Contrary to popular belief, smaller jobs do not necessarily mean it’s easier. When it comes to miniature painting, it takes a lot of time, patience, and skill. To start off, you’ll need the best brushes for miniature painting and maybe even magnifying glasses, depending on the size of your project.
Of course, it really helps if you have a steady hand when you do miniature painting or any type of painting for that matter. But sometimes, you can’t rely on your own stability alone. You need to have the right tools to help you flourish or enjoy the activity or hobby at hand. Check out some of the brushes you can use for miniature painting:
Best Brushes for Miniature Painting: Rosmax
The 15pc paintbrush set from Rosmax is ideal for artists and hobbyists. The brushes come with ergonomic handles so you can work for longer without straining your hands easily. Made of synthetic, the brushes do not get worn out easily. You also won’t find any loose hair bristles on your work thanks to the durable aluminum ferrule.
Whether you are working on models or miniature details on other projects, these brushes can do the job. There’s even an angled brush that can help you reach hard-to-reach areas. A roll-up pouch is included to hold all of the brushes.
Best Watercolor Miniature Brush: da Vinci
Whether you are DIYing a restoration or simply need a brush for the finer details, da Vinci’s miniature watercolor series might help you out. These brushes can be used for gouache and watercolor. They have sustainable wood handles, Russian red sable bristles, and nickel-plated brass ferrules.
The bristles may seem like they are few and far in between but da Vinci’s brushes have maximum water-holding capacity. Don’t worry about dipping your brushes in water as they are rust-resistant.
Best Synthetic Brushes for Miniature Painting: Princeton
Expect fine lines and crisp edges from Princeton’s 3050 paintbrush series. This mini detailer set comes with 5 brushes that have optimal color-holding capacity. You can use it with mediums such as gouache, acrylic, and watercolor.
The tips of the brushes may be small but the handles are quite bigger so they are easier to control. Painting on small items like models and jewelry should be easy enough with the Princeton 3050 set. What’s more, you’ll never experience any bristles falling out as they are intact.
Best Budget Brushes for Miniature Painting: Golden Maple
Some people may be surprised that small or tiny things can be quite expensive. However, it is possible to get miniature brushes that won’t break the bank. The Golden Maple offers a miniature brush set that contains 10 brushes for your small detailing needs.
The wooden handles are easy to grip for a secure and comfortable hold on the brushes. Each brush comes with a protective tube to make sure the bristles stay in shape even while they are in storage.
Best Miniature Brushes for Newbies: The Army Painter
Are you just starting out with your miniature model painting hobby? It can definitely be overwhelming at first with the number of brush options in the market. Not to worry, you can get started with The Army Painter’s helpful set.
The Hobby Starter Brush set comes with the very essentials: standard brush, small detail, and dry brush. All of the brushes come with comfortable grips. They also have fine hairs that can hold paint perfectly and are also able to retain their shape in the long run.
Best Sable Miniature Brush: Winsor & Newton
Winsor & Newton offers the finest watercolor brush in the form of their Series 7 brushes. Even with very few bristles, the Series 7 brush has a crisp point. Even during use, the brush is able to maintain it. Another good thing about the Series 7 brush is that it can “snap & spring.”
The brush goes back to its original form, allowing the artist to have superior control over it. You can also expect superior flow control from Winsor & Newton’s Series 7. It can handle just the right amount of color capacity to deliver watercolor.
Best Starter Miniature Model Painting Kit: Reaper
If you are really trying to get into miniature painting then this starter kit from Reaper might just be for you. It pretty much covers everything you’ll need to get you acquainted with this hobby. For starters, you’ll get 2 Master Series brushes. Next, you’ll get 11 Master Series paints. Then, you’ll actually get 3 miniatures. Finally, you’ll also have a detailed set of instructions—a full color guide! All of these things come in a neat little case.
Before You Go
When picking out miniature paintbrushes, you can’t just get one at random. Here are a few factors you need to consider to help you choose the right brushes or set:
Project
What are you specifically working on? Is it miniature models? Maybe you are creating hair accessories? Whatever it may be, you need to choose brushes that can be used for those projects. Some brushes can be used for various types of painting applications if you are more of a well-rounded artist.
Paint Type
Be very careful with the type of paint you will use with your brush. Not all brushes can be used for acrylic paint or watercolor. The worst that could happen is you can end up ruining your brushes—to the point that you can’t use them anymore.
You might also end up ruining your project. To avoid any of these from happening, make sure the paint you use is compatible with your brush.
Care or Maintenance
Aside from checking what works with your brush, you also need to care for it properly. Always check the guide from the manufacturer. Some brushes can’t be cleaned with water or left in water overnight. Just make sure to follow instructions to ensure the longevity and performance of your brushes.
For bigger projects, check out brushes for acrylic paint