd seriously wait until these come to market and you buy a single one and try it out.

Also, now I'm a beginner so not saying who is right, just that I'm being told conflicting information and I'm a little confused.

A while ago, I went on a miniatures painting course in the UK given by a respected artist. He impressed upon us the importance of good brushes and recommended the W&N Series 7. He said the important characteristics of a good brush is that they keep a good point and have a decent well to hold plenty of paint to stop the tip from drying out. He said that he mostly used a Number 2 and sometimes a Number 1. He felt that the 0, 00, 000 were of little value because if your Number 2 or Number 1 has a good point you can't get any smaller than a good point and that the smaller brushes didn't hold enough paint to stop the tip from drying. He even went so far as to recommend the standard Series 7 over the miniature range because of the larger paint well. He did stress that these were his own thoughts and we should experiment and do what we were most comfortable with.

In fact one of the reviewers in the youtube videos pasted on the KS page, seems unaware that the set does not include the Number 2 brush and goes onto say that this size is his favourite and the one he uses the most. He also says that a point is a point you can't get any smaller. So there is most endorsement on the KS page for a brush that isn't even included in the set.

My opinion is that Artis Opus should promoting one of these

Our brushes are better than W&N Series 7 and this is why …..

or

Our brushes are just as good as W&N Series 7 but much more affordable

As far as I can see they aren't doing either.

I think this is a situation where you need to experiment and find the right combo for you. Everyone likes something different. There is no real right and wrong – just what feels best for you.

Personally, I like a 0 and 00. 1 and 2 I find are a bit too big. Again, that's just me. You might use a 1 and think there is no other brush for you.

This is the beauty of our hobby. Sharing ideas and seeing what works for different people.

A while ago, I went on a miniatures painting course in the UK given by a respected artist. He impressed upon us the importance of good brushes and recommended the W&N Series 7. He said the important characteristics of a good brush is that they keep a good point and have a decent well to hold plenty of paint to stop the tip from drying out. He said that he mostly used a Number 2 and sometimes a Number 1. He felt that the 0, 00, 000 were of little value because if your Number 2 or Number 1 has a good point you can't get any smaller than a good point and that the smaller brushes didn't hold enough paint to stop the tip from drying. He even went so far as to recommend the standard Series 7 over the miniature range because of the larger paint well. He did stress that these were his own thoughts and we should experiment and do what we were most comfortable with.

@TheKing30

Yes I know what you mean. Whilst logic tells me that a point is a point and you can't get any smaller, a 00 still feels a lot smaller when I'm using it.

Also I should say that the painting course was aimed at 28mm and bigger. When I'm trying to paint 15mm stuff a Number 2 brush (even my really pointy W&N Series 7) feels massive.

Also I should say that the painting course was aimed at 28mm and bigger. When I'm trying to paint 15mm stuff a Number 2 brush (even my really pointy W&N Series 7) feels massive.

That's a point I completely forgot about. I haven't done 15mm in years – I normally paint 25mm/28mm+. Painting 15mm, 10mm and 6mm require different techniques. For example – you wouldn't really want to do eyes on a 15mm – would you? I have and it's tough!

Again, experiment and have fun! Don't take yourself too seriously. The more you paint, the better you will get – I promise!

Since i like to dry brush, a cheap worn out brush is more important than an expensive fresh 00 or smaller. I tend to use these fine points very sparingly, usually when the well of a fresh 1 or 2 actually gives me too much potential to put in too much paint in details like spots or eyes. They just wear out too quick and don't even make good dry brushes. I keep scads of 0, 1, 2, and 3s but I never pay much more than 8 per brush. My oneexpensive brush I have really grown to love is a 000 liner with a very long but thin tip. The well is not fat but it has enough to make some very long but delicate lines which I use for complex hem borders or stripes on cloaks and tunics that are not molded on the fig. Tartan is a breeze with this brush.

Your Majesty, Yes

Wow – four brushes kit

and five brush photos.

AC1963

seems unaware that the set does not include the Number 2 brush

Very misleading. On karma alone, I'll pass.

They have just done a big update to their KS page.

All seems very money-driven, doesn't feel like KS deals to me.

They have added prices for additional brushes – each more expensive than the equivalent W&N 7 and this is meant to be KS special prices.

One guy asks if he could have 00-2 rather than 000-1 and is told no.

Another asks if he can just buy the brushes he wants and is told NO you can only buy the individual brushes if you buy a core box.

Another asks about the possibility of a 4 slot foam insert if he buys the No 2 brush. He is told absolutely they are adding that as an additional purchase for £3.00 GBP

And most of the add-ons are £9.00 GBP, what a coincidence is that. Rack £9.00 GBP, a mug £9.00 GBP, some dice £9.00 GBP

And not a stretch goal in sight.

Seems a very one-sided KS to me, all about the campaigner taking rather than giving.

Still they are getting the investment so their flood of videos of unsubstantiated claims is clearly working.

Random guess is that they don't have the economy of scale that W&N and other retail-level brushes have. But that doesn't mean anyone has an obligation to fund their project.

As for brush tips, tips are more important than sizes. For whatever reason, I've been better able to keep tips on my size 0 and 00, though…!

That's my point though.

If you are bringing new paintbrushes onto the market they need to better than W&N, or cheaper than W&N, or both.

As it stands even the KS prices are more expensive than W&N so they need to be significantly better and so far I've not heard anything from the company or their flock of reviewers to explain why these brushes are better than W&N Series 7.