Margaret Seidenberg-Ellis on fri 24 feb 06
There was a discussion a while ago about good brushes and someone
mentioned that a Japanese caligraphy brush is wonderful.
My question is, where can I find one?
I have a brush for sumi-e painting that I got in Japan in 1981 but
unfortunately it is showing its age (unlike me of course). I really
like it and would like to find another one just like it.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Margaret Seidenberg-Ellis
steve graber on sat 25 feb 06
my clay supplier, Aardvark, in Santa Ana, California sells TONS of these brushes from small to o-my-god large. ~ an extremely good supplier i must say as well!
search them on yahoo, etc. i forget their webpage but it's something original like www.aardvarkclay.com or the like.
see ya
steve
Margaret Seidenberg-Ellis wrote:
There was a discussion a while ago about good brushes and someone
mentioned that a Japanese caligraphy brush is wonderful.
My question is, where can I find one?
I have a brush for sumi-e painting that I got in Japan in 1981 but
unfortunately it is showing its age (unlike me of course). I really
like it and would like to find another one just like it.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Margaret Seidenberg-Ellis
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Sandy Kinzie on sat 25 feb 06
Dear Margaret,
If you're going to NCECA you will have lots of possibilities for
caligraphy brushes. If not, I'll try to remember to
get the suppliers name and send them off.
Sandy Kinzie
On Feb 25, 2006, at 9:58 AM, steve graber wrote:
> my clay supplier, Aardvark, in Santa Ana, California sells TONS of
> these brushes from small to o-my-god large. ~ an extremely good
> supplier i must say as well!
>
> search them on yahoo, etc. i forget their webpage but it's
> something original like www.aardvarkclay.com or the like.
>
> see ya
>
> steve
>
>
>
> Margaret Seidenberg-Ellis wrote:
> There was a discussion a while ago about good brushes and someone
> mentioned that a Japanese caligraphy brush is wonderful.
>
> My question is, where can I find one?
>
> I have a brush for sumi-e painting that I got in Japan in 1981 but
> unfortunately it is showing its age (unlike me of course). I really
> like it and would like to find another one just like it.
>
> Any suggestions would be appreciated!
>
> Thanks!
>
> Margaret Seidenberg-Ellis
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> ________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Yahoo! Mail
> Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> ________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
Sandy Kinzie
sbkinzie@charter.net
Elizabeth Priddy on sat 25 feb 06
Here ishow an informed consumer buys a brush.
If you can, find the supplier in person. If
they do not have any "open" brushes with the
sizing broken, ask them to open one of the size
you are interested in. (If they refuse to show
you and open one, leave. But don't jerk them around
asking to see $100 brushes when you know you only
have $20 to invest-there are good $20 brushes, just
say that upfront)
Hold the dry brush vertical to the tble and just
touching the hairs of the tip, push the brush down and
across so that the hairs are all lined up and bent
with the brush handle at a 45 degree angle to the
table. The brush hairs should be bent to about half
way the length of the hairs.
Let the brush go.
If it falls flat or to the side, don not buy it. It
is "dead", no energy. the brush has no chi.
If it is alive, a good brush: it will spring up and
off the table. A good few inches.
Sheep hair mop type brushes will not do this. but a
calligraphy brush has to have life.
A composit wolf hair is probably what you want. But
it probably moreso depends on what type or style of
calligraphy you work with. Find a quality example of
what you want to be doing and show it to your brush
dealer, they can choose the right one from there.
And there is always taking the one you have and like
and saying " I want a new one of these", offering the
brush as your example.
For web purchase, I would take a digital shot of the
marking on the top of the brush handle and send it to
OAS online painting supply. They will be able to tell
what you want.
The happy dot brush is probably most likely what you
want:
http://www.orientalartsupply.com/products/brushes_hard.cfm
for pottery brushes:
the s2a
http://www.orientalartsupply.com/products/brushes_studentpottery.cfm
I bet even your really old brush has a little life
left in it, if it was a good brush to begin with.
Of course, there are other tests. Inspect the hair to
see that it is smooth and consistent, wet the brush
and seeif it drops water evenly, does it form a good
point when loaded with water. When you load it, and
draw a line, does it make more than one mark before
holding its position bent like an "L". (this is where
the spring test will tell)
And when you hold it in your hand, does it feel
"right". This is the biggest test.
Good luck.
OAS is a very good company. The only place I buy
brushes online. They are inexpensive and very high
quality.
I don't work for them, I just trust them.
E
Elizabeth Priddy
Beaufort, NC - USA
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
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Ken Nowicki on sat 25 feb 06
Elizabeth Priddy's post was a perfect example of Clayarters helping one
another, and sharing their knowledge... and is what makes this list so great. Thank
you Elizabeth for your enlightening post and source sharing for affordable
great quality brushes... I've bookmarked those web sites, and am sure will use
them later.
All the best,
- Ken
Ken Nowicki
Port Washington, New York
RakuArtist@aol.com
Elizabeth Priddy on sat 25 feb 06
I hope people will use this standard at
the booths at NCECA. I have brushes that
can illustrate this point. I know there
are lots of people who ONLY own brushes
with no spring. And a lot of potters are
used to mop type brushes made of sheep or
animal tails and such.
This is how my tiawanese chinese brush teacher
taught me to test brushes before I went to
China. I was treated with nothing but respect
and courtesy by dealers in Beijing, who were
ready and willing to open any that I pointed
to.
I hope some of the folks ready to sell
brushes this year are reading this and have
some good springy brushes ready....
Thanks for the support,
E
--- Ken Nowicki wrote:
> Elizabeth Priddy's post was a perfect example of
> Clayarters helping one
> another, and sharing their knowledge... and is what
> makes this list so great. Thank
> you Elizabeth for your enlightening post and source
> sharing for affordable
> great quality brushes... I've bookmarked those web
> sites, and am sure will use
> them later.
>
> All the best,
>
> - Ken
>
>
> Ken Nowicki
> Port Washington, New York
> RakuArtist@aol.com
>
>
______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change
> your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be
> reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
Elizabeth Priddy
Beaufort, NC - USA
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
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Linda Arbuckle on sun 26 feb 06
There are great brushes all over at all prices. Some of my favorite
sources are online, but I've usually bought the brushes in person first.
If you're going to NCECA, Santa Fe Clay and Highwater Clays usually have
good brushes that hold up well. One of my favorites from Santa Fe is a
small, chubby Japanese-style brush w/2 kinds of hair that has sold for
$2.50 in the past. Highwater has connections in the East and has a
variety of lovely Japanese-style brushes at a slightly higher price.
Most are pictured on the web site. They've held up well.
Highwater: http://highwaterclays.com/brushes/artist/artistbrushes1.html
Santa Fe's online info does not include brushes, so you'd need to call
them and talk to them about brushes: (505) 984-1122
I've purchased some inexpensive brushes that turned out to be hair that
doesn't have much spring, and some that would shed worse than my dog,
and some that fell apart and needed to be re-glued. A good brush
supplier will have a sample brush (brushes often come lacquered stiff to
protect the hairs) softened, or will let you soak a brush in water to
soften it so you can see how it points up and how much spring it has.
Some of the brushes I reach for most often are made by art brushmaker
Keith Lebenzon, who is also usually at NCECA. Expensive, but lovely to
work with. He gives good advice about how much spring various hairs
have, and at NCECA lets you try brushes out. Mine have held up
beautifully, and have beautiful spring to them .
http://brushman.net/
A good brush is a joy to use.
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