The best brushes for mixing paint

kierspics

I normally use a pallet knife to mix colours but I have tried mixing using a brush, as Mark does in his videos, but I've found it quite awkward. I think I must be using the wrong brush. I've been using hog hair filbert brushes but I think there must be a better brush to use. The way Mark mixes looks very easy and fluid.

If anyone uses a brush to mix colours can you tell me what you use?

Thanks,

Kieran

gfish

I think Mark uses one of his standard brushes listed in supply section, nothing special. I asked him once why he used a brush and he just said it was the way he liked to do it. No magic in it. I tried and went back to a knife

Martin_J_Crane

I tried it but like a knife as well.

Castillo

same here, this palette knife (K) really worked for me

jcdr

Ditto on the knife. I use E from Castillo's list. Seems like I waste a ton mixing with a brush.

kierspics

Ok, maybe I'll stick to the knife.

One question though:

Don't you all find that the paint tends to splatter a little when using a knife since it is so thinned from Mark's SDM?

@jcdr @Castillo @Martin_J_Crane @Kingston @gfish

dencal

kierspics

My home brewed version of Mark's SDM is about the same viscosity as 30 grade motor oil.
Mixed with fairly stiff W&N Artists Oils it is too thick to splatter.

I am equally comfortable mixing with a brush or a knife, finding the knife a bit quicker and as a side benefit, less clogged and messy brushes.


Denis

richvinzant

I use B from the list. I prefer not to clean brushes, dread muddying my paint and after workin 15 years as a commercial painter I've learned that forcing paint up into the ferrel is the quickest way to destroy a brush.

Castillo

kierspics said:

Don't you all find that the paint tends to splatter a little when using a knife since it is so thinned from Mark's SDM?

Haven't had that issue, are you making it thinner than ketchup consistency? :-? Maybe you have a heavy hand

jcdr

Only spatter issues are when I drop the loaded palette knife on the floor. L-)
Seriously tho, I don't use Mark's SDM (gasps from the crowd) I add the clove oil to some walnut oil and add a touch of W&N medium. I add a few drops of this mix to the paint when i'm mixing down my colors and this makes them creamy like warm peanut butter but not runny. My paints probably don't stay open as long as they would with Mark's SDM (nor self-level) but as long as I keep moving I seem to be able to stay ahead of any drying issues. (4-7days depending on weather, and now that monsoon season has arrived in Vancouver they are staying open longer.)

Ron

Use small motions, shouldn't get much splatter.

djfedeli

I have always mixed with palette knives (shown). I tried it with the brush when I did my first still life. Sticking with the knife. I really like the shape of these knives and they are pretty stiff. There are other manufacturers of this style other than Bob Ross. The thing I like about the Ross products are the round handles-if you shop online you can get them pretty cheap.

Junebug

I mix the steps with a knife and on the fly with the brush. I hate the gunky brush from mixing with it.

Ron

I've used both knives and brushes. Since I paint rather small size paintings I prefer to mix with my brush, but in small amounts. But for a large area its a flexible blade. >-

hopperlover

I use a palette knife because using a brush and "smashing" it into the palette to mix color would shorten the brush's life(quickly) .

sarahgren88

Not a brush, but I use painter's edge Painting Knife, bought from jerrysartarama. Its good and makes my task easier.