Brushes with authority!

[morgaina]

This is what I did this afternoon:

It was very fun. We used bamboo; various animal hair, mostly buck tails; wood burning; faux sinew; bits of leather; viking_food_guy and khalja may recognize a few of of their beads used as embellishment.


They may be elaborate, but they are also functional and sturdier than the typical sumi brush.
The above are mine and those of some guild friends. I was in brush making 101, they took the workshop previously so were in advanced techniques.


These are mine, photo taken at home so better image.
Click on them again to get more detail.

Comments

[monkeyjunk.livejournal.com]

OMG so fun!

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

They were enjoyable to make too. They aren't difficult to put together, so we were able to spend a lot of time adding little fun features to them.

[gwen-the-potter.livejournal.com]

I want.

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

Which one? I'd like to give it to you.

[gwen-the-potter.livejournal.com]

Oh, any one. They are all nice.

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

Ok, I will choose :-)

[khalja.livejournal.com]

That is awesome!

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I really liked making them.

[ornerie.livejournal.com]

what size bamboo do you want? I frequently need to hack mine back and can save the bits....

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

I remember you saying that so ahem, yes that was a hint. ;-) and thanks for the offer.
At the workshop the instructor had everything from 2" diameter down to about 1/4" diameter. The really huge ones were more for display purposes, but some of my friends make them for show pieces and would like them. She also had some very crooked pieces for 'art' brushes.
It seems like almost anything would work.
-
edited to add:
I looked at the ones I liked for myself both using and making and they are all about 1/2"-3/4" in diameter.
But, as I said, we can find some use for almost everything.
--
edited again to add:
for length, we used 4" up to about 20", the ones the instructor had came in 6'-7' lengths which she bought and we cut to size.

[ornerie.livejournal.com]

you got it :)
I assume the leaves are stripped off and they're left to dry?

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

Thanks!
Yes leaves are stripped off, some of the little branches or branch stumps are left on some of the brushes.

[hroar.livejournal.com]

Very very nice and impressive! Cool!

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

That was such a fun afternoon of learning how to do it.
They are also practical, I go through so many sumi-type brushes in the studio.