Paint Brush Highlights: Micron

The Micron brush line are affordable mini art brushes for the most detailed work.  These brushes pack a strong, supple yet tiny tuft into a comfortable handle, ideal for egg tempera work, casein, watercolor or gouache.  Would also work quite well for inking drawings or painting eggs.

Several importers market versions of these brushes,  but not all brushes are created equal…..The Golden Nylon we use in these brushes is carefully tapered, keeping in mind the fact that there is typically a small exposed hair length in these brushes.  If the taper is not controlled and blended carefully, you can end up with a brush that “looks good” new… but actually will not hold its shape.   

These brushes feature a variety of small sizes and types for multiple uses, where a tiny brush is needed.  They are made with Nickel plated seamless ferrules.  All the brushes use the same size handle, a specially made (made in house) three color lacquered “club” handle.   This is a substantial handle, that accommodates a tiny brush head.  So although the brush tips are tiny, the handles are not, so they are easy to hold.

I have yet to try some microns myself, so if you use them, give me a shout and let me know what you think.

To see all the sizes and shapes available, refer to our Micron page on the Dynasty website.

Keep Painting,
Karyn

For more brush information, check out the Dynasty Brush website.

Artist Spotlight: Jane Carr

Dutchman

"I was lucky to have had so many remarkable people take me under their wings. Over the course of more than sixty years, I think I have managed to become an artist. The road has been long and at times difficult, but the reward – that every day I do what I love – has made it all worthwhile." ~Jane Carr

Upstate New York landscape artist, Jane Carr has lived and worked as an artist her entire life.  She was already taking art lessons at the Baltimore Museum of Art by the age of ten, surrounded by the works of Matisse, Van Gogh and Cézanne and taking in the rich instruction of so many talented working artists.  Going on to study sculpture at the Philadelphia College of Art and then at Yale School of Art and Architecture, Jane found ongoing inspiration and mentorship through her instructors, studying under James Rosati, Louis Finklestein, Louis Kahn and Bernard Chaet among others.

Beaver Pond

Jane began working in egg tempera in high school.  Per Jane's request, her instructor found out about the medium and taught Jane.  Though she put it aside for the years in college and post graduate work, family life, and a few moves, Jane picked it up again in 1991 and found that the medium hadn't changed.  

Egg tempera is egg yolk mixed with pigment, a medium used for centuries because of it's brilliance and longevity.  Since egg tempera dries quickly, it lends itself to small strokes, like hatching, with smaller detail brushes.  
One can lay down larger areas with flats about 1/2" in size, but the good soft watercolor brushes, like the Kolinsky sable are ideal for the cross hatching.  Since the brushes don't get a lot of wear and tear with the medium, and because egg tempera is easy to wash out, good brushes should last a long time.  It is worth the investment, since higher quality hair moves and picks up the pigment more smoothly, resulting in a better working experience.

Toward Buckland

Jane says she paints in nothing but egg tempera, as the medium helps her capture the atmosphere of the landscape, a subject she has been working in for years.  She finds the landscape, the alteration of it with weather, farms and animals, gives her inspiration for her work, though she doesn't always stick to her reference photos.  She has lived in the Canadian arctic, and Devon, England, both with similar landscapes to that of central New York:  rolling hills, crisp weather and smaller populations.  While teaching in Canada, she also captured some Inuit indians in paint.  

With her full experience as an artist and instructor, Jane's work is highly sought and you can see more of her pieces on her website: JaneCarrStudio.com, or follow the progress of the Stagecoach Run Art Festival, the Smithy Pioneer Gallery and the Cooperstown Art Association's Juried Regional Show.  


Keep Painting,
Karyn

For more brush information, check out the Dynasty Brush website.

New Brushes: Urban FX

You've seen just a glimpse of the Urban FX line on Facebook page and in the post on NAMTA, so here now are all the delicious details on this cool, completely unique line of brushes, not available from anyone else.  

The new Urban FX line is a combination of two types of brushes.  One uses natural white bristle, in flat, oval, and angular shapes in 3 sizes, small, medium and large.  These have a chiseled edge which can paint a precise sharp line or lay paint down flat on the wide edge.  The other type of brush tuft is a honey brown nylon, with traditional as well as unique shapes for the adventurous painter.  Many of these have national and international patents on the shapes.  

All the brushes feature brightly colored handles, offering proper balance and feel.  Additionally, the handles are coated with our soft touch, non-slip lacquer, to insure ease of handling in all environmental conditions.

Muralist and scenic artist, Brittany Ruhnke spent two weeks in our factory in Glendale designing and painting our new floor.  Brit began her work with the FX Bristle brushes, white bristle in seamless black ferrule.  Perfect for scrubbing into textured surfaces.  Brittany created the detail and motion with the FX synthetic brushes.  

These brushes are ideal for outdoor murals, faux finishing, furniture work and scenic art.  In particular the white bristle brushes work well on rougher terrain like tile or stone.  The nylon brushes are softer and would be better on wood, glass or metal.  These brushes would work best with latex, acrylic or enamel type paints, even oils or alkyds.  Make sure you clean them well after each use, however, to prolong their life.  

Urban FX in action

I will keep you updated on when and where these will be available but right now it looks like they will be shipping in July.

Keep Painting, 
Karyn 

For more brush information, check out the Dynasty Brush website.