What is the difference between stencil brushes and “premium” stencil brushes?
Although split ends are a bad thing for the hair on your head, they are a GOOD thing for stencil brushes. When natural hairs (hog bristles) are used to make a stencil brush, the manufacturer uses the end of the hair – which has the “split ends” called “flags” – for a premium brush. It’s premium because the flags hold more paint and because it is much harder to get all the ends to line up perfectly for a flat end to the brush. Standard stencil brushes, although made from the same bristles are taken from the next “slice” up the bristle, so the flags are missing. This makes it faster and easier to make, hence less expensive. They still hold paint well, but for subtle shadings and really fine painterly technique, artists choose “flagged” brushes.
