Opinions on Artis Opus brushes

[portcullisParticipant 6725xp 0]

The time has come for me to replace brushes. I’ve exclusively used W&N for a few years now, but I’m ready to try something new. I’ve been on the look-out for a while and Artis Opus are now available retail. (I was aware of them previously, being a regular Kickstarter haunter, but never pulled the trigger.)

Just wondering if anyone in the community can impart any opinions/’reviews’/experience.

[blinky465 17028xp 0]

I’ve just got back into painting (over the last few months, after a massive hiatus) so treat with a pinch of salt, but here’s what I found:

Thin paints are much nicer, easier to use and look better.  Seriously, Duncan is all over this one. Which means brushes with a “bigger belly” are nicer to work with (yeah, I know, but “nice” just about sums up “easier and more enjoyable to use”). I found W&N brushes great for detail work, but their shape is more like a traditional cone – they start wide and go to a point.

The “standard” GW brushes from a few years ago (the ones with the orange tipped handles) and the Army Painter “character” brushes hold more paint, which – I find – makes painting all but the tiniest details much easier. It’s almost counter intuitive but, unless you’re painting eyes and tiny details, a bigger brush with a good strong point can be much “nicer” to work with than a range of different sized “high end” brushes.

That’s a lot of quotation marks in one post, but I hope you get the idea 😉

 

[krisp278 1262xp 0]

I used to use all sorts of different brushes but then a friend bought me a couple of Rosemary and Co. brushes and some brush soap to look after them and now they are the only ones I’ll use.

 

That said I am looking at the Artis Opus dray brushes as they look like they will fill a whole in brush needs.

[Anonymous 0xp 1]

Just as a follow up to @blinky465, it is funny as I tend to go back to Army Painter brushes even though I own and would rate W&N and Rosemary & Co brushes very highly.  I just like how the Army Painter ones feel in my hand and paint, even though they are a good bit cheaper.

 

[totsuzenheniParticipant 5651xp 0]

I’ve been eyeing Artis Opus brushes too. I see they have a crowdfunding campaign for their new ‘D’ Drybrushing range on at the moment ( https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/artis-opus/artis-opus-series-d-brush-set/description ). Looks like they could double up a blushers. They have ‘Add-ons coming soon’, so it might be worth waiting to see if those add-ons include the S and M series.

[portcullisParticipant 6725xp 0]

Yeah, even if they don’t have the previous series available as add-ons, they’re well within range of my regularly [censored]-over Australian wallet; both sets <$190, inc. postage; which is actually slightly better than the retail price I would expect to pay here. W&N brushes are ~$25-$35 a piece. *middle finger @ Eckersley’s W&N’s “exclusive stockist”*

It’s not absolutely imperative I replace my brushes NOW. I might just put out some subtle hints for birthday presents.

 

[lobstermooch 2096xp 0]

Wait….eckersleys claim to be w&N exclusive stockists?

What a load of crap. I got my series 7 brushes from my flgs, and I know the combat company sells them too if local stores don’t.

Plus I have never seen the series 7 at eckersleys only their other brushes which I found to be very poor for miniature painting.

[avernosKeymaster 33947xp 0]

I thought that I would answer your question for novelty value if nothing else. I’ve not used the artis opis but I’ve seen good and bad reviews of them.

What I will say is that I have had brushes from a lot of companies and sometimes the tip will split there is no way to guarantee that they won’t. When  buying I check the tip in the store over the Internet you have to live with what you receive.

If you can get them at a decent price give them a go. If you’re concerned with cost check out ABC brushes on eBay.

They sell seconds of their ranges at excellent prices and the only issue may be that the paint is chipped or a split on the handle, or an incomplete name.

Price per brush they’re probably near the top.

Artis may be fine. Like series 7 or others it will come down  to the brush you receive.

[torros 23814xp 0]

I do think a lot of it comes down to luck sometimes. Best brush I’ve had in a while was an ‘0’ size from a pack of 3 for £1.89, the point was fantastic and lasted a year. I’ve bought series 7 where the point has split after a day of two

[while 4772xp 0]

I tried using my size 2 now, and switched back to my Raphail 8404 size 1. The Artis Opus had a lead hair that was longer than the other which gives an annoying point. The Raphail is also larger, but just as a fine point.

The Artis Opus ones are ok. But pricey, and super over presented in the wooden boxes..

[chaingunParticipant 1939xp 0]

My honest opinion and I’m going to disagree with some on here is that the Artis Opus brushes are great if you are a good painter.

My wife done the last kickstarter and has just done the current one for the dry brushes, until she started using them I like many could not see why they were so highly priced. But after seeing the results she has got from them and also seeing and having a demo of the dry brushes at Salute, I have to admit they are worth it. But again they would be of no use to me as I’m not a good painter, but for my wife they are worth it.

I suppose what it all comes down to is, if you work with hand tools every day for your living then you want good quality tools that is going to last you. The same principle applies with your brushes. For me, I don’t paint that often and so the cost is to expensive, but if I painted regularly then I would invest in them.

Like any brushes though, brush care is very important, no matter how much you spend on brushes, if you don’t look after them then you will always be putting your hand in your pocket to replace it.

[turbocoolerParticipant 4103xp 0]

I was part of the first KS.  The S Range.  They are good brushes but I cannot say they are any better than W&N or Rosemary & Co. brushes.  I am not a pro painter and maybe you have to be at that level for it to matter.  For example, I am not a pro golfer and I will never be on the pro tour regardless of the equipment.  Some equipment does make it easier to play golf or paint.

One thing I can say is they seem to clean very nice.  The wooden box is lost on me and I personally do not see the value.  So far they have retained their point but I never have had an issue with W&N or Rosemary & Co.  I would be happier if the handle was thicker.  I use a rubber item that makes the handle thicker and that is something I have done for other brushes except for I believe Army Painter which has a triangle handle that people love or hate.

I am not going into the latest KS because I believe you can do the same dry brushing with much cheaper makeup brushes and each KS they become more stingy with SG and add-ons.

As with Golf or many other things, it is not the equipment but it is hours of practice that matters.  I do not believe anyone will be disappointed with the brushes but I fail to see them being better than lots more practice.  I am happy with W&N and Rosemary & Co. I will not be reordering in the future but if you do spend the money, I cannot see you being disappointed either.

[ced1106Participant 6224xp 0]

I picked up some nice cheap (ahem) Happy One brushes from Amazon. Works fine for advanced tabletop. Price is up to $18 for 50 brushes.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073YDKWWP/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Metal pieces and bottles were painted with HO brushes, because I was using metallic paints and Tamiya clears, which might damage a hobby brush. Miniatures are from Tiny Furniture’s Tavern Set. Mostly washes, undercoats, layering, and glazes, using whatever leftover drop of paint from another miniature I was painting at the time… 😛

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