I've been posting a series of chats about different brushes and here is another favourite range - Rosemary and Co, made in the UK and shipped directly to artists. These are lovely brushes that are available directly to artists so the prices are really worth a look. While I have updated the information shown here, you can see the full range of travel brushes in this post
I've included a Raphael 8404 and a Lamy Joy pen for scale. Links below are affiliate links.
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| Rosemary &Co Pocket/Travel/Reversible brushes and a few others. |
8404
R0
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
R7
R8
R9
R12
R13
R14
R15
Small eradicator
1/2" Dagger
SP
Lamy Joy
Rosemary R0 - about a size 2 sable
Rosemary R1- about a size 4 - this is a lovely second travel brush for those who like to add more detail.
Rosemary R2 - about a size 8 - this is a fabulous first sable brush for travel. It works beautifully for A5 to A4 sketchbooks.
Rosemary R3 - about a size 10 sable pointed. This is now available in a larger casing.
Rosemary R4 - 1/4 inch flat sable One Stroke. I use this for doors and windows, and making colour charts of course :-) It is now made from a synthetic sable fibre called Red Dot
Rosemary R5 - Sable Rigger
(Rosemary R6 is not shown but is a Kolinsky Filbert brush.)
Rosemary R7 1/4" sable comber
Rosemary R8 - sable mop about the same size as the R2 and a lovely brush. I love mops.
Rosemary R9 - squirrel mop - this (or the R2) is the brush I generally recommend as a first travel brush. Being squirrel, it is softer than the R2 sable, but also has a lovely point. the quill version has been replaced with a ferrule version.
(Rosemary R10 - not shown - is a synthetic pointed brush.)
(Rosemary R11 - not shown - a red sable synthetic mix size 10 pointed round)
Rosemary R12 - sable and synthetic mix 1/4" dagger - the brush I requested Rosemary to create and another excellent choice for a single travel brush. Daggers can be used in so many ways for different effects - the tip for fine detail and drawing and the full width of the diagonal for for larger washes.
Rosemary R13 - extra pointed sable mix size 8
Rosemary R14 - small squirrel mop
Rosemary R15 - 1/4" oval squirrel wash brush
Rosemary Eradicator (small) also available in medium and large. This is a precision correcting brush that is also perfect for lifting out veins in leaves or windows in urban sketching. One of my key brushes. It is also available as a travel brush - the R24.
Rosemary 1/2" dagger sable and synthetic mix. I really like this in the 3/8" size (now available as a travel brush - the R16) and of course the R12 pocket brush.
Roger Jones Brush - Massive size 12 SP sable extra pointed tip - suitable for large washes and fine detail.
Next, here are some of the Rosemary & Co special effect brushes I have tried. The three combers on the left create different effects - grasses etc. I don't use these a lot but I am always curious about different brush shapes and what they can do :-) The first is a Series 2240 Filbert Comber 1/2", then a series 2250 comber 1/2" and then a series 2230 Spiky Comber 1/2".
Rosemary R1- about a size 4 - this is a lovely second travel brush for those who like to add more detail.
Rosemary R2 - about a size 8 - this is a fabulous first sable brush for travel. It works beautifully for A5 to A4 sketchbooks.
Rosemary R3 - about a size 10 sable pointed. This is now available in a larger casing.
Rosemary R4 - 1/4 inch flat sable One Stroke. I use this for doors and windows, and making colour charts of course :-) It is now made from a synthetic sable fibre called Red Dot
Rosemary R5 - Sable Rigger
(Rosemary R6 is not shown but is a Kolinsky Filbert brush.)
Rosemary R7 1/4" sable comber
Rosemary R8 - sable mop about the same size as the R2 and a lovely brush. I love mops.
Rosemary R9 - squirrel mop - this (or the R2) is the brush I generally recommend as a first travel brush. Being squirrel, it is softer than the R2 sable, but also has a lovely point. the quill version has been replaced with a ferrule version.
(Rosemary R10 - not shown - is a synthetic pointed brush.)
(Rosemary R11 - not shown - a red sable synthetic mix size 10 pointed round)
Rosemary R12 - sable and synthetic mix 1/4" dagger - the brush I requested Rosemary to create and another excellent choice for a single travel brush. Daggers can be used in so many ways for different effects - the tip for fine detail and drawing and the full width of the diagonal for for larger washes.
Rosemary R13 - extra pointed sable mix size 8
Rosemary R14 - small squirrel mop
Rosemary R15 - 1/4" oval squirrel wash brush
Rosemary Eradicator (small) also available in medium and large. This is a precision correcting brush that is also perfect for lifting out veins in leaves or windows in urban sketching. One of my key brushes. It is also available as a travel brush - the R24.
Rosemary 1/2" dagger sable and synthetic mix. I really like this in the 3/8" size (now available as a travel brush - the R16) and of course the R12 pocket brush.
Roger Jones Brush - Massive size 12 SP sable extra pointed tip - suitable for large washes and fine detail.
Lamy Joy (for scale)
There are also some new brushes that have been added to the travel range - smaller squirrel quills and others. I've added labels to my brushes but R&Co are adding more labels to their range for easier identification. I also tend to add my name label to my tools too!
Rosemary has a massive catalogue of brushes for all mediums and the hard copy is available with true to life photos for perfect size comparisons. I've focussed on the travel/pocket/reversible range but the other brushes I've tried have been lovely too.
Here are some more studio brushes.
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| Rosemary and Co studio watercolour brushes. |
From left
Lamy Joy for scale
Rosemary & Co Series 769 Sable nylon blend 1"
Rosemary & Co Series 769 Sable nylon blend 1/2"
Rosemary & Co Series 79 Pure Sable Round size 10
Rosemary & Co Series 32 Tree & Texture 1/2"
Rosemary & Co Series 32 Tree & Texture 3/8"
Rosemary & Co Series 32 Tree & Texture 1/4"
Rosemary & Co Series 779 Sable Blend Sword 1/4"
Rosemary & Co Series 22 Kolinsky Sable size 8
Rosemary & Co Series 22 Kolinsky Sable size 7
Rosemary & Co Series 22 Kolinsky Sable size 6
Rosemary & Co Series 22 Kolinsky Sable size 4
Rosemary & Co Series 22 Kolinsky Sable size 2
Raphael Series 8404 Kolinsky Sable size 4 for scale
Next, here are some of the Rosemary & Co special effect brushes I have tried. The three combers on the left create different effects - grasses etc. I don't use these a lot but I am always curious about different brush shapes and what they can do :-) The first is a Series 2240 Filbert Comber 1/2", then a series 2250 comber 1/2" and then a series 2230 Spiky Comber 1/2".
As mentioned above, I really like the eradicators, and use the small one all the time. It is shown on the right (as well as in the first picture of this post). The others are the Large and Medium Eradicators.
Here is the type of machine I use to make labels. I lend out my tools all the time so usually make sure I name them, but I also add labels where helpful. This is the Brother P-Touch. There are many models but mine looks something like this. It is battery operated. You can get a range of different tapes - transparent, coloured and various widths. There are also numerous font sizes and styles.
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| Brother P-Touch 2300 label maker |
Happy painting!
I have quite a few of Rosemary's pocket brushes and love them. She has pocket brushes that no one else has. I've never see a comber elsewhere. She is one of only three pocket flats that I know of. The only one to make a pocket dagger. She has by far the widest range of travel brushes and they are all excellent quality. I really must stay off her site as when I go there it is difficult not to order $100 in brushes. Customer service is wonderful and shipping is quick and accurate. I really can't praise her enough.
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent post and thanks so much for the links. (curse you) I wasn't aware of the Eradicator and I don't have the rigger. I've been meaning to get that R8 too.
I've added more now ;-)
DeleteYes it's a great range of travel brushes and there are more being added all the time - some not on the website such as a smaller version of the R9 squirrel mop.
I recommend the small eradicator - perfect for fine corrections and small enough to travel with as well. I use 'scrubber' brushes for larger areas or big mistakes, though they are harder on the paper and less focussed. I also love the R8 though functionally it is very similar to the R2. My most used are the R9, R2, R12 and R0 I think. I'm not really a big rigger user so haven't done a lot with that.
Ooo, thanks. I see a few more brushes I'm interested in. Specially those combers. And I think that small eradicator is going on my next shopping list. I have one but it is so rough that if I am not very gentle it rips the paper. It's actually a "scrubber" which may be the problem. Not a Rosemary, so definitely a problem.
DeleteI find 'scrubber' brushes useful when you really want to get rid of something, but the eradicator is more focused. It is excellent for lifting out the veins of leaves, for lifting out white windowsills or highlights or for making corrections.
Deleteoh Rosemary! haven't tried them yet but I've been eyeing their two river studio pad. Their brush seems like a good one, worth trying, thanks for the post :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jane -- you have stickers on your paintbrushes and I am wondering what is the machine that you use to print them? Not too expensive? I would like to start that -)))
ReplyDeleteI use a machine called a Label maker. Not expensive. You can choose the width and colour of the tape to make the labels and switch the tape cartridges easily and there a loads of label text size options. It's battery operated. Mine is a Brother P-touch but I've had it a while and there are so many models available. Check out your office stores.
DeleteI got mine year's ago at Home Depot. If you can't find it locally at Office Depot or Staples, you'll find one online on Amazon.
DeleteI have both white and clear tape. I use the clear for my spice jars and the white for my paint stuff.
Jane, I have two questions for you: First, do you use these travel brushes in your studio as well (versus doubling up with non-travel of the same brushes)? And second, when you carry these travel brushes with you, do you collapse them? If so, I imagine those labels are critical, or you'd just have a handful of little, identical capsules!
ReplyDeleteI have full length brushes in my studio, and travel brushes in my handbag and sketch bag. I like to keep my travel brushes ready to go.
DeleteI certainly close them up when not in use so yes the labels are very helpful. I keep some in a travel brush holder in a particular order so that also helps. Just writing the name or number on the case in permanent marker also identifies them.
Thanks, Jane!
DeleteYou need to add in the very lovely Rosemary and Company Jane Blundell travel brush sets. I added both to my wish list!
ReplyDeleteHi Jane, just wondering if there are any restrictions or considerations when purchasing these brushes direct regarding Australian customs and natural hair of the brush?
ReplyDeleteJane here - no there doesn't seem to be a problem.
DeleteRosemary brushes will ship to the US, and I've successfully bought brushes from them directly in the past. The shipping was surprisingly fast. However, their website has a notice they can't ship the kolinsky sable to the US. I think that's no longer the case. There's a US distributor of Rosemary brushes, Wind River Arts, that announces on their website that these are now back in stock. I just bought a couple brushes through Wind River Arts as the shipping is a bit cheaper and faster (USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate $9.25).
ReplyDelete