This is an important issue. It was for me, anyway. I had to know what the other guys were using because, if I knew that, and used the same, my work would be as good as theirs!
It does not require a genius to realise the flaw in this line of thinking. But, I was not thinking. Not too deeply, anyway. What did it for me, in the end, was poverty, pure and simple. I did not have the cash to spend (in some cases) over ten pounds on a single brush, no matter how "purist" I wanted to be. Then, by chance, I saw the set you may have just seen when you hovered your mouse over the link above. Back in those days the set sold at just over £3. Today the same set is only about a pound dearer.
The thing is, I became used to the feel of them; the way the hairs "gave" under the pressure of your hand. It was only later, when I could afford to do so - and did! - buy an expensive brush, that I realised I was locked into those cheap brushes, and nothing else would, and still wont, do. (Should there be a hyphen there in "wont"?)
I do, however, know artists who, for different reasons, locked themselves in the expensive kind of brush. I can only commiserate with them!
It boils down to what you get used to, I suppose. There's more information at the other end of THIS link, even if you don't want a painting holiday
Seascape Paintings as gift ideas: "I don't keep acres of spare equipment and I don't own an easel. I used to have one but it went missing some years ago. So, if you need to use one in the field, you might like to bring your own. The same applies to paint. I use a very limited palette as follows:
Alizarin Crimson
Phthalo Blue (Phthalocyanine)
Yellow Ochre
Titanium White
Cadmium Yellow
Cadmium Orange Hue
Sap Green
Burnt Sienna.."
So there's always some of these to hand. If your palette includes other colours you'll need to bring these with you. I use ')" href="javascript:void(0);">tear-off oiled-paper palettes and there are always plenty of these. Most students have already invested in an artists' workbox of some kind. I suppose I really should have something like that - they seem really useful; especially the ones with built-in easels. There's one out there called the ')" href="javascript:void(0);">"Cornwall Wooden Box" ; This caught my attention for obvious reasons; but it seems too small to be of great practical use in the field. For me, anyway.
CANVAS
This can be expensive stuff! I do not advise practicing upon stretched canvasses. They make ')" href="javascript:void(0);">tear-off pads for this very purpose. Or, at the very least, try the relatively inexpensive canvas boards. Again, whichever method you prefer, you would have to bring these with you. Such can be bought here in Cornwall, however, should you feel like supporting the local economy.
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