Camel-hair brush

Last updated
Camel-hair brushes in a 1914 art supplies catalogue Superfine camel-hair brushes2.jpg
Camel-hair brushes in a 1914 art supplies catalogue

A camel-hair brush is a type of paintbrush with soft bristles made from natural hairs, usually squirrel. Actual camel hair is not a suitable material, although historically camel was used for ancient Chinese ink brushes (and for camel hair cloth). It is a widely used brush in art, but is considered inferior to the more expensive sable and ox-hair brushes. In some niche applications, such as pinstriping, camel hair is an ideal brush. Camel-hair brushes have numerous uses outside of art, particularly dusting where a soft brush is needed for delicate objects or skin.

Contents

Construction and properties

The bristles of camel-hair brushes are traditionally made of squirrel hair and this is still the most common material. [1] They can also be made from goat, ox or pony or a blend of any of these. [2] They are never made from camel hair, either in whole or in part. [3]

Camel-hair brushes are a soft brush. They are a considerably cheaper alternative to the expensive kolinsky sable-hair brush (a red sable), considered the best brush for watercolour painting. However, they are inferior in that they lack the springiness and natural point of red sable. [1]

Cheaper camel-hair brushes, such as those supplied to schools, are usually mass-produced from pony hair cut from the mane. Pony is used because the long mane hairs can be cut up by machine to make many brushes simultaneously. However, the cut ends are not so good at coming to a point as the natural tips. [4]

History

Camel-hair brushes with fine points for tracing, from a 1914 art supplies catalogue Superfine camel-hair brushes.jpg
Camel-hair brushes with fine points for tracing, from a 1914 art supplies catalogue

There is an often repeated urban legend that camel-hair brushes are so named because they were invented by a "Mr. Camel". This is almost certainly not true. This person, or his company, has never been identified. The story is very old, at least as far back as 1922 when it was mentioned in Marvels of the Animal World. [5] The alternative explanation that brushes were once actually made of camel hair is true, but these would be a very different brush and would not be considered a camel-hair brush in modern terminology. Camel hair is wooly, making it unsuitable for the uses to which camel-hair brushes are put. [6] [7]

In 250 BC, the Chinese general Meng Tian invented the ink brush. Meng Tian is perhaps better known for supervising the construction of the Great Wall of China. Meng Tian's brush consisted of actual camel hair, or sometimes rabbit hair, lashed to a wooden handle with twine. This brush was a great step forward in writing. Writing became much easier and the spread of calligraphy in China created the need for a cheaper and more plentiful medium to write on. This came in 105 AD with the invention of paper which in turn paved the way for the invention of printing. [8]

Applications

Camel-hair dusters from an 1894 art supplies catalogue Illustrated catalogue and price list of artists' materials, gold paint, bronze powders, metallics, metal leaf, &c. - colors and materials for china and glass painting; colors and materials for oil, (14757633556).jpg
Camel-hair dusters from an 1894 art supplies catalogue

Camel-hair brushes can be used for watercolour painting but are not the best choice. [9] They are poor where good points are required, and do not hold their shape well when in contact with water. They are, however, good for large flat brushes when broad areas are being painted. [1] [10]

Camel-hair brushes are used in signwriting. They are problematic with watercolours as already stated. They also do not perform well with heavy paints, especially the formerly widely used white lead based paints. The weight of the paint tends to make the brush collapse. [10]

Pinstriping is the application of thin decorative lines to an object. This can range from simple coachlines down the side of motor cars, to elaborate decoration of furniture. Pinstriping brushes are traditionally camel-hair brushes. These are sometimes called striping pencils and are small brushes with very long bristles. The idea of the length is to hold a greater amount of paint so that very long lines can be painted in one stroke. Pinstripers originally made their own brushes (and sometimes still do) from the bristles of a larger camel-hair brush, but dedicated brushes are now available. One of the earliest such brushes was designed by Andrew Mack in 1891, a carriage striper for the J.J. Deal wagon and buggy company in Jonesville, Michigan. Mack was dissatisfied with the brushes supplied by the Deal company and made his own. These became so popular with other pinstripers around the country that he left Deal to set up his own company, the Mack Brush Company, which still makes highly regarded pinstriping brushes in Michigan. [7] [11]

Woodworking has many uses for camel-hair brushes. As with watercolouring, fine work is better done with a sable brush but camel-hair can be used for applying finishes. Camel hair is also less effective at working into corners or to a line because of the poorer point (or edge) on the tip. [12]

The brushes barbers use to remove the loose hairs from the back of the customer's neck can be camel hair. [13] They are also the preferred brushes for surgeons, dentists, and jewellers. [14] Their soft bristles make them ideal for cleaning dust from delicate equipment or materials, such as film or stills cameras. [15]

Related Research Articles

Oil painting Process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil

Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments with a medium of drying oil as the binder. It has been the most common technique for artistic painting on wood panel or canvas for several centuries, spreading from Europe to the rest of the world. The advantages of oil for painting images include "greater flexibility, richer and denser colour, the use of layers, and a wider range from light to dark". But the process is slower, especially when one layer of paint needs to be allowed to dry before another is applied.

Gouache Type of paint

Gouache, body color, or opaque watercolor, is a water-medium paint consisting of natural pigment, water, a binding agent, and sometimes additional inert material. Gouache is designed to be opaque. Gouache has a considerable history, having been used for at least twelve centuries. It is used most consistently by commercial artists for posters, illustrations, comics, and other design work.

Toothbrush Oral hygiene tool

A toothbrush is an oral hygiene tool used to clean the teeth, gums, and tongue. It consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles, atop of which toothpaste can be applied, mounted on a handle which facilitates the cleaning of hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. They should be used in conjunction with something to clean between the teeth where the bristles of the toothbrush cannot reach - for example floss, tape or interdental brushes.

Brush Tool with bristles, used for cleaning, grooming, or applying liquid coatings

A brush is a common tool with bristles, wire or other filaments. It generally consists of a handle or block to which filaments are affixed in either a parallel or perpendicular orientation, depending on the way the brush is to be gripped during use. The material of both the block and bristles or filaments is chosen to withstand hazards of its intended use, such as corrosive chemicals, heat or abrasion. It is used for cleaning, grooming hair, make up, painting, surface finishing and for many other purposes. It is one of the most basic and versatile tools in use today, and the average household may contain several dozen varieties.

Percussion mallet Object used to strike or beat a percussion instrument

A percussion mallet or beater is an object used to strike or beat a percussion instrument in order to produce its sound.

Hairbrush Handle brush

A hairbrush is a handle brush with rigid or soft spokes used in hair care for smoothing, styling, and detangling human hair, or for grooming an animal's fur. It can also be used for styling in combination with a curling iron or hair dryer.

Ink brush Calligraphic tool

Ink brushes are paintbrushes used in Chinese calligraphy as well as in Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese which both have roots in Chinese calligraphy. They are also used in Chinese painting and other brush painting styles. The ink brush was invented in China around 300 B.C. Together with the inkstone, inkstick and Xuan paper, these four writing implements form the Four Treasures of the Study.

Kolinsky sable-hair brush

A kolinsky sable-hair brush is a fine artists' paintbrush.

Figure painting (hobby) Aspect of culture

Figure painting, or miniature painting, is the hobby of painting miniature figures and/or model figures, either as a standalone activity or as a part of another activity that uses models, such as role-playing games, wargames, or military modeling.

Horsehair Long, coarse hair growing on the manes and tails of horses

Horsehair is the long hair growing on the manes and tails of horses. It is used for various purposes, including upholstery, brushes, the bows of musical instruments, a hard-wearing fabric called haircloth, and for horsehair plaster, a wallcovering material formerly used in the construction industry and now found only in older buildings.

Shaving brush Tool to make and apply shaving soap or cream

A shaving brush or shave brush is a small brush with a handle parallel to the bristles used to make lather from shaving soap or shaving cream and apply it to the face when shaving. Shave brushes are often decorative; antique handles are often made from materials such as ivory or even gold, though the bristle load may be composed of any number of natural or synthetic materials. The shave brush is used most often today by "wet shavers" in tandem with a single- or double-edged safety razor or a straight razor. However, this is not always the case, as shavers of all varieties may employ the tool.

Winsor & Newton is an English manufacturing company based in London that produces a wide variety of fine art products, including acrylics, oils, watercolour, gouache, brushes, canvases, papers, inks, graphite and coloured pencils, markers, and charcoals.

Prolene

Prolene is a synthetic, monofilament, nonabsorbable polypropylene suture. It is indicated for skin closure and general soft tissue approximation and ligation. Its advantages include minimal tissue reactivity and durability. Disadvantages include fragility, high plasticity, high expense, and difficulty of use compared to standard nylon sutures.

Animal fiber Natural fiber from animals like silk worms and sheep

Animal fibers are natural fibers that consist largely of certain proteins. Examples include silk, hair/fur and feathers. The animal fibers used most commonly both in the manufacturing world as well as by the hand spinners are wool from domestic sheep and silk. Also very popular are alpaca fiber and mohair from Angora goats. Unusual fibers such as Angora wool from rabbits and Chiengora from dogs also exist, but are rarely used for mass production.

Horse grooming

Horse grooming is hygienic care given to a horse, or a process by which the horse's physical appearance is enhanced for horse shows or other types of competition.

A pinstriping brush is the tool of traditional free hand pin stripers use for pin striping. Freehand pin striping is the most difficult method of pin striping and the brush is an important tool for design. Pinstriping brushes have several different designs: Swords, Daggers, and Flats, as well as Double line brushes. The brush consists of a small wood dowel handle, string or brass fixture with adhesive and brush hairs traditionally made from squirrel hair. The small wood dowel is balanced so pin stripers can freely spin the brush between their fingers. The dowel's short length is so the brush does not hit the palm of the hand while the brush is placed in-between the index finger and thumb. The hair of a pinstriping brush is relatively long at approximately 2 inches or more, compared to most artistic brushes of a similar size. This long length is to hold the necessary amount of paint to pull a long line.

Dog grooming Care and cleaning of a dog

Dog grooming refers to both the hygienic care and cleaning of a dog, as well as a process by which a dog's physical appearance is enhanced for showing or other types of competition. A dog groomer is a person who earns their living grooming dogs.

Taklon is the common name for a synthetic fiber used in artist-quality paint, makeup and pin stripe brushes. It is a smooth, soft, and somewhat fragile polyester derivative devoid of any protein component or allergen elements and is therefore used in the cosmetic industries as a "green," "vegan," "allergy free" or synthetic alternative to animal hair brushes.

Makeup brush

A makeup brush is a tool with bristles, used for the application of makeup or face painting. The bristles may be made out of natural or synthetic materials, while the handle is usually made out of plastic or wood. When cosmetics are applied using the appropriate brush, they blend better onto the skin.

Paintbrush Brush for painting

A paintbrush is a brush used to apply paint or ink. A paintbrush is usually made by clamping bristles to a handle with a ferrule. They are available in various sizes, shapes, and materials. Thicker ones are used for filling in, and thinner ones are used for details. They may be subdivided into decorators' brushes used for painting and decorating and artists' brushes use for visual art.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Chuck Long, Watercolor Success!: 52 Essential Lessons for Creating Great Paintings, p. 14, North Light Books, 2005 ISBN   1581805535.
  2. ↑ Brush Hair Types, Dick Blick Art Materials, accessed and archived 1 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Helen D. Hume, The Art Teacher's Book of Lists, 6.2.3 "Brushes", John Wiley & Sons, 2010 ISBN   0470877820.
  4. ↑ Choosing the Proper Brush, Rex Art, accessed and archived 1 November 2015
  5. ↑ Walter Sydney Berridge, Marvels of the Animal World, p. 147, Boston: Small, Maynard & Co., 1922 OCLC   266325
  6. ↑ Robert Anwood, Bears Can't Run Downhill: And 200 Other Dubious Pub Facts Explained, p. 134, Random House, 2006 ISBN   0091912555
  7. 1 2 Alan Johnson, How to Pinstripe, p. 20, MotorBooks International ISBN   1616730544
  8. ↑ Dard Hunter, Papermaking: The History and Technique of an Ancient Craft, p. 4, Courier Corporation, 1978 (first published 1945) ISBN   0486236196.
  9. ↑ Jan Fabian Wallake, "Brush tips", p. 10, in, Gina Rath (ed), The Watercolorist's Answer Book, pp. 10–11, North Light Books, 2005 ISBN   1581806337.
  10. 1 2 Charles Jay Strong, Lawrence J. Strong, The Art of Show Card Writing, p. 194, Chicago: Frederick J. Drake, 1922 OCLC   6005293
  11. ↑ The Mack Story, Andrew Mack Brush Company, accessed and archived 1 November 2015.
  12. ↑ Bernard E. Jones (ed), The Practical Woodworker: Volume 4, Decorative Woodwork, p. 1509,F+W Media 2014 ISBN   1440338701.
  13. ↑ Perinton Historical Society, Perinton and Fairport in the 20th Century, p. 58, Arcadia Publishing, 2004 ISBN   0738512028.
  14. ↑ Paint, Oil and Drug Review, p. 16, vol. 52, D. Van Ness Publishing, 1911.
  15. ↑ Bruce Mamer, Film Production Technique: Creating the Accomplished Image, p. 115, Cengage Learning, 2008 ISBN   0495411167.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.