Question 1

Q. Are the brushes handmade?

Accepted Answer

A. Yes. We design the brushes according to our stringent requirements and each brush is the culmination of months of trials and testing, and conducting experiments with samples (will it hold enough paint? will it draw long lines? will it draw a successful spiral? will it be light to hold? will it be comfortable in the hand? is it aesthetically pleasing while at the same time functionally efficient? etc). They are then handmade in the UK in collaboration with our brushmaker - who incidentally also makes forensic brushes - to our rigorous and exacting standards. We then spend further time manipulating the final tweaks, rehashing or in some cases going right back to the drawing board and starting again from square one. Since these brushes are unique, they do not subscribe to standard brush sizes and cannot be bought anywhere else. For more information, please visit our Shop.

Question 2

Q. If the brushes were originally created for you, will they still be useful to others?

Accepted Answer

A. Of course - I created them to fix problems I saw in my own painting process. While my paintings are naturally my own, the painting process is not unique to me: I form part of a centuries-old tradition of miniature painting that has been passed down the years; there are specific ways of painting and rendering that can be taught. Additionally, once the techniques have been thoroughly absorbed, artists such as myself find their own 'hand', and natural ways of doing things. 
I also pass on some of the skills I've learnt through my teaching at www.vaishaliprazmariteaching.com and The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts.

Question 3

Q. Why did you decide to create brushes for such a small and niche interest?

Accepted Answer

A. Many of the most interesting things in the world cater to a very small and very niche clientele. Our client base is worldwide and we have happy customers in the US, mainland Europe, Asia and elsewhere. I realised that, on one hand, there is already a huge variety of brushes to be found in the world. On the other hand, miniature painters are used to making their own brushes for their own hands. However, there was no in-between the commercial mass-market and the individual bespoke. Nobody made items available to be bought for certain areas within miniature painting and the specific problems I encountered while painting my own. So I decided to fill the gap and create my own tools. After introducing them to my students and seeing their enthusiastic reactions, I saw how they could be useful to other painters and people interested in the traditional book arts. I decided created them in small quantities. Thus our company was born.

Question 4

Q. Are the brushes suitable for illumination as well as miniature painting?

Accepted Answer

A. In short, yes. While there are some techniques specific to each discipline, there are also huge areas of overlap, for instance in the rendering process: the Rocks rendering brush can also be used to render flowers and leaves commonly found in illumination, as well as hair and beards found in miniatures; there is also a dedicated brush for the minute and delicate flourishes found in both Medieval European and Islamic illumination traditions: the Clouds Brush: Illumination.

Question 5

Q. Can the brushes be used for the other Book Arts such as calligraphy?

Accepted Answer

A. Yes. There is lots of overlap among the Book Arts - which comprise of anything relating to books, be it their covers, spines, pages within, endpapers... While calligraphy is traditionally done with calligraphy pens or reed pens - qalams - for Islamic calligraphy, Chinese calligraphy can be done with brushes and also for the gorgeous, detailed large initial letters found in Medieval European manuscripts, paintbrushes can be used. The brushes, especially the Rocks and Clouds brushes, are suitable for most aspects of miniature painting. The Water brush can also be used as a general wash brush for backgrounds or for more loose watercolour painting. The Fire brush in itself is quite calligraphic in its strokes so can also be used for more expressive paint handling. In short, the only limit is your imagination. For more information, please visit our Shop.

Question 6

Q. Are the brushes suitable for mediums other than watercolour?

Accepted Answer

A. Some of them, yes. The Elements series of brushes (Rocks, all Clouds, Water, Fire and Ether) are designed for use with water-based mediums. They are possibly suited for oils depending on your oil painting style (since the spirits used in oil painting are damaging to the delicate brush hairs); they are not however suitable for acrylic, as the plastics in these components may damage the brush hairs. The brushes are suitable for careful use of gouache (which is fairly thick) but to bring out the best in them we recommend you stick to watercolour paints, either commercial or handmade. In general, we recommend using them for watercolour, at least at first. When they lose their fine points - as all brushes will inevitably do - you can switch them over to oils. Please wash them carefully after each use and they’ll last you a long time. The Old Goat series (all Old Goat sizes) was designed for inks and can also be used for watercolour - but not oils. The Humours series of brushes (Sanguine, Phlegmatic, all Choleric and all Melancholic) were designed specifically for oils, as was the Young Ox series of brushes (all Young Ox sizes) - although, conversely, they’re also suitable for watercolours. Don’t switch between mediums - once you’re using one medium, stick to it. The exception is when your brushes are a bit worn out and you’ve transitioned brushes from water-based mediums to oils. Then stick to oils, don’t switch them back to watercolours.

Question 7

Q. Is the Rocks brush suitable for general rendering or is it limited to rendering rocks only?

Accepted Answer

A. Although the Rocks brush was specifically designed to address the problem of constantly having to redip a brush in paint during the long and painstaking poroess of rendering rocks, it is equally suitable for rendering any part of the miniature painting. The process of rendering the rocks and hair, for example in the fine, lovely beards adorning the faces of the men are fairly similar. And you can use them for fine details throughout the miniature or illumination piece. It’s also good for line work.

Question 8

Q. How can you tell your 3 Clouds brushes apart?

Accepted Answer

A. Each Clouds brush is either marked or unmarked on its tip. Here’s the key:
Silver tip = CLOUDS BRUSH: ILLUMINATION
Gold tip = CLOUDS BRUSH: MINIATURE OUTLINES
Unmarked: CLOUDS BRUSH: FINE DETAIL
However, there is another, better way to tell: take your 3 brushes and draw a spiral with all 3. One of the brushes is best at doing so and will give you the nicest spiral (this is the Illumination brush); write this down on the brush handle. Then draw a fine, thin line with the other 2; one of them will give you the nicest line (this is the Miniature brush). The last one is the Fine Detail brush and good for doing dots, foliage etc. I also encourage everyone to write on their brush handles what they are good at doing (eg spirals, leaves, flowers/foliage etc...) - thus personalising the brush to you. It may also be that in future as you calibrate the brush to your unique painting style you find other uses for it, and I left the handles in raw birch wood so that you can write down what they are good for. Happy doodling, happy painting!

Question 9

Q. Are the brushes suitable for gilding?

Accepted Answer

Nope!

Question 10

Q. Do the brushes come with a guarantee?

Accepted Answer

A. No brush lasts forever. Despite their beauty, these brushes are tools designed to be used and we created them with specific functions in mind. However, if there is damage upon receipt that is unrelated to the normal wear and tear during the course of your usage of the brush, we will of course be happy to issue a refund, exchange or replacement. We want you to experience the full pleasure of painting with these brushes.

Question 11

Q. Do you ship worldwide?

Accepted Answer

A. Yes. We recognise the global nature of our watercolour, illumination, miniature painting, ink, gouache, and oil painting community and we ship worldwide accordingly - please contact us for further information if you are having difficulties and not located in the US, mainland Europe or the UK. We’ve shipped to all continents except Antarctica.

Question 12

Q. Where can I learn how to use your brushes?

Accepted Answer

A. I teach online (and real life studio) classes at www.vaishaliprazmariteaching.com and at the King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts (KFSTA) and both beginners and experienced painters are absolutely welcome to join one of my classes.

Question 13

Q. Do you offer private tuition as well as your classes?

Accepted Answer

A. Yes, please contact me with your specific requirements and I will be happy to discuss possibilities with you. Or book here: www.vaishaliprazmariteaching.com

Question 14

Q. What comes next?

Accepted Answer

A. We are continually refining our selection of brushes and are expanding into other areas of miniature painting and desk accessories. I envisage the perfect brush to be part of the perfect desk, so aside from brushes, we make luxe leather goods and accessories. In the future we will be creating further items related to the Book Arts, so please do visit us again and again and follow us on social media.

Question 15

Q. Can I lick my brushes?

Accepted Answer

A. Never, ever do this.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions