i started with QUILLS.
so would suggest you buy at least 3 of these, #4, #8, & a #12-16.
as for learning how to use one, you really need an old sign painter to show you in person.
1. learning how to prepare your new brushes.
as soon as you get em, find a tray sorta like the one in your kitchen you put knifes, forks, spoons in. puta 1/4" of 10 W NON-DEGERGENT MOTOR OIL in it, lay the new brushes in that for a day of so, so the brushes will get OIL in the heal(this is the part of the brush near the twisted wire) so paint WONT GET IN THERE.
2. when you go to use a brush, lest start with the #8, you get a small can of turps/mineral spirits, wash the brush in that, laying the brush on the bottom of the can applying down pressure in a back and foth motion like you was painting with it.
3. now......take the brush, lay it in your right palm, hair end to the heal of the hand, now put left hand on the right with the brush in between, turn both hands like your going to pray, now slide your hand back and forth, rolling the brush between your palms.
this removes the turps.
4. now here is an important thing. find the twist on the wire. now with you thumb and fore finger............flaten the hairs....WITH THE TWISTED WIRE either to the left or right of the flatened edge of the hairs. THIS IS IMPORTANT, as this sets the hairs for the life of its use.
5. get youself some 3 partitioned picnic plates. in one of the small one you puts some one shot, in the second small one you put a small amount of turps. put the brush into the paint, touch the trups with it, and in the big part, lay the brush, CAREFUL make sure the twised wire is horizontal with the plate..............now stroke the brush, back and forth.....keep doin this till all the HAIRS ARE FULL OF PAINT......UP TO THE HEAL. this is called loading the brush. it will take time for you to learn the right turps/paint mix. for me it hasa lot to do with temps......when its hot i thin more, cool i thin less.
6. practice single strokes.......glass, tin, cardboard....dont matter at this point, you are feeling out the brush.
once your able to pull a straight line, and have it the same width where you started and where you stopped.......thats lesson #1.
7. now do the same thing with HALF A CIRCLE.
