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Question: Would I ruin Winsor and Newton Series 7 Watercolor brushes if I use them with oil paint!?!?!?
I am planning to use Winsor and Newton Series 7 Watercolor brushes with oil paint!. Some internet sites say that the strong solvents will damage the brush but others say that there will be no harm if I clean them thoroughly!.
They are the finest kolinsky brushes and I am worried about ruining them!. Which one can I trust!? Has anyone ever tried Series 7 with oil paint!?!?!?
P!.S!. I know that there are different types of brushes (red sable, flick, bristle and synthetic) but I am specifically asking about Winsor and Newton Series 7!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Agree with Mia!. My watercolor teachers both told me that if you use watercolor brushes to paint oils in, the solvents that have to be used to clean the brushes will render them unusable for watercolor again!. The solvents take the outer cuticle of the hair off, or close the hair cuticle completely, so that it cannot expand again!. The opening of the hair cuticle in watercolor brushes is what gives them their water carrying capacity!. You will ruin that with the solvents!.
I have to wonder why you would want to use watercolor brushes for oils!? If you bought the brushes yourself, you know the price of them!. If you didn't buy them yourself, you need to know that the FINEST Kolinsky sable brushes run in the hundreds of dollars for just one large brush!.
I just opened the sale catalog from one of the art houses I buy supplies from online: Cheap Joe's Art Stuff!. The catalog lists Series 7 W&N Limited Edition pure Kolinsky sable Size 12 brushes ON SALE for $141!.79US!. When paying full retail price, it is listed as $465!.00US!. Why would you want to take the chance of ruining a brush set that expensive!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
I still have some Kolinsky sables given to me in the 1960s,by my old art teacher when I went to art college!.They have been used for all types of paint!.I do not use them for mixing,only applying the paints and inks and wash them carefully in white spirit after use,cleaning them in warm water and washing up liquid before rinsing them and leaving them upright to air dry!.For scumbling techniques I use a more resilient hog or nylon brush,these sables are for fine lining and wash and glaze techniques only!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
As a rule:
Painting ruins your brushes!. It is just a fact of life!. Cleaning them thoroughly help prolong their lifespan but in the end they will wear out!.
As a rule:
The more a brush costs the shorter it's lifespan (but the better they paint as well)
As a rule:
Once You picked a medium (acrylics, oil, watercolor) there is no way back for your brush!.
To answer your question:
Yes, eventually you would!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
If you aren't going to do too much oil painting, then I would buy some cheap paint brushes to use rather than risk damaging your really nice brushes!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
If you use them you will never be able to use them on watercolor againWww@QuestionHome@Com
You should never mix brushes!.Www@QuestionHome@Com