PaintPickerThe brush ranges miniature painters actually buy - what each one is for, the honest verdicts, and current prices from the sellers we track.
Rosemary & Co kolinsky sable brushes for miniature painting: Series 33 and the ranges worth knowing, with current prices from the sellers we track.
1 product with live prices
Winsor & Newton Series 7 kolinsky sable for miniature painting: standard vs Miniature line, the sizes to buy, and current prices from sellers we track.
2 products with live prices
The Raphael 8404 kolinsky sable — how it compares to the Series 7, which size to buy for miniatures, and current prices from the sellers we track.
1 product with live prices
Artis Opus Series S, D and M explained — what each set is for, whether the premium is worth it, and current prices from the sellers we track.
3 products with live prices
Army Painter Wargamer and Masterclass brushes compared — which are worth buying, the QC reputation to know about, and prices from sellers we track.
7 products with live prices
Citadel's brush names decoded — what S Layer, M Base and Artificer actually mean in normal sizes, whether they are worth it, and where to buy.
2 products with live prices
Monument Hobbies Pro brushes — the US painter-designed line behind Pro Acryl, what each brush is for, and current prices from the sellers we track.
2 products with live prices
Da Vinci Maestro kolinsky brushes for miniature painting — the German classic behind several hobby-branded brushes, sizes to buy, and where to get them.
Almost everything on a miniature gets painted with a good round brush in size 0-2 - a size 1 kolinsky sable with a sharp point basecoats, layers and edge-highlights an entire army. Add a dedicated drybrush (drybrushing destroys fine tips) and a cheap synthetic for metallics, and you own every brush most painters ever use.
New to the jargon? The brush types guide explains every shape, and the brush care guide keeps a good sable alive for years instead of weeks.
The community favourite single: a pure kolinsky pointed round with a thick belly and a snap-back point. Size 1 is the workhorse.
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The standard-line kolinsky round in the do-everything size. Basecoats, layers and edge-highlights an entire army; treat it well and it lasts years.
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One size up: more belly for basecoating and larger models, still holding a fine point.
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The size to start with — and our pinned listing is sold by an authorised art retailer, which matters on a line this counterfeited.
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The flagship kolinsky rounds in a presentation box with brush soap. The 4-brush set covers 000 to 1; the 5-brush adds a 2.
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The drybrush set that started the modern drybrushing movement, built around the damp-drybrush method — the dampening pad comes in the box.
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The short-bristle detail line: less paint capacity than Series S, tighter control for faces, eyes and freehand.
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Three domed drybrushes that do the Artis Opus Series D job at a fraction of the price. The best-value route into modern drybrushing and slapchop.
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The top of the range and the exception to the QC caveat: a handmade kolinsky detail brush with the triangular control handle.
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Standard, small detail and a drybrush — the sensible synthetic starter trio, and our budget pick after judging the alternatives.
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The batch-painting workhorse: a bigger belly for basecoating whole units, still ending in a usable tip.
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The single-miniature size — basecoating and highlighting heroes and champions.
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The standard detail brush of the Wargamer line (not to be confused with the separate Insane Detail).
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Ten brushes covering every Wargamer shape in one box. Fine as an army-scale workhorse kit — pair it with one good kolinsky for detail work.
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The premium sable tier of the Citadel range — the one Citadel brush serious painters buy on its own merits.
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The official starter bundle — paints, clippers, mould-line remover and a starter brush in one box. The usual first buy alongside a starter set.
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The premium sable line, sold as a five-brush set or singles from size 0 to 4 on the maker store.
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The synthetic counterpart — six brushes, with drybrush shapes available as singles alongside.
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Brushes sorted? Pair them with the right colours - compare every pot on the paint pages or start from a full recipe in the scheme generator.