I'm in love!
I have finally found my perfect paintbrush. These are the Princeton Catalyst Polytip Bristle Brushes. They're amazing enough that I'm seriously considering buying every single size and style they sell.
What's so amazing?
Here's my problem with paintbrushes: I do two extremely abusive things to my brushes…
- I leave them in water for days and days and days.
- I use lots of gel medium and glue with my brushes.
As a result my brushes become waterlogged, stiff, and the paint cracks off the handle over time. My small pointy brushes also become less pointy.
The Catalyst brushes are synthetic and don't become waterlogged. I've had some sitting in a jar of water for a week and they look great and when I pull them out to use, they're in great shape! Also, because the brush handles aren't painted, I think I'm not going to run into the problem with the paint cracking off! And they do a great job with gel medium. They're just the right amount of stiffness for me and how I work. And thus far the small pointy brushes seem to be in really great shape.
They are long handled brushes fyi. Some people like long handled and some people don't. I'm in the like category. It's all personal preference.
I have always said that you'll be a better painter with a better brush. I still believe that. I'm hoping that these bad boys are making me into a better painter as we speak! :)
And just to be clear, I have nothing at all to do with Princeton or the Catalyst brushes, I am just so in love I had to share!
Do you have a brand of paintbrush that you love?
Thanks for stopping by!
I’m still finding mine – can only really afford to look into cheaper ones. Can’t pay megabucks for one brush. Will have to look into these 🙂
I’m still finding mine – can only really afford to look into cheaper ones. Can’t pay megabucks for one brush. Will have to look into these 🙂
I’m still finding mine – can only really afford to look into cheaper ones. Can’t pay megabucks for one brush. Will have to look into these 🙂
I’m still finding mine – can only really afford to look into cheaper ones. Can’t pay megabucks for one brush. Will have to look into these 🙂
I’m still finding mine – can only really afford to look into cheaper ones. Can’t pay megabucks for one brush. Will have to look into these 🙂
these brushes look fab, and I know what you mean about leaving them standing in water…
these brushes look fab, and I know what you mean about leaving them standing in water…
these brushes look fab, and I know what you mean about leaving them standing in water…
these brushes look fab, and I know what you mean about leaving them standing in water…
these brushes look fab, and I know what you mean about leaving them standing in water…
I abuse mine as well. These look wonderful.
I abuse mine as well. These look wonderful.
I abuse mine as well. These look wonderful.
I abuse mine as well. These look wonderful.
I abuse mine as well. These look wonderful.
You had me until you said long handled. Glad that you found the brush for you Julie.
You had me until you said long handled. Glad that you found the brush for you Julie.
You had me until you said long handled. Glad that you found the brush for you Julie.
You had me until you said long handled. Glad that you found the brush for you Julie.
You had me until you said long handled. Glad that you found the brush for you Julie.
merci pour ce partage c.ar moi aussi je maltraite mes pinceaux et je dois en racheter souvent
merci pour ce partage c.ar moi aussi je maltraite mes pinceaux et je dois en racheter souvent
merci pour ce partage c.ar moi aussi je maltraite mes pinceaux et je dois en racheter souvent
merci pour ce partage c.ar moi aussi je maltraite mes pinceaux et je dois en racheter souvent
merci pour ce partage c.ar moi aussi je maltraite mes pinceaux et je dois en racheter souvent
As I read I thought, well, that doesn’t seem to be one of my bad habits – leaving brushes in water. I turned around and looked at my art desk to see a jar of water with 4 brushes in it. : )
As I read I thought, well, that doesn’t seem to be one of my bad habits – leaving brushes in water. I turned around and looked at my art desk to see a jar of water with 4 brushes in it. : )
As I read I thought, well, that doesn’t seem to be one of my bad habits – leaving brushes in water. I turned around and looked at my art desk to see a jar of water with 4 brushes in it. : )
As I read I thought, well, that doesn’t seem to be one of my bad habits – leaving brushes in water. I turned around and looked at my art desk to see a jar of water with 4 brushes in it. : )
As I read I thought, well, that doesn’t seem to be one of my bad habits – leaving brushes in water. I turned around and looked at my art desk to see a jar of water with 4 brushes in it. : )
Hope springs eternal! I love that you have admitted to the mixed-media art-journaler foibles…we are moving forward too fast to worry about the brushes – and yet we still want good brushes…I will try one. The reason I have avoided long handles in the past is because they don’t travel well. Now I always take the water brushes when I travel so I am completely hopeful.Thanks.
Hope springs eternal! I love that you have admitted to the mixed-media art-journaler foibles…we are moving forward too fast to worry about the brushes – and yet we still want good brushes…I will try one. The reason I have avoided long handles in the past is because they don’t travel well. Now I always take the water brushes when I travel so I am completely hopeful.Thanks.
Hope springs eternal! I love that you have admitted to the mixed-media art-journaler foibles…we are moving forward too fast to worry about the brushes – and yet we still want good brushes…I will try one. The reason I have avoided long handles in the past is because they don’t travel well. Now I always take the water brushes when I travel so I am completely hopeful.Thanks.
Hope springs eternal! I love that you have admitted to the mixed-media art-journaler foibles…we are moving forward too fast to worry about the brushes – and yet we still want good brushes…I will try one. The reason I have avoided long handles in the past is because they don’t travel well. Now I always take the water brushes when I travel so I am completely hopeful.Thanks.
Hope springs eternal! I love that you have admitted to the mixed-media art-journaler foibles…we are moving forward too fast to worry about the brushes – and yet we still want good brushes…I will try one. The reason I have avoided long handles in the past is because they don’t travel well. Now I always take the water brushes when I travel so I am completely hopeful.Thanks.
When I worked in watercolor, I only used the finest brushes. Now all bets are off and like you I need something that will hold up to gels, mediums,glue and sitting in water for days on end.
When I worked in watercolor, I only used the finest brushes. Now all bets are off and like you I need something that will hold up to gels, mediums,glue and sitting in water for days on end.
When I worked in watercolor, I only used the finest brushes. Now all bets are off and like you I need something that will hold up to gels, mediums,glue and sitting in water for days on end.
When I worked in watercolor, I only used the finest brushes. Now all bets are off and like you I need something that will hold up to gels, mediums,glue and sitting in water for days on end.
When I worked in watercolor, I only used the finest brushes. Now all bets are off and like you I need something that will hold up to gels, mediums,glue and sitting in water for days on end.
This is a fantastic brush line & I’ll look for it later today. My favorite synthetic is Raphael Kaerell 8394 orange handle, think I’ve had my set since about 2000. I settled on this line for my watercolor and gouache art because of how the brushes feel in my hand…the balance and the length is right. The good folks in the art supply stores kindly let me test the tips of any open brush in the store with water on a buddha board before buying them. Also a good assortment of synthetic and natural tips is important depending on the mediums I wish to use.
This is a fantastic brush line & I’ll look for it later today. My favorite synthetic is Raphael Kaerell 8394 orange handle, think I’ve had my set since about 2000. I settled on this line for my watercolor and gouache art because of how the brushes feel in my hand…the balance and the length is right. The good folks in the art supply stores kindly let me test the tips of any open brush in the store with water on a buddha board before buying them. Also a good assortment of synthetic and natural tips is important depending on the mediums I wish to use.
This is a fantastic brush line & I’ll look for it later today. My favorite synthetic is Raphael Kaerell 8394 orange handle, think I’ve had my set since about 2000. I settled on this line for my watercolor and gouache art because of how the brushes feel in my hand…the balance and the length is right. The good folks in the art supply stores kindly let me test the tips of any open brush in the store with water on a buddha board before buying them. Also a good assortment of synthetic and natural tips is important depending on the mediums I wish to use.
This is a fantastic brush line & I’ll look for it later today. My favorite synthetic is Raphael Kaerell 8394 orange handle, think I’ve had my set since about 2000. I settled on this line for my watercolor and gouache art because of how the brushes feel in my hand…the balance and the length is right. The good folks in the art supply stores kindly let me test the tips of any open brush in the store with water on a buddha board before buying them. Also a good assortment of synthetic and natural tips is important depending on the mediums I wish to use.
This is a fantastic brush line & I’ll look for it later today. My favorite synthetic is Raphael Kaerell 8394 orange handle, think I’ve had my set since about 2000. I settled on this line for my watercolor and gouache art because of how the brushes feel in my hand…the balance and the length is right. The good folks in the art supply stores kindly let me test the tips of any open brush in the store with water on a buddha board before buying them. Also a good assortment of synthetic and natural tips is important depending on the mediums I wish to use.
Can these brushes be used with watercolor? I have two sets of brushes one for watercolor and one for acrylics because I read somewhere that you have to have separates but I am always messing them up. I would love just one set.
Can these brushes be used with watercolor? I have two sets of brushes one for watercolor and one for acrylics because I read somewhere that you have to have separates but I am always messing them up. I would love just one set.
Can these brushes be used with watercolor? I have two sets of brushes one for watercolor and one for acrylics because I read somewhere that you have to have separates but I am always messing them up. I would love just one set.
Can these brushes be used with watercolor? I have two sets of brushes one for watercolor and one for acrylics because I read somewhere that you have to have separates but I am always messing them up. I would love just one set.
Can these brushes be used with watercolor? I have two sets of brushes one for watercolor and one for acrylics because I read somewhere that you have to have separates but I am always messing them up. I would love just one set.
Awesome! Off to check out the link! Having discovered mixed media art through you and your relaxed attitude, I go for the stress-free, leave-the-brushes-in-the-water-and-don’t-clean-your-stencils approach to art supply maintenance! 😉 And I am ever grateful to you for it!
Awesome! Off to check out the link! Having discovered mixed media art through you and your relaxed attitude, I go for the stress-free, leave-the-brushes-in-the-water-and-don’t-clean-your-stencils approach to art supply maintenance! 😉 And I am ever grateful to you for it!
Awesome! Off to check out the link! Having discovered mixed media art through you and your relaxed attitude, I go for the stress-free, leave-the-brushes-in-the-water-and-don’t-clean-your-stencils approach to art supply maintenance! 😉 And I am ever grateful to you for it!
Awesome! Off to check out the link! Having discovered mixed media art through you and your relaxed attitude, I go for the stress-free, leave-the-brushes-in-the-water-and-don’t-clean-your-stencils approach to art supply maintenance! 😉 And I am ever grateful to you for it!
Awesome! Off to check out the link! Having discovered mixed media art through you and your relaxed attitude, I go for the stress-free, leave-the-brushes-in-the-water-and-don’t-clean-your-stencils approach to art supply maintenance! 😉 And I am ever grateful to you for it!
Thank you for passing on your fabulous find Julie! I’m vegan and will only buy synthetic brushes(so not preaching to anyone, totally just my path). To hear about a great synthetic brush, I’m super excited! Added it to my ever growing Blick wish list 🙂
Thank you for passing on your fabulous find Julie! I’m vegan and will only buy synthetic brushes(so not preaching to anyone, totally just my path). To hear about a great synthetic brush, I’m super excited! Added it to my ever growing Blick wish list 🙂
Thank you for passing on your fabulous find Julie! I’m vegan and will only buy synthetic brushes(so not preaching to anyone, totally just my path). To hear about a great synthetic brush, I’m super excited! Added it to my ever growing Blick wish list 🙂
Thank you for passing on your fabulous find Julie! I’m vegan and will only buy synthetic brushes(so not preaching to anyone, totally just my path). To hear about a great synthetic brush, I’m super excited! Added it to my ever growing Blick wish list 🙂
Thank you for passing on your fabulous find Julie! I’m vegan and will only buy synthetic brushes(so not preaching to anyone, totally just my path). To hear about a great synthetic brush, I’m super excited! Added it to my ever growing Blick wish list 🙂
thanks for this review…add it to my list
thanks for this review…add it to my list
thanks for this review…add it to my list
thanks for this review…add it to my list
thanks for this review…add it to my list
Thanks for the tip!! I am TERRIBLE to my paint brushes … same reasons as you. I actually just threw out about 6 or 7 of them because I just wasn’t going to get them back in working order. I’ll have to check these bad boys out when replacing the deceased ones!
Thanks for the tip!! I am TERRIBLE to my paint brushes … same reasons as you. I actually just threw out about 6 or 7 of them because I just wasn’t going to get them back in working order. I’ll have to check these bad boys out when replacing the deceased ones!
Thanks for the tip!! I am TERRIBLE to my paint brushes … same reasons as you. I actually just threw out about 6 or 7 of them because I just wasn’t going to get them back in working order. I’ll have to check these bad boys out when replacing the deceased ones!
Thanks for the tip!! I am TERRIBLE to my paint brushes … same reasons as you. I actually just threw out about 6 or 7 of them because I just wasn’t going to get them back in working order. I’ll have to check these bad boys out when replacing the deceased ones!
Thanks for the tip!! I am TERRIBLE to my paint brushes … same reasons as you. I actually just threw out about 6 or 7 of them because I just wasn’t going to get them back in working order. I’ll have to check these bad boys out when replacing the deceased ones!
Julie, Julie, Julie! PLEASE don’t leave your brushes standing in water for a long time! Even those wonderful Catalyst brushes can eventually break down, and you certainly don’t want the glue in the ferrule to loosen so that the bristles fall our! And have you tried the new silicon “brushes” Princeton makes? Very cool for making textures in the paint!
Julie, Julie, Julie! PLEASE don’t leave your brushes standing in water for a long time! Even those wonderful Catalyst brushes can eventually break down, and you certainly don’t want the glue in the ferrule to loosen so that the bristles fall our! And have you tried the new silicon “brushes” Princeton makes? Very cool for making textures in the paint!
Julie, Julie, Julie! PLEASE don’t leave your brushes standing in water for a long time! Even those wonderful Catalyst brushes can eventually break down, and you certainly don’t want the glue in the ferrule to loosen so that the bristles fall our! And have you tried the new silicon “brushes” Princeton makes? Very cool for making textures in the paint!
Julie, Julie, Julie! PLEASE don’t leave your brushes standing in water for a long time! Even those wonderful Catalyst brushes can eventually break down, and you certainly don’t want the glue in the ferrule to loosen so that the bristles fall our! And have you tried the new silicon “brushes” Princeton makes? Very cool for making textures in the paint!
Julie, Julie, Julie! PLEASE don’t leave your brushes standing in water for a long time! Even those wonderful Catalyst brushes can eventually break down, and you certainly don’t want the glue in the ferrule to loosen so that the bristles fall our! And have you tried the new silicon “brushes” Princeton makes? Very cool for making textures in the paint!
Thanks for the tip….. but PLEASE be kinder to your brushes.
Thanks for the tip….. but PLEASE be kinder to your brushes.
Thanks for the tip….. but PLEASE be kinder to your brushes.
Thanks for the tip….. but PLEASE be kinder to your brushes.
Thanks for the tip….. but PLEASE be kinder to your brushes.
Do you have a recommended “starter kit” of brushes? I’m just tiptoeing into mixed media (took your gesso class) and I have a motley crew of cheapo brushes from Hobby Lobby that the bristles fall out of when I use them.
Do you have a recommended “starter kit” of brushes? I’m just tiptoeing into mixed media (took your gesso class) and I have a motley crew of cheapo brushes from Hobby Lobby that the bristles fall out of when I use them.
Do you have a recommended “starter kit” of brushes? I’m just tiptoeing into mixed media (took your gesso class) and I have a motley crew of cheapo brushes from Hobby Lobby that the bristles fall out of when I use them.
Do you have a recommended “starter kit” of brushes? I’m just tiptoeing into mixed media (took your gesso class) and I have a motley crew of cheapo brushes from Hobby Lobby that the bristles fall out of when I use them.
Do you have a recommended “starter kit” of brushes? I’m just tiptoeing into mixed media (took your gesso class) and I have a motley crew of cheapo brushes from Hobby Lobby that the bristles fall out of when I use them.
Paint brushes are not only good for painting, they are excellent makeup brushes too !!!
Paint brushes are not only good for painting, they are excellent makeup brushes too !!!
Paint brushes are not only good for painting, they are excellent makeup brushes too !!!
Paint brushes are not only good for painting, they are excellent makeup brushes too !!!
Paint brushes are not only good for painting, they are excellent makeup brushes too !!!
Haven’t been at it long enough to progress beyond the cheap brushes but I am in blog love. This is such an inspiring and helpful blog. Thanks!
Haven’t been at it long enough to progress beyond the cheap brushes but I am in blog love. This is such an inspiring and helpful blog. Thanks!
Haven’t been at it long enough to progress beyond the cheap brushes but I am in blog love. This is such an inspiring and helpful blog. Thanks!
Haven’t been at it long enough to progress beyond the cheap brushes but I am in blog love. This is such an inspiring and helpful blog. Thanks!
Haven’t been at it long enough to progress beyond the cheap brushes but I am in blog love. This is such an inspiring and helpful blog. Thanks!
That’s one of the many reasons why you are fabulous! You abuse your brushes, and you don’t clean your stencils (dirty girl!)
That’s one of the many reasons why you are fabulous! You abuse your brushes, and you don’t clean your stencils (dirty girl!)
That’s one of the many reasons why you are fabulous! You abuse your brushes, and you don’t clean your stencils (dirty girl!)
That’s one of the many reasons why you are fabulous! You abuse your brushes, and you don’t clean your stencils (dirty girl!)
That’s one of the many reasons why you are fabulous! You abuse your brushes, and you don’t clean your stencils (dirty girl!)
Warning to brush snobs: you might get squeamish with this tip. I buy really good brushes when they are 40 to 60% off at my local art supply store. Can’t be picky about length with those prices. Gasp! I take a hack saw and cut the long ones down to my preferred length. Oh my! Then I leave them in water, use them for everything from water colors, water color crayons, inks, acrylics and mediums. I’m with Julie. You can abuse a good brush and keep it around. Abuse a cheap brush and it’s in the trash a few days or weeks later.
Warning to brush snobs: you might get squeamish with this tip. I buy really good brushes when they are 40 to 60% off at my local art supply store. Can’t be picky about length with those prices. Gasp! I take a hack saw and cut the long ones down to my preferred length. Oh my! Then I leave them in water, use them for everything from water colors, water color crayons, inks, acrylics and mediums. I’m with Julie. You can abuse a good brush and keep it around. Abuse a cheap brush and it’s in the trash a few days or weeks later.
Warning to brush snobs: you might get squeamish with this tip. I buy really good brushes when they are 40 to 60% off at my local art supply store. Can’t be picky about length with those prices. Gasp! I take a hack saw and cut the long ones down to my preferred length. Oh my! Then I leave them in water, use them for everything from water colors, water color crayons, inks, acrylics and mediums. I’m with Julie. You can abuse a good brush and keep it around. Abuse a cheap brush and it’s in the trash a few days or weeks later.
Warning to brush snobs: you might get squeamish with this tip. I buy really good brushes when they are 40 to 60% off at my local art supply store. Can’t be picky about length with those prices. Gasp! I take a hack saw and cut the long ones down to my preferred length. Oh my! Then I leave them in water, use them for everything from water colors, water color crayons, inks, acrylics and mediums. I’m with Julie. You can abuse a good brush and keep it around. Abuse a cheap brush and it’s in the trash a few days or weeks later.
Warning to brush snobs: you might get squeamish with this tip. I buy really good brushes when they are 40 to 60% off at my local art supply store. Can’t be picky about length with those prices. Gasp! I take a hack saw and cut the long ones down to my preferred length. Oh my! Then I leave them in water, use them for everything from water colors, water color crayons, inks, acrylics and mediums. I’m with Julie. You can abuse a good brush and keep it around. Abuse a cheap brush and it’s in the trash a few days or weeks later.
I completely agree about these brushes. Love the abuse they can take. I admit i am in the short handle category because of my tiny hands but have come to love the long handle.
I completely agree about these brushes. Love the abuse they can take. I admit i am in the short handle category because of my tiny hands but have come to love the long handle.
I completely agree about these brushes. Love the abuse they can take. I admit i am in the short handle category because of my tiny hands but have come to love the long handle.
I completely agree about these brushes. Love the abuse they can take. I admit i am in the short handle category because of my tiny hands but have come to love the long handle.
I completely agree about these brushes. Love the abuse they can take. I admit i am in the short handle category because of my tiny hands but have come to love the long handle.
The Claudine Hellmuth brushes from Ranger are a good starter pack. Theyre cheap, but will last a good six months of heavy use. http://shrsl.com/?~3jwn
The Claudine Hellmuth brushes from Ranger are a good starter pack. Theyre cheap, but will last a good six months of heavy use. http://shrsl.com/?~3jwn
The Claudine Hellmuth brushes from Ranger are a good starter pack. Theyre cheap, but will last a good six months of heavy use. http://shrsl.com/?~3jwn
The Claudine Hellmuth brushes from Ranger are a good starter pack. Theyre cheap, but will last a good six months of heavy use. http://shrsl.com/?~3jwn
The Claudine Hellmuth brushes from Ranger are a good starter pack. Theyre cheap, but will last a good six months of heavy use. http://shrsl.com/?~3jwn
The problem is that you need very different things from watercolor brushes than from acrylic brushes. So, yes you could use these with watercolor, but the bristles arent absorbant or soft.
The problem is that you need very different things from watercolor brushes than from acrylic brushes. So, yes you could use these with watercolor, but the bristles arent absorbant or soft.
The problem is that you need very different things from watercolor brushes than from acrylic brushes. So, yes you could use these with watercolor, but the bristles arent absorbant or soft.
The problem is that you need very different things from watercolor brushes than from acrylic brushes. So, yes you could use these with watercolor, but the bristles arent absorbant or soft.
The problem is that you need very different things from watercolor brushes than from acrylic brushes. So, yes you could use these with watercolor, but the bristles arent absorbant or soft.
Thanks for this little review. I have the last one on the right but haven’t used it yet. I do love and have used their texture tools. I think I’ll get my brush out of it’s container and play with it today. Thanks for the push!
Thanks for this little review. I have the last one on the right but haven’t used it yet. I do love and have used their texture tools. I think I’ll get my brush out of it’s container and play with it today. Thanks for the push!
Thanks for this little review. I have the last one on the right but haven’t used it yet. I do love and have used their texture tools. I think I’ll get my brush out of it’s container and play with it today. Thanks for the push!
Thanks for this little review. I have the last one on the right but haven’t used it yet. I do love and have used their texture tools. I think I’ll get my brush out of it’s container and play with it today. Thanks for the push!
Thanks for this little review. I have the last one on the right but haven’t used it yet. I do love and have used their texture tools. I think I’ll get my brush out of it’s container and play with it today. Thanks for the push!