to ask any of you with knowledge of oil painting to help me out?

[hiddley]

I've had a long-winded thread on the Christmas board about what gift to get my mother.

The long and the short of it is, she attends art classes weekly for years (and I know nothing about it - shame on me), but between myself and my sister who knows her better, we have decided that some good quality paint brushes would make a nice gift for her.

Things to note:
I know nothing about paint brushes, sizes, bristles, softness, lengths, thickness or anything else that might be relevant.

She is very much an amateur artist but it is her beloved hobby.

Could anyone point me in the direction of a brand/collection/set/style of oil painting brushes? Since it's Christmas, I'd like a 'good' brand so to speak rather than a load of cheap ones.

I would be forever grateful.

Otherwise she's getting a Tens machine for Christmas

Cross-post - east London? It’s crawling with artists! There’s a Cowling and Wilcox on Shoreditch High St.

Atlantis art off brick lane is amazing and Jackson's round the back of stoke meek from if you're anywhere near either of those places?

IveGotBillsTheyreMultiplying That's the same set as I linked above isn't it? Should I go with that?

That meant to read round the back of stoke newington !

Sorry to be such a party pooper but that lovely w&n box would be great for a beginner but if someones been doing it a few years, they've probably got all that and are at a point they've got certain products and pigments they like use.

Do you know what sort of stuff she paints?

I'm in E17 and am not too fond of travelling. Then again I have to get to Gloucester road tomorrow to apply for my passport A-FUCKING-GAIN (could start another thread on that saga), so might try to navigate to some of the places mentioned. My head is melted. I've everybody else's present bought. My mother. The final frontier.

That box is not student quality and the things in it are all fairly standard stuff that most people would use up over time. The colours are sensible except maybe the greens, which people often mix. The paints alone would cost way more than £33 even in the student quality for ten tubes.

It’s up to you, op, you will get different opinions on here. That is a very good price for that box, but a selection of brushes and pigments from an independent store would also be great.

Best shop in London for brushes is L.Cornellison & Son. on Great Russell St (just round the corner from the British Museum). It’s amazing, it’s been there forever, they also have a website but it’s a great shop to visit.
Otherwise this is a great stockist if you want to buy online

www.rosemaryandco.com/index.php?route=common/home

My DH is an artist who paints in oil and these are where he gets his brushes from, neither place is cheap, but they are excellent quality.

To be honest, I'm the worst daughter ever. She painted one beautiful picture of a little girl picking flowers in a garden and my dd decided that that was her in the picture, so that is now her painting and hangs in her bedroom. She painted two donkeys from a postcard and her then partner told her that he'd never seen a purple donkey before lol. I really don't take any interest in it at all. It's her thing and she wouldn't miss a class even if her first born (not me) was flying in for one hour. I don't know what she does with the paintings or even how long it takes to paint one. I just know she loves it. She loves surprises and hates vouchers so I want to get it right. But with the little knowledge I have I will probably get it spectacularly wrong. That's why I was thinking good quality brushes. I assume she has all the paints and other stuff.

What about a swanky palette? They're usually throw away after a while but if you scroll down on this link and look at the new wave ones they're supposed to be fabulous. If you really wanted to go for it you could get someone to burn a message into the underside to personalise it for her?

www.lawrence.co.uk/shop/Wooden-palettes-2.html#.WgtkS4Gnzv4

Can you not pretend that your DH/Friend etc has been saying that he wants to get into it and you were thinking of getting him some kit to start up and did she have any advice on what you could get him? That way she’d be inadvertently telling you what she wants!

If you happen to be in central London, there’s a very nice looking art shop in Great Russell St.

hey hiddley - glad you are out and about :)

how about paper or canvases instead?

Oooooo, those palettes are gorgeous.....but HOW can those prices possibly be justified?

Brushes are very much personal choice, I'd get something like MDF board in a couple of sizes and some oil paper, you can never have too much paper!

I wouldn't get the W&N box, it's more for a beginner.

Good brushes would probably be loved BUT you'd be better off knowing what she likes. Maybe start showing an interest so you can pick up some clues? I wouldn't go with the friend starting up tack, that a previous poster mentioned, as that wouldn't say what your mum wants at all - it would just be beginner equipment advice.

May also be worth looking at gift ideas on www.saa.org.uk

Juddy - I've actually had that idea and asked my sister to pretend one of her friends wants to get into oil painting and to ask Mammy what sort of brushes she should get. My sister is possibly the slowest person to respond however, so it could be January before I get a response lol. As for my brother? No response from him either. I think I'll return all their presents haha. That'll teach them.

Those wooden pallets look very professional! I had sort of imagined my mother with a jam jar dipping a brush into it and drying it out on kitchen towel lol.

Problem is that my mother is not stupid, so if I suddenly started showing an interest in art, she'd be onto me. That said, I did tell her today that I was going to start exercising. Maybe I could add an art class into my imaginary new lifestyle.

I do watercolours, but in my experience the very best brushes you can buy are made by Rosemary & Co. They're hand-made and absolutely beautiful to use and they make brushes for all the different paints. Not cheap, but not as expensive as you might think, and worth every penny.

They were recommended to me by the tutor of an art course I went on, and I've never regretted buying them. Their customer services is excellent, and will advise which are the best brushes for you.

Oops sorry it's www.saa.co.uk

Rosemary brushes are amazing, they are on my Christmas list. You probably want hog bristle for oils but it's a personal thing. Perhaps you could call them up, ask for a recommendation and make sure she can exchange them if necessary?

If you are East London then Great Art in Shoreditch is also a good shop.

The big Paperchase in Tottenham Coirt Road used to have a lovely selection of brushes years ago when DS was doing his A level and there is a truly wonderful old shop Green and Stone in the King’s Road, quite near the fire station which is a fab place and where the staff know everything and will help you. There’s another one but I can’t remember where! Will pop back if it comes to me.

Oh gosh just seen you’re going to Gloucester Road tomorrow! So maybe the King’s Road is possible! You could easily walk down there from Gloucester Road or S Ken tube. Happy shopping!