Are Our Brushes the Best Shape for Painting Miniatures?

[Cat]

I've never noticed any particular difference in using different shaped handles. but have steered clear of the easel-length ones.
 
First glance at the title, I though you were going on about bristles.  That brush with the broken and bent tip, it still works fine if held at just the right angle, and is great for painting around corners!
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[Funkmachine7]

Isn't the length there to add a counter weight an slow your movements down?

[Tofty]

Just catching up with this thread. We started talking mainly about length but we seem to have got onto width (as it were!)
I have never noticed width of brush being an issue. Are you purely aiming at having a more comfortable grip? Does the extra width detract from sense of control?

The repositioning and widening of the grip was always my main focus.
As this is something that doesn't seem to have been widely considered previously; I'm not surprised that it hasn't garnered as much discussion as the length issue, which many have attested to previously being a frustration.
The length issue is easily solved; either by cutting the handle shorter, or as part of a more thorough redesign, so the remaining question would be; how long does a brush handle need to be?
I've gone for the bare minimum approach, with very little overhang past the point of contact with the back of the hand, between the thumb and forefinger, when the brush is being held like a pen. I have yet to find this to be an issue.

There are many times when our understanding of why something is done a particular way is just "well that's how it's always been done" and we largely accept that.
When looked at further, the underlying reasoning can become apparent and most of the time the accepted solution proves to still be the best option or at least good enough.
Not always though and I aim to explore this possibility whenever I'm able.

Not seeing an issue with the currently accepted solution does not mean there are no improvements to be found, however minor they may be.
Also there's no reason this could or should be a catch all solution. Even if there is just a small percentage of people for whom my approach may benefit then it feels worth pursuing.

A more comfortable grip would be nice, but improved brush control is the end goal, with moving the grip further forward being even more important than just increasing the diameter of the grip.
I somewhat arbitrarily went with a 10mm grip diameter, but some of the other brushes I own (size 0 and smaller) do have or are close to having a 10mm diameter grip, so various brush manufacturers don't appear worried about it causing a loss of control. I also haven't found that to be the case.
I may want to move the grip even further forward though.

Of course I can only take this so far, with my various assumptions needing to be tested by many others, so I will continue to collect hands-on feedback.
I suppose there is nothing stopping me making these designs available for people to 3D Print at home for even more feedback.
The only issue is the design is tailored to the printer I'm using and results will vary on others. Probably worth doing regardless.

I've never noticed any particular difference in using different shaped handles. but have steered clear of the easel-length ones.
First glance at the title, I though you were going on about bristles.  That brush with the broken and bent tip, it still works fine if held at just the right angle, and is great for painting around corners! : 3

A brush has got to be in a really poor state to not have any utility when miniature painting, even if it just becomes a mixing, dry-brushing or aggressive stippling tool.
I've not tried strategically bending a brush ferrule to get to some hard to reach places, but it may have merit.

Isn't the length there to add a counter weight an slow your movements down?

Personally I wouldn't say so, at least not for miniature painting, as brushes are just so light overall.
My painting motions are slow enough that such forces would be practically immeasurable, let alone perceptible.

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

Such a palaver over a tool that has a rather short lifespan before it wears out.  Carbon fiber and 3d printed caps!?!  The only advantages i have seen is maybe one that if set down flat on the table for some reason doesn’t roll off.  If your grip is so tight that a thin brush handle is uncomfortable to grip, really,  lighten up your grip!

This strike me as a very elaborate means to rationalize procrastination. (I sometimes will polish every anvil and hammer face in my studio to avoid sitting down to a project).  Quit debating and start painting.

[HerbertTarkel]

I have a lotta brushes. The only ones I can genuinely say I don’t like are ones with too long bristles - there is a place for them, traditional car/motorcycle artists use that style for elaborate pinstripe and graphic letter work. I have tried, it’s a genuine next-level skill. Mad respect to watching people work with that level of different finesse with those brushes.

Other than that, I like synthetics for commission work, I do tend to burn through them quicker but they’re for a “job”.

My fancy Kolinsky sables I save for my own painting.

[ced1106]

> I'm sure the bowl under each brush is totally unnecessary

Necessary. (: If you have some brush cleaning solution, you fill the bowl and lower the brush into it for whatever amount of time.

There is already a brush holding bowl that does this. Search on "paint brush holder cup" on Amazon. Most are silicon, though I have a pic of a classic one. (:

If you search on "paint brush grips seniors" you might find some ideas. Found this one.

I'm not a fan of triangle or square grips, though may not have found the right one. I use chopsticks and prefer round ones, and had some triangle grip pens. I think I often rotate the paint brush in my hand or pick it up and put it down, so don't like how an "edge" "digs" into my skin?

[Tofty]

Such a palaver over a tool that has a rather short lifespan before it wears out.  Carbon fiber and 3d printed caps!?!  The only advantages i have seen is maybe one that if set down flat on the table for some reason doesn’t roll off.  If your grip is so tight that a thin brush handle is uncomfortable to grip, really,  lighten up your grip!

This strike me as a very elaborate means to rationalize procrastination. (I sometimes will polish every anvil and hammer face in my studio to avoid sitting down to a project).  Quit debating and start painting.

This holder design is modular and reusable. Brush heads can be swapped out, so the holder could last a lifetime. Using light but hard wearing materials makes sense to me.
Adding an anti-roll feature to the brush itself would be a nice feature, but compromises the function too much, hence the brush stand to solve the problem a different way. Adding an anti-roll feature to the cap felt essential.
I disagree with you entirely about the tight grip. I never said thin handles were uncomfortable to hold, even though they can be for obvious ergonomic reasons; smaller diameter = less contact area with digits for a given grip pressure. Less contact area requires more pressure to maintain appropriate grip.
Just hold it less seems like poor advice.
The major issue I'm trying to solve is that I want to hold the brush further towards. A brush may have a large diameter handle, but if I want to hold it at the much narrower ferrule then it doesn't help me.

It may strike you that way, but to me it feels like you're just projecting.
Designing and redesigning things is also my hobby. In fact it's something I've enjoyed doing as a major part of my hobbies for decades.
I've been making good use of these brushes for weeks now. For my needs; this project is complete.
What I'm now interested in is whether other people might find it of use. For you clearly not, but perhaps others.

I have a lotta brushes. The only ones I can genuinely say I don’t like are ones with too long bristles - there is a place for them, traditional car/motorcycle artists use that style for elaborate pinstripe and graphic letter work. I have tried, it’s a genuine next-level skill. Mad respect to watching people work with that level of different finesse with those brushes.
Other than that, I like synthetics for commission work, I do tend to burn through them quicker but they’re for a “job”.
My fancy Kolinsky sables I save for my own painting.

Are those more Rigger style brushes, or do you also not like the longer brushes that would still be classed as Round?
Watching signwriters and pinstripers work is always a treat.

Necessary. (: If you have some brush cleaning solution, you fill the bowl and lower the brush into it for whatever amount of time.
There is already a brush holding bowl that does this. Search on "paint brush holder cup" on Amazon. Most are silicon, though I have a pic of a classic one. (:
If you search on "paint brush grips seniors" you might find some ideas. Found this one.
I'm not a fan of triangle or square grips, though may not have found the right one. I use chopsticks and prefer round ones, and had some triangle grip pens. I think I often rotate the paint brush in my hand or pick it up and put it down, so don't like how an "edge" "digs" into my skin?

I currently use the Master brush soap rather than a solution, but yes that could be a use for the bowl.

The silicone and metal tip down brush stands aren't optimal in my experience, as they have a friction grip on the brush handle, making their placement and removal fiddly.
My stand takes advantage of the step at the front of the brushes grip, so the brush just sits into the cavity on the stand and can be lifted out with no resistance.
I much prefer tip down holders as you pick up the brush in the orientation you plan to use it in.

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

Projecting

Yeah, I am as quick as any to avoid sitting down to a project if I don’t feel up to the task…i have a battalion of kilted highlanders that have been agonizingly unstarted for nearly 2 years now… but, my friend, in your last two years of 47 posts….how many painted figs have you shown!?!

[Dice Roller]

That is one of the most splendidly over-engineered items I've seen for a problem that doesn't really exist in ages.
A worthy Heath Robinson contraption.

[HerbertTarkel]

Yeah, I am as quick as any to avoid sitting down to a project if I don’t feel up to the task…i have a battalion of kilted highlanders that have been agonizingly unstarted for nearly 2 years now… but, my friend, in your last two years of 47 posts….how many painted figs have you shown!?!

I’m proudish to say I’m at 234 for the year. 

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

234

I haven’t really counted  but I estimate I am around there as well. I had a bunch of individual gothic horror to finish, but I can crank out units of uniformed troops fairly well. I just did some Jaimaican colonial troops that surprised on how quick they came out.

[Tofty]

Yeah, I am as quick as any to avoid sitting down to a project if I don’t feel up to the task…i have a battalion of kilted highlanders that have been agonizingly unstarted for nearly 2 years now… but, my friend, in your last two years of 47 posts….how many painted figs have you shown!?!

What's the minimum number of painted miniatures I should have to shown off to avoid your assumptions and unsolicited advice?
The correct answer is of course zero.

You should probably stop telling me how you think I should be performing my hobbies. That's not why any of us are here.

That is one of the most splendidly over-engineered items I've seen for a problem that doesn't really exist in ages.
A worthy Heath Robinson contraption.

What can I say; I just enjoy the process.

I’m proudish to say I’m at 234 for the year. 

Nice, I wish I was a fast enough painter to get close to that.
As it is currently, with learning and practicing new techniques, each mini takes a long time to finish and hasn't yet felt fully done.

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

What's the minimum number of painted miniatures I should have to shown off to avoid your assumptions and unsolicited advice?
The correct answer is of course zero.

You should probably stop telling me how you think I should be performing my hobbies. That's not why any of us are here.


What can I say; I just enjoy the process.


Nice, I wish I was a fast enough painter to get close to that.
As it is currently, with learning and practicing new techniques, each mini takes a long time to finish and hasn't yet felt fully done.

Ya got a, nastily defensive chip on your shoulder there, mate. 

Seriously, no one spends even an iota of worry about how you get through the day.

In some 60 years of interacting with people, i have only this bit of wisdom to impart: People will spend hundredfold the energy in rationalizations and excuses needed to start or complete a task, to avoid making a decision about what to work on or finish (Analysis Paralysis!). In the arts, this might even be a thousandfold as work product is associated with ego.   Sadly, i have seen a lot of rationalization that equates process or prep work as being more valuable than just getting into the trenches and experimenting with technique.  1% inspiration really involves 99% perspirationThe adage of a blank canvas being the most intimidating thing is well known.  Drawing even just a first single line will release the paralysis.  Spend less time worrying about your tools and work space will give you more time to paint and build up some real sweat equity in finished figures.

As always do what you like with this free advice, YMMV, but it is worth what you paid for it.

[HerbertTarkel]

I haven’t really counted  but I estimate I am around there as well. I had a bunch of individual gothic horror to finish, but I can crank out units of uniformed troops fairly well. I just did some Jaimaican colonial troops that surprised on how quick they came out.

This is actually the first year I’ve ever counted! I took on a commission, first in years, and thought it would be fun to see what the number came in at. Most of these are faster commission ones (what the client wanted), and the other bunch are for Victrix (not quick at all), or a complex Harlequin theme commission that is definitely not fast. So a nice mix!

I think I’m on pace to hit 500 for the year, if I was to set a goal. That’s a decent fair number, I think?

[HerbertTarkel]

I haven’t really counted  but I estimate I am around there as well. I had a bunch of individual gothic horror to finish, but I can crank out units of uniformed troops fairly well. I just did some Jaimaican colonial troops that surprised on how quick they came out.

This is actually the first year I’ve ever counted! I took on a commission, first in years, and thought it would be fun to see what the number came in at. Most of these are faster commission ones (what the client wanted), and the other bunch are for Victrix (not quick at all), or a complex Harlequin theme commission that is definitely not fast. So a nice mix!

I think I’m on pace to hit 500 for the year, if I was to set a goal. That’s a decent fair number, I think?