Thanks for sharing pics of these, I've not seen them before. I only have a fan shaped one, and to be honest haven't liked it very much--just not the right size/shape for some areas. I'm going to look for these shapes next time I'm at Michael's. I found a really cute santa in an old magazine, and I think one of these would make the beard look good much easier than anything I could try to do with just my liner brush. Luvs

Bebe,
Thanks to you I have a nice assortment of these Soft Grip brushes. I have a few of Jillybeans books and love her painting, but have never bought any Jillybean brushes. Is your last brush one of her's or am I on the wrong track?

I can hardly wait to start a project but it will have to wait until kids are settled and company is gone. My DS just told me his realtor called him yesterday and she thinks she has his home sold if he's interested. When he told me I said you did tell her NO, Right, Right! He said he was going to think about it. I'm not in the mood nor do I have the time to even think about helping on another home for him this summer. Maybe if we all say our prayers, they will be answered. haha DD & GD will be renting a new apartment so maybe he can move in with them.

We are having a knock off band of AC/DC here this weekend and alot of people are so worried that things will be wrecked, stolen or worse. I don't plan to do anything different and I'll hope everything turns out alright.

Opps, thought I was posting on the conversation side so best get off here and yak later. Punk

Luvs, the Soft Grips work pretty well, if you can see it in the photo, the hairs at the tip of the brush have been thinned out. The oval or filbert is SG930 and the flat SG730. Just remember to fill the brush with thinned paint and use just the tip of the hairs, you have to reload frequently.

Punk, yes the Fandango is her brush. It is just too big to use on small projects and I am a lazy painter, I don't like changing brushes so I end up painting very small details with a very large brush - crazy I know. It's the same way with the forum, I usually forget to post on the Gallery or the Conversation side.

Good luck with your son, with the way the economy is today you are very lucky to sell a home in our area. And the value of homes has dropped tremendously.

I have the same problem with my fan brush....too big for the things I'm painting. I think the smallest one you show would be perfect for me. I think I'm gonna get over to Michaels today so I am going to look. I have a 40% off one item coupon to use. Thanks Bebe. ~Anj

I bought several of the soft grips when you told us about that sale at Michael's last year, Bebe. I really like them. They do a good job, hold up well, and you sure can't beat the price! Being able to use a large brush for small areas must be a sign of a confident painter--I sure can't do that, always so afraid I'll "get outside the lines"! LOL

I was just looking through some of my older painting magazines--I do that sometimes just for fun or to look for things I might like to do now. There was a really cute laughing santa in one that I like, but the instructions call for "mixes of paint" and "glazing medium". I'm thinking about giving him a try but all the layers and layers intimidate me somewhat. I'm sure I'm much too heavy handed with the paint for that. Think I might just try him in a "simpler" version and see what happens. Do all of you always follow the instructions exactly? Inquiring minds wanna know! LOL

Luvs

Luvs, I never follow instructions exactly. I use them as a guide but I do what is comfortable for me. I brush mix a lot of my colors - this is due to my days as an oil painter. Glazing medium is a wonderful tool. You know when you tape off an area to paint and then the paint gets under the tape not leaving a really neat line? Well, using glazing medium, paint the edges of the tape first. Then once it is dry paint your area going over the tape. When the paint is dry you can lift up the tape and there will be no paint underneath. It also is great to use when painting a sheer ribbon, stroke in some of your glazing medium on the brush then some of your paint - the medium will make the paint transparent and you can make a long ribbon without running out of paint or skipping paint.

You just gotta do what works for you, it is less frustrating that way and you will enjoy the process much better.

The soft grip brushes are not the best around but for the amount of painting we all do, they keep their bounce and since they are so cheap, once they are messed up use them for scruffy brushes.

Hope everyone is painting - I am off to my paint room for the afternoon since my hubby is in Biloxi at the casino today.
Later.
B

Hey, PF, I just saw some brushes similar to your's in a magazine. They were calling them "Wisps". Might have had fewer hairs in them.

I'll have to look for glazing medium and give it a try. Really like the idea of using it to keep paint from under the tape. Thanks for sharing that.

Did you come up with an idea for an ornament for your next class? Can't wait to see what it will be.

I've been wanting to paint some things with cupcakes, candy, etc. Just haven't decided what to paint them on yet. Thinking I might try to paint some pieces to make a display on top of my cupboard in the eating area of the kitchen. I already have a few gingerbread pieces, so might go for a "candyland" theme for Christmas. Would love to find some of those old wooden canisters at the TS--might just do a couple of trays, napkin holder, etc. We'll see, I always have good intentions then procrastinate too long! LOL

Luvs

Hi Luvs, I have a set of the wisp brushes. They are a bit thicker and the hairs are spaced further apart. I haven't used mine yet but I did practice a bit with them today. I didn't paint today, I started basecoating a few items. I don't know yet what I will teach - I hope it comes to me soon.

I have been thinking about painting some cupcakes, teacups, etc, for a few sign boards I have. But I am a procrastinator also.

I got one!! A small one. I don't know when I'll get a chance to try it out, but I'm sure I'll use it when I start doing Santas. I really like the soft grip brushes too.

Luvs~ I follow the instructions step by step, but I do it my way and with the colors I want. If I don't I'll end up with my basecoat going on last. ha I'm just not confident enough not to follow the instructions yet.

I am going to paint tomorrow.

Hi Anj, Hope your plans work out tomorrow so you can paint--I know you've really been wanting to for awhile now. ;o) Glad to hear you got one of the brushes. I haven't been over there yet, need to go--maybe tomorrow.

Luvs

Good Evening To All Of U,

Can't believe it's already Friday. Had a BBQ tonight and we will all enjoy the July 4th festivites tomorrow. Will have company till the following Sunday so maybe I can paint after that.

The garden is growing and so are the weeds. DH got the tiller going to help me out, thank goodness. I love the yard this time of year but it sure is hard to keep up.

It will be fun to see if all of us can improve on the beards with these brushes huh? I always use them and a liner to achieve what is acceptable to me. I also do a white wash over to soften it.

So happy all of you are keeping this going. I'm going to go see if there's any pics posted tonight. Punk

I got one! Stopped by Michael's on my way home from Lowe's today and picked up on of those brushes. Now I just have to figure out what I want to paint on and maybe try doing a santa's beard! ;o)

Punk, glad to hear from you. You really are having allot of company. Just enjoy yourself, we will be around to chat or share pics with when you get back to painting again.

I spray painted a couple of TS finds today, so hopefully can get started painting on them tomorrow.

Luvs