Comments about Winsor & Newton Artisan Brushes:

First of all, these brushes cost me a lot, and I was hesitant at first to buy them at the store. The brushes I previously used were W&N's Monarch brushes. (Those brushes also do well with water-soluable oils from my experience). So I was looking for new not-so-stiff ones to try out.

I was actually really happy with the quality I got from these brushes. They're not falling apart for one, even after a rigorous portrait on a wood panel. They carry the water extremely well, and I was able to lay down a pretty strong under painting with really quick strokes. I'm not sure what the other negative reviews were talking about, especially about durability. I don't have a single hair missing on any of mine.

Comments about Winsor & Newton Artisan Brushes:

I was disappointed in these brushes they are ok they put paint on. I tried an Isabey Isacryl size six bright when I bought these and wish I had bought them instead they are 10 times the brush these are.
They look pretty.

Comments about Winsor & Newton Artisan Brushes:

These Artisan brushes are just the right balance of stiffness vs. softness with fine synthetic hairs, knife-like chiseled edges and superb control. I often work with fluid acrylics as well as heavy body acrylics. I need a brush that can handle it all. The Artisan brushes are perfect. Their hairs are fine enough to not leave visible ridges in my acrylic paint. They are softer than natural bristle brushes so they don't push the acrylic paints completely away right down to the canvas surface. But they are stiffer than natural sables or very soft synthetics. The filberts do soft blending of colors and edges like a dream, whereas a too-soft or too-hard brush just won't work as well. I love the sharp edges of the brights. I can use them on the flat, on edge, on a corner or even on their sides. I find the brights have better stiffness and spring than the longer, softer flats. I perfectly control my application of paint with changes of pressure and brush angle. Because they are synthetic brushes they work very well with water-based paints and don't get mushy or bogged down. They clean up easily and retain their like-new shape after many uses and thorough cleanings. I've had my current set of Artisans for several years now and they are still my favorites! It's been a long search for the near-perfect acrylic brushes. For me, the Winsor & Newton Artisan brushes are pure gold.

Comments about Winsor & Newton Artisan Brushes:

I use my Artisan Brushes almost daily with water-based oils and regular oils and take good care of them - that means cleaning them in paint thinner, then Fels Naptha, then a mild dish detergent, and finally a nice rub with baby oil. They hold their shape, accept any type of paint application, and I have never had one "splay" out. I typically use brights and flats and then sometimes filberts and/or rounds for finer details.

Comments about Winsor & Newton Artisan Brushes:

Had to change to water mix oils due to lack of ventilation in new space. always used trad oil and mediums. Found my brushes flopped when used with water mix, acrylic brushes also were too soft. These brushes work well with a difficult medium that water mix turns out to be. Water mix oils are stiffer as when you try to dilute them the paint falls apart as it seems to be an emulsion...the artisan brushes are able to handle paint without flopping or paint needing to be thinned out. Very good price compared to what I used to spend for trad oil brush.

Comments about Winsor & Newton Artisan Brushes:

Looked for brushes that would not go limp with water mix oils but have the stiffness needed for oil. Worked really well. acrylic brushes and oil brushes had not worked. will buy again

Comments about Winsor & Newton Artisan Brushes:

I have had 5 of these brushes, 2 rounds, 2 flats and 1 filbert for quite a while now. I have been very pleased with them. I like the stiffness and I use them a lot to dry bush my water oils. I also have a couple of Cirrus brushes and I like them as well. I plan on buying a few more of them and also getting some Blick synthetics. I have some W&N and Blick watercolor brushes (series 7, cirrus and Blick studio naturals) also that I am very pleased with. I would like to see more reviews on water oil brushes that people have tried and like.

Comments about Winsor & Newton Artisan Brushes:

I bought a few of these brushes about 5 months ago, and have been terribly disappointed with them. The filiments are much to stiff for most techniques, the only thing I found them good for was impasto work.
This was fine for a while as all brushes have their weaknesses, however after 3 sessions of use the brush (a size 6 filbert i believe) literally fell apart. The ferrule came clean off the handle, this is down right unexceptable from a brush this expensive. In general I would recommend we all steer clear of Winsor products, any company that makes EVERYTHING is bound to make NOTHING well.