Track emerging trends and get alerts when they grow. Create a free account to monitor this trend.
Create Free Account
Home / Paint Brush

Paint Brush

US United States
Rapid growth Low volatility Forecasted flat
Paint Brush
What is Paint Brush?

A paint brush is a tool used for applying paint, varnish, or other substances to a surface. It typically consists of bristles, a handle, and a ferrule that holds the bristles in place. In recent years, paint brushes have gained popularity due to various trends in home improvement and DIY projects.

Treendly Index Treendly Forecast Google Amazon
MOM: -4.84%
How much search volume does it get?
Google searches
60.5K/mo
Amazon searches
57K/mo
Who is interested in this?
Gender
Female
75%
Male
14%
Unspecified
11%
Age
18-24
51%
25-34
31%
35-44
10%
45-49
4%
50-54
4%
55-64
4%
65+
4%

Is Paint Brush trending?

Yes. Paint Brush growing with a month-over-month change of 6.56% over the past 5 years, with approximately 60,500 monthly searches.


Why is Paint Brush trending?

1
Rise of DIY Culture
The DIY (Do It Yourself) culture has gained significant traction, with more people taking on home improvement projects themselves. This has led to an increased demand for paint brushes as individuals seek to personalize their living spaces.
2
Home Renovation Trends
With the rise of home renovation shows and social media platforms showcasing before-and-after transformations, more homeowners are inspired to undertake painting projects, driving the popularity of paint brushes.
3
Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Options
As consumers become more environmentally conscious, there is a growing interest in sustainable and eco-friendly paint products. Many paint brushes are now made from recycled materials or sustainable sources, appealing to eco-minded consumers.
4
Variety of Styles and Techniques
The availability of various types of paint brushes designed for different techniques (e.g., stippling, glazing, and detailing) has made painting more accessible and enjoyable for hobbyists and professionals alike.
5
Online Tutorials and Resources
The abundance of online tutorials and resources has empowered individuals to learn painting techniques, making them more confident in their abilities and increasing the demand for paint brushes.

What are people saying?

44 threads
AI Insights Mixed sentiment
Discussions around paint brushes primarily focus on their usage in various painting techniques and projects, including art, home improvement, and model painting. Participants share experiences, techniques, and specific product recommendations.
Painting Techniques
Users discuss various techniques for painting, including the use of different types of brushes for achieving specific effects.
Product Recommendations
Participants share recommendations for specific paint brushes and related products, highlighting their effectiveness for different surfaces.
Frustrations with Painting
Some users express frustrations related to the painting process, including issues with brush quality and achieving desired finishes.
Artistic Expression
The artistic aspect of using paint brushes is explored, with users discussing their creative projects and the importance of the right tools.
Home Improvement Projects
Several threads focus on home improvement tasks, where paint brushes play a crucial role in achieving a professional look.
Common questions
  • What type of brush is best for acrylic paint?
  • How do I clean my paint brushes properly?
  • What are the best techniques for using a paint brush?
  • Can I use a paint brush for all types of paint?
  • What are the differences between synthetic and natural bristle brushes?
Pain points
  • Difficulty in achieving a smooth finish with brushes.
  • Frustration with brush bristles shedding during use.
  • Challenges in cleaning brushes without damaging them.
  • Inconsistency in paint application depending on brush type.
  • Limited knowledge on which brushes to use for specific projects.
www.cruisersforum.com
Re: Repairing Injector Lines Yanmar 3hm35f
..., wire brush the joints , maybe re solder em or rust convert and paint...
skipperpete · Mar 26, 2026
www.corvetteforum.com
RE:Carbon Fiber Roof Clear Coat Refinish...
... damaged area with a foam brush extending beyond the burned area...) of the clear (no foam brush) using a touch-up gun. The... around a small section of paint stick (to get the repair... process as fixing a bad paint area on a car. .
Mark G · Mar 26, 2026
www.hotukdeals.com
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed - PC
... and stories Wield the magic brush: Paint to create, thinner to alter... fantastical world and, armed with paint and thinner, shape your adventure... stroke of your magic brush matters! Use paint to restore beauty and...
wadz · Mar 26, 2026
www.ar15.com
RE:Which was better, the average Volkssturm division or the average Luftwaffe field division?
... well. It's hard to paint with a broad brush, as there more than...
M830A1 · Mar 25, 2026
www.hotukdeals.com
Nails Inc 45 Second Speedy Gloss, Meet Me On Regents Street, Plum, No Chip, Long Lasting, Quick Dry - 14ml
... + Fun Bottle Design – Patented non-drip brush, designed to mimic your cuticle... create a sturdy surface to paint your nails on-the-go or travelling...
Bonky · Mar 25, 2026
krita-artists.org
RE:Krita api and ui?
... : Is there a build in brush cursor with brushsize circle or ... circle always require the custom paint() loop ? whats up with that... the canvas position of the brush already precalculated somewhere? because now ...
Alex_Mehler · Mar 25, 2026
r/Gunpla
Hand-painted using brushes only
Hi everyone, just wanna thank everyone for the support on my previous post, as I promised here are some more photos of the barbatos lupus rex. I’ll try to respond to all the questions, but as I explained I only paint with brushes due to not having room for airbrushing and the weather in Canada doesn’t help😅 Anyways, I hope you guys like it and thank you once again! submitted by /u/JC_Aguilar to r/Gunpla [link] [comments]
JC_Aguilar · Mar 13, 2026
r/3Dprinting
Floating Paint Brush
Hi friends! Just wanted to share my first ever successful 3D print design. My girlfriend needed a hook for her art space, this is what we ended up with. Check it out here: https://makerworld.com/models/2485453?appSharePlatform=copy submitted by /u/bclowphoto to r/3Dprinting [link] [comments]
bclowphoto · Mar 10, 2026
r/Gunpla
Custom Barbatos lupus rex, No airbrush, hand-painted using brushes only.
Custom Barbatos lupus rex, No airbrush, hand-painted using brushes only. I have no room for an airbrush setup atm and Canada’s weather doesn’t help so I decided to start painting just using my painting skills and brushes. I used vallejo primers, acrylic vallejo paint, matte and gloss varnish. I did my best thinning the paint and being really patient the whole process took me about a month to complete (still 80% done) but still ongoing as I need to finish some details and the weapons, base/stand, and weathering. the whole purpose of this was to try how far I could go without an airbrush and try not leaving any streaks on the paint, this is my second kit ever built but I always go above and beyond to test my limits. submitted by /u/JC_Aguilar to r/Gunpla [link] [comments]
JC_Aguilar · Mar 10, 2026
r/notinteresting
The 10 smallest brush sizes for the MS Paint pencil
submitted by /u/Visual_Tourist3716 to r/notinteresting [link] [comments]
Visual_Tourist3716 · Feb 6, 2026
r/Ibispaintx
Ibis paint brushes for anyone who wants them
submitted by /u/Imaginary_Ad_8103 to r/Ibispaintx [link] [comments]
Imaginary_Ad_8103 · Feb 1, 2026
r/CantBelieveThatsReal
“Radium Girls” painted glowing watch dials with self luminous paint, licking their brushes to keep a sharp tip. No one told them the paint was radioactive. The radium settled into their bones, rotting their jaws from the inside. The condition became known as radium jaw.
submitted by /u/drkmatterinc to r/CantBelieveThatsReal [link] [comments]
drkmatterinc · Nov 20, 2025
All threads (44)
Thread Source Author Date
Re: Repairing Injector Lines Yanmar 3hm35f
..., wire brush the joints , maybe re solder em or rust convert and paint...
www.cruisersforum.com skipperpete Mar 26, 2026
RE:Carbon Fiber Roof Clear Coat Refinish...
... damaged area with a foam brush extending beyond the burned area...) of the clear (no foam brush) using a touch-up gun. The... around a small section of paint stick (to get the repair... process as fixing a bad paint area on a car. .
www.corvetteforum.com Mark G Mar 26, 2026
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed - PC
... and stories Wield the magic brush: Paint to create, thinner to alter... fantastical world and, armed with paint and thinner, shape your adventure... stroke of your magic brush matters! Use paint to restore beauty and...
www.hotukdeals.com wadz Mar 26, 2026
RE:Which was better, the average Volkssturm division or the average Luftwaffe field division?
... well. It's hard to paint with a broad brush, as there more than...
www.ar15.com M830A1 Mar 25, 2026
Nails Inc 45 Second Speedy Gloss, Meet Me On Regents Street, Plum, No Chip, Long Lasting, Quick Dry - 14ml
... + Fun Bottle Design – Patented non-drip brush, designed to mimic your cuticle... create a sturdy surface to paint your nails on-the-go or travelling...
www.hotukdeals.com Bonky Mar 25, 2026
RE:Krita api and ui?
... : Is there a build in brush cursor with brushsize circle or ... circle always require the custom paint() loop ? whats up with that... the canvas position of the brush already precalculated somewhere? because now ...
krita-artists.org Alex_Mehler Mar 25, 2026
Paint cans and pricing
... through the game. The paint cans, brushes, and sponges you... top dollar for. The brush at least has a legitimate ...the live stream, the first brush they bought showed like 50 "... time. But, on the paint issue specifically - a couple ... scanner to show what "paint codes" are on an existing ...panel? And can the paint cans maybe be reworked to "...some parts that won't take paint (whether that's bugs or not, ...
steamcommunity.com Oldsmagnet Mar 25, 2026
Never Been Taken Advantage of So Much
... shoe shine scam dropped his brush ( the scam is to drop... your brush and hope that a tourist... that ubcant paint any group of people with 1 brush. Thats the...
www.tripadvisor.com UrbanBattutaYoutube Mar 25, 2026
Anyone else not buying GTA VI?
... sale if gonna paint me with a bad brush in game play...
steamcommunity.com misterbigbeard Mar 25, 2026
RE:Steemit challenge season 30 week 4 || Cardboard painting ||
.../IMG-20260325-WA0003.jpg) Ingredients • acrilic paint • cardboard • colour brush • water ![IMG20260325175436.jpg](https..., very beautifully with sky blue paint. ![GridArt_20260325_183657320.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages...
steemit.com tasonya Mar 25, 2026
RE:Asma ul Husna Islamic Calligraphy Painting on Canvas 10' * 5' Feet | Studio Muhammad Bilal |
I’m really curious to know what happens to all those huge paintings you create. Are they commissioned, or do you just paint them on a whim and then see if anyone buys them? What do you use to write the text? A pen or a brush? I really like the shapes and the colours you’ve used.
steemit.com wakeupkitty Mar 25, 2026
RE:What "man jobs" have you done today?
...a roller rather than a brush? if it needs a third...meters per liter per coat. Paint Calculation Breakdown Total Length: Approx. ...changing colors significantly (requiring more paint) or doing three coats. Tips ...for Bedec Paint Application Dilution: If the wood ...a sealer. Application: Use a brush or roller to achieve the ...a fungicidal wash, remove loose paint, and lightly sand glossy areas. ...
forums.overclockers.co.uk DJMK4 Mar 25, 2026
RE:RWBY Fanfic Ideas, Recommendations, and Discussion thread #2(2)
... get cleared up with the brush or burnt away, next, he'd... satchel, labeled with the red paint with the label KND painted ...
forums.spacebattles.com TheIronSoldier Mar 25, 2026
RE:How well does your system reproduce MONO?
... and width. So you paint with too wide a brush, and demonstrate inexperience in the...
forums.stevehoffman.tv Wolfie62 Mar 25, 2026
RE:RE: New Rolls-Royce EV is by invitation only
... entire life), who could hand paint the coach lines on the... workshops. He had a special brush, like a greased Fox tail...
www.pistonheads.com cookie1600 Mar 25, 2026
RE:Seat Exeo estate - source for a rear subframe
Aye chances are it won't need a full subframe as it'll have definitely not passed an MOT if it needed one. Get a wire brush, then some rust prevention spray can and then some spray paint (and newspaper and masking tape) and sort it yourself.
www.pistonheads.com p4cks Mar 25, 2026
Stanley Hobby Paint Brush Set of 10
The Stanley Hobby paint brush has pure black bristles...for comfort. The hobby paint brush has pure black bristles and...10-piece set The Stanley Hobby Paint Brush Set of 10, available...of the brushes. Each brush in the set features a...includes a variety of brush sizes, making it suitable for...brushes of 50mm 1 brush of 75mm This 10-piece ...different colours or types of paint. The brushes are lightweight, ...
www.hotukdeals.com kin88 Mar 25, 2026
RE:Coating my EPDM roof with Liquid Rubber
... caps). I also used a brush to apply a heavy coat ... a/c gasket, acetone, paint brushes, painters tape, and paint rollers. I am extremely... of trying to clean and paint around it. It just won't ...
www.forestriverforums.com RandyKing Mar 25, 2026
RE:Operation F.O.R.U.M.S: Codename Kids Next Door Recommendations/Fanfic Ideas/ Discussion thread!
... get cleared up with the brush or burnt away, next, he'd... satchel, labeled with the red paint with the label KND painted ...
forums.spacebattles.com TheIronSoldier Mar 24, 2026
RE:A Garden Running with Plot Bunnies. The Iron Soldier's Plot Snippet Thread.
... get cleared up with the brush or burnt away, next, he'd... satchel, labeled with the red paint with the label KND painted ...
forums.spacebattles.com TheIronSoldier Mar 24, 2026
RE:Bent rib wood boat project
... the primer/paint/varnish were applied by me with either a brush or...
forums.aaca.org NewOldWood Mar 24, 2026
RE:Gevraagd kleurcode kawasaki vn 1700 voyager
Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager Touch Up Paint & Paint Color Codes Find Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager touch up paint here. We offer all colors in pen, aerosol, brush and combo packs so you can do the job right. touchupdirect.com
www.motor-forum.nl Raymond W Mar 24, 2026
Hand-painted using brushes only
Hi everyone, just wanna thank everyone for the support on my previous post, as I promised here are some more photos of the barbatos lupus rex. I’ll try to respond to all the questions, but as I explained I only paint with brushes due to not having room for airbrushing and the weather in Canada doesn’t help😅 Anyways, I hope you guys like it and thank you once again! submitted by /u/JC_Aguilar to r/Gunpla [link] [comments]
reddit.com JC_Aguilar Mar 13, 2026
Floating Paint Brush
Hi friends! Just wanted to share my first ever successful 3D print design. My girlfriend needed a hook for her art space, this is what we ended up with. Check it out here: https://makerworld.com/models/2485453?appSharePlatform=copy submitted by /u/bclowphoto to r/3Dprinting [link] [comments]
reddit.com bclowphoto Mar 10, 2026
Custom Barbatos lupus rex, No airbrush, hand-painted using brushes only.
Custom Barbatos lupus rex, No airbrush, hand-painted using brushes only. I have no room for an airbrush setup atm and Canada’s weather doesn’t help so I decided to start painting just using my painting skills and brushes. I used vallejo primers, acrylic vallejo paint, matte and gloss varnish. I did my best thinning the paint and being really patient the whole process took me about a month to complete (still 80% done) but still ongoing as I need to finish some details and the weapons, base/stand, and weathering. the whole purpose of this was to try how far I could go without an airbrush and try not leaving any streaks on the paint, this is my second kit ever built but I always go above and beyond to test my limits. submitted by /u/JC_Aguilar to r/Gunpla [link] [comments]
reddit.com JC_Aguilar Mar 10, 2026
The 10 smallest brush sizes for the MS Paint pencil
submitted by /u/Visual_Tourist3716 to r/notinteresting [link] [comments]
reddit.com Visual_Tourist3716 Feb 6, 2026
Ibis paint brushes for anyone who wants them
submitted by /u/Imaginary_Ad_8103 to r/Ibispaintx [link] [comments]
reddit.com Imaginary_Ad_8103 Feb 1, 2026
“Radium Girls” painted glowing watch dials with self luminous paint, licking their brushes to keep a sharp tip. No one told them the paint was radioactive. The radium settled into their bones, rotting their jaws from the inside. The condition became known as radium jaw.
submitted by /u/drkmatterinc to r/CantBelieveThatsReal [link] [comments]
reddit.com drkmatterinc Nov 20, 2025
In Brescia, Italy there’s an anonymous artist known as Ghost Pitùr. Every night, he heads out with brushes paint to repaints walls vandalized by graffiti. After repainting the walls, Ghost Pitùr leaves a note saying "Questo è un atto d’amore urbano" [This is an act of urban love]
submitted by /u/Nukro666 to r/Damnthatsinteresting [link] [comments]
reddit.com Nukro666 Sep 17, 2025
After 13+ years of not painting, I picked up the brush and this is what I created
It’s not 100% done, I need to add bits to balance things. But it has been such a pleasure working on this. It’s taken me a month, diligently making time to get it done. Now to figure out what varnish? Any recommendations? submitted by /u/Sweetestapple to r/acrylicpainting [link] [comments]
reddit.com Sweetestapple Aug 26, 2025
The brush strokes in this painting of a mug
Credit: Daejeon Cloud Art Academy submitted by /u/ycr007 to r/oddlysatisfying [link] [comments]
reddit.com ycr007 Aug 19, 2025
How to make the brush more Sharpe and clean edge ?
submitted by /u/Significant_Talk_668 to r/ClipStudio [link] [comments]
reddit.com Significant_Talk_668 Aug 1, 2025
Day 4 won by paint brush! Day 5: what common joker do you think is a waste of money?
Paint brush won day 5 with 2853 votes H.M: Antimatter - 2765 Grabber - 1196 Overstock - 475 Clearance sale - 159 submitted by /u/filledknight to r/balatro [link] [comments]
reddit.com filledknight May 1, 2025
I’ve finally finished Dante’s backpack. Everything was hand painted with a brush and acrylic paints 🙂
submitted by /u/Flameon_Miniatures to r/Warhammer40k [link] [comments]
reddit.com Flameon_Miniatures Dec 22, 2023
What paint brushes should I look to buy for a newbie?
I’m in a position now where I want to start painting this holiday but not sure what brushes to buy? I have never painted a mini but have most of the other gear, airbrush, paints (citadel & Vallejo), wet pallet. Ideally not looking to break the bank as all the other items have done that, what do you suggest? submitted by /u/R0XnS0X to r/Warhammer40k [link] [comments]
reddit.com R0XnS0X Dec 6, 2023
Painting iconic cartoon characters with precise brush strokes
submitted by /u/SinjiOnO to r/oddlysatisfying [link] [comments]
reddit.com SinjiOnO Apr 22, 2023
New Player: "Can I play a bard who's a paints spells with a giant brush?" DM: "Sure, I like it."
submitted by /u/Jeonsaryu to r/dndmemes [link] [comments]
reddit.com Jeonsaryu Dec 25, 2022
Radium Jaw. In the early part of last century watch dials/hand were painted with radium so they glowed in the dark. The workers (Radium Girls) would use their lips and tongue to wet the paint brush. After time this was the result.
submitted by /u/Status-Victory to r/interestingasfuck [link] [comments]
reddit.com Status-Victory Apr 12, 2022
Do not dismiss all negative feedback as toxicity. Do not paint all negative opinions with the same brush.
I’ve already seen big names on Twitter calling everyone who has complaints about the game “entitled” and “toxic”. It’s reprehensible that people result to bullying over the practices in the game but remember, everyone here is an individual and not a hive mind. Don’t let people paint you with the same brush because you dislike the state the game is in right now. It’s important to provide feedback, it lets the devs know how much good faith they are losing. However as soon as it turns into harassment they can dismiss it all as toxic gamers being toxic. Vote with your wallet and be civil. Hopefully we can get a product that matches the feature list of Reach in the near future. There are people pouring their soul into this game, it doesn’t matter how much it has disappointed you (and me) we should remember that decisions aren’t always in their hands. Edit: important to note. The mods do a great job on this subreddit. Every time they remove a hateful comment they are actively un-muddying the waters of discourse, allowing actual feedback to be heard. This franchise is lucky to have so many passionate fans, just don’t be a fuckwit about it. submitted by /u/RimMeDaddy to r/halo [link] [comments]
reddit.com RimMeDaddy Dec 6, 2021
I painted a photo I took a few years ago. No, I wasn’t driving. Yes, I abuse my paint brushes.
submitted by /u/JaronChurchwell to r/Damnthatsinteresting [link] [comments]
reddit.com JaronChurchwell Jan 19, 2021
Cleaning a paint brush
submitted by /u/Tawseefrupani to r/oddlysatisfying [link] [comments]
reddit.com Tawseefrupani Aug 3, 2020
My Dad hasn’t painted in over 30 yrs. Now that he’s retired he decided to pick up a brush again.
submitted by /u/Takayda0808 to r/pics [link] [comments]
reddit.com Takayda0808 May 5, 2020
Just really wanted to show off this paint job I did today. I'm really proud of myself on this one and I've tried showing a few people and they just ignored the message or brushed it off. So here ya go reddit! Someone will appreciate this I hope.
submitted by /u/Gyngerbredman to r/pics [link] [comments]
reddit.com Gyngerbredman Sep 15, 2019
Tutorial for Basic Brush Painting
I'm going to preface this by mentioning that I am no expert. I'm brand new to this hobby. Assembling, painting, posing; I'm still just a beginner. Yet, that's also the reason I wanted to write this guide. I learned a lot through trial and error and I want to help you save money and learn from my mistakes. If I can do it that most certainly means you can do it! If you want to read a blog style post, continue from here, otherwise head straight to the Quick Start section for my materials and technique recommendations. Also, sorry in advance for my lack of cohesion. I'm just so excited and I wanted to share my experience and success! ​ What is Brush Painting? To clarify, when I refer to brush painting in this guide, I'm really talking about basecoating with a brush. All modelers will find themselves picking up a brush for fine details or weathering at some point, but there are many solutions for applying a base coat (Spray Cans, Air Brush, etc). Using a brush to base coat is less common on Gunpla because it is not naturally even and textureless. Gunpla has a lot of large flat surfaces that miniatures typically don't have. These flat surfaces accentuate the texturing of a brush. ​ Motivation to Explore Brush Painting Cost was my primary motivation to brush paint. My goal originally wasn't to radically recolor kits, it was to add definition or color separation where there was none previously. Spray cans or an airbrush would be amazing if I had a long list of kits to finish, but the reality is that my kits were mostly all white, and the natural plastic color was amazing. Secondly, I felt like Airbrushing was too much of a hassle for my lifestyle. I eventually want to do it, because the results are just amazing, but I also want to enjoy my hobby here and now. I have limited time each night to assemble, paint, and clean-up and an airbrush requires much more attention than I can currently dedicate. ​ Hesitations There comes a point where you have to ask yourself whether or not you'd make a kit look worse if you brushed it. I like and desire the airbrushed look, so I didn't want to pick up a brush unless it was capable of a textureless finish. Luckily, after finding the right paint and brush, I was able to overcome these concerns and get a finish I really liked. ​ Failures I've never seen a brush painted kit up close, so all I could really do is look at pictures or youtube videos. I had a lot of evidence to determine that smooth brush painting was possible, but I didn't have a lot of resources to reference. A lot of these posts were years old. Regardless I decided to try my hand. I found out Tamiya Paints are very difficult to use for base coating with a brush. Especially for a beginner like myself. They were phenomenal for adding detail, like a thin stripe around the edge of a piece, but required a seasoned touch to apply otherwise. The paint itself is rubbery/plasticy and thus lends itself to deep hills and valleys when brushing. I tried everything from adding matte medium to thinning with 90% IPA. The paint also dried on the surface quite quickly, but took far longer to fully dry and cure. This made "checking your work" very difficult and lead to many nights of stripping off the paint to re-do it. You would never run into any of these problems airbrushing it, and in fact the consistency would add to the durability of the paint. I also found out that using a flat brush isn't necessarily the way to go -- even if you have a relatively large piece to paint. A flat brush has the tendency to spread paint very well, but not hold as much. They are far denser than round brushes even if they have similar softness. You will be spreading paint evenly, but not laying enough paint to allow it to level. A round sable brush lays paint in smooth even strokes without having each bristle touch the piece. It does it through surface tension of the paint between the bristles. Vallejo Mecha isn't as easy to brush on as I've read. Now this is specifically about the Mecha line of paints which are far more durable for handling than their Model Color line. It has a very similar consistency to Tamiya, but less viscous. While I wouldn't say it's impossible, I would say my attempts on several spoons and a shield were pretty disastrous. I'm not going to give up just yet though because I'm in love with the colors, dry consistency, and I already spent a lot of money buying multiple colors. I need to test with some Matte medium added and see if that helps the paint even out. Cheap brushes aren't good for basecoating. I had to re-do all my tests a month ago because I had originally purchased a cheap set of brushes from Amazon. Using a sable brush changed the properties of the paint entirely. While the cheap brushes were decent at detailing and maintaining this amazing snap, they were not designed for basecoating. You want a soft brush for base coating, while the cheaper brushes can be used to edge or line. ​ Successes After a few months and maybe 50 spoons, I was finally able to find a combination of tools and paint that allowed me to get a finish I was proud of. Vallejo Model Color is the king. Period. It brushes on and levels after the second coat. It adheres very well to plastic, dries very matte and very quickly. Not even I could screw it up, and that's saying something! Model Color is also sold thick, which means you are getting a hell of a value. Going by a 3:2 paint to thinner ratio, you get about 28ml of paint for each 17ml bottle. 3:3 ratio and you've doubled your paint. You only need roughly 10-12 drops to completely coat an HG kit twice. I've been able to fully paint two Leos and I have about half a bottle of Olive Green left. To make up for Model Color's tendency to get scuffed up you will need to coat it with a clear coat. I've found TS-80 by Tamiya does really good work as a final topcoat. Brushing on Pledge Floor Gloss is also super easy since it adheres so well. Sable Brushes are amazing. Now I've never used a Kolinsky Sable brush, but I have used a standard Sable. I wouldn't be able to tell you the difference there, but I will say there is a huge difference in texture between Sable and Synthetic. Synthetic has a snap and stiffer feel while Sable is soft and lays paint down like smooth velvet. You want stiffness for small details, you want softness for base coating. Sable is also far cheaper than Kolinsky Sable (~$8 vs. ~$25). My brush of choice is the ArmyPainter Regiment brush, which is roughly a #1 sized round brush. The handle shape is amazing, the brush itself looks really cool, and the price is more than fair at ~$8 at your LGS. This brush does work and should last a long time if you take care of it. Hell I recommend buying two just so you can swap brushes between colors. You can get another similar sized Sable brush and get the same results (or better?), but I've only used this one and I've fallen in love with it. Acrylic Thinner is more than just Alcohol or Distilled Water. Invest in some. I actually have no idea what acrylic thinner is made of. It smells like Alcohol but has a more... light oily texture? My guess is there is a bit of alcohol and distilled water mixed with a drying retarder. That means you thin your paint without changing the drying time. This is important for brush painting as you need more time to go around a piece and allow the paint to level. ​ My Results Sample Images I'll be sure to add more photos when I have time. While Brush Painting will never get you that perfect airbrushed sheen that doesn't mean it won't leave you with a super satisfactory finish. It might even leave a finish you prefer! The subject of the images is a quickly brushed HGAC Leo leg. I left a little bit of it unpainted so you could see the original color poking through. The first two images show the almost textureless finish as well as the retained detail. The last image is a bit of a test bed -- I used tap water to dilute the paint versus thinner and used my thumb to scuff it up. The results were a more translucent and less even coating on the calf. All in all I was blown away by the results this time around. Through no skill of my own, in-person, you can barely tell it wasn't airbrushed. Behind a case and top coated, you'd be hard pressed to see a difference. None of the pieces are topcoated in the photo, but when topcoated the paint looks even more indistinguishable from airbrushing. ​ Quick Start I'll list the tool and the specific model I use in ()'s. Materials Needed (~$30-40) #1 or #2 Sable Round Brush (ArmyPainter Regiment Brush) Vallejo Model Paint Acrylic Thinner (MiG Universal Acrylic Thinner) Wet Pallet (Stawet Pallet) Brush Soap ("The Master's" Brush Cleaner and Preserver) Cloth or Paper Towel for drying brush, and a cup of water to rinse. High Grit Sand Paper (1200) A clip or stick to help handle the piece Optional Materials (~$24) Paint Mixing Balls (AK Interactive) Primer (Tamiya Light Gray Primer Spray) Topcoat Gloss (Pledge Floor Gloss, Brush painted on) TopCoat Matte(Tamiya Matte Synthetic Laquer TS-80) ​ Technique Like with an airbrush, the goal is to have thin yet even coats. Depending on the color you are painting on, you can do without primer and instead lightly sand the surface of the piece. This creates surface area for the paint to adhere to. For this guide, assume the piece is sanded and ready to be painted with an opaque color. Mix paint and thinner in a rough 3:2 ratio. Mix it with something other than your sable brush. If you have a lighter colored paint (yellow, white, etc) you may need to do a 3:1 ratio or paint twice as many layers. Dip paintbrush to about half way up the bristles. You don't want droplets hanging off the tip, so brush excess into an empty area of your pallet. Sable brushes hold a lot of paint! Do a very quick brushing of the piece. You want quick light coats, and preferably in one direction. At this stage you will see slight brush strokes. This is fine! As long as your paint is not overly thick the next coat will self-level and look very smooth. This initial coat is both for adhesion and opacity of the next coat, not a finished product. Assume you have about 20 seconds from brush to piece to manipulate the paint. Any longer and the paint will dry on your brush tip and the piece and you will build up texture. Refill your brush with paint once you see the paint no longer wet around the halfway mark. This is typically 4 or 5 clean brush strokes. Try to avoid going over areas you have already painted with a dry brush. If at any point you stop and need to put down your brush, that is when you need to rinse your brush in your cup of water. This will prevent paint from drying on the bristles which cause scratch marks to show up. Lightly dry it by brushing onto a cloth or paper towel. Do not push your brush to the bottom of the cup and swirl it around. Instead swirl it around the sides. Brush it on the inside of the cup lightly. This prevents the brush from losing its shape. Use your brush soap if you find dry flecks even after rinsing. You can avoid constantly rinsing your brush by preparing your next pieces ahead of time. Remember to still rinse once in awhile to avoid dried paint on the bristles, but it will cut down your rinsing time considerably. Wait for your piece to dry (~5 minutes). While you can use a fan, I recommend just waiting as the paint may dry unevenly otherwise. Brush again. This time when you apply the paint it should look really even right from the start. This is the addicting part of painting; like watching power washing videos. The paint should adhere like magic and each brush stroke should look as if its dying the piece. Let the piece dry (~5 minutes) and determine if you need another coat. If you see some areas that are still not fully opaque, it will be a good idea to add another coat. If you don't need another coat, allow the piece to dry for a few hours longer before handling directly. That's it. It's that simple! It just takes a bit of discipline to keep the variables and environment the same. Hopefully now you aren't as anxious about wasting money on this painting method and give it a try. The tools are useful for more than just basecoating, so it's never a waste. Hand painting my Gunpla has been way more fun that I could have ever imagined. In many ways it reminds me of a coloring book, but somehow just much more satisfying. I hope to add a video at some point, but hope this works for now! submitted by /u/_UncrownedKing to r/Gunpla [link] [comments]
reddit.com _UncrownedKing Jun 27, 2019