Hog Bristle Brushes In Use

This time we’ll talk about how to choose hog bristle brushes. As always, we’ll cover many aspects: use, sources, benefits and ethical questions.

What is special about hog hair?

Hog bristle brushes, as the name suggests, are crafted from the hair of pigs. These brushes possess distinct characteristics: the majority of the bristles feature split tips, a wide and robust body, and a resilient, “springy” stiffness. The split ends enhance paint retention and facilitate a smoother application, making them particularly advantageous for heavy-bodied paints, especially in oil painting and varnishing.

While a hog is a large animal, not all of its hair is suitable for use in art brushes. Hair sourced from the back of the hog provides the longest bristles and features fewer split ends. In contrast, hair from the sides contains approximately 80% flagged ends, making it the preferred choice for many high-quality brushes. Additionally, hair from the neck, belly, and legs tends to be softer and less durable. However, it is important to note that these factors are not the sole determinants of hair quality.

Another crucial factor to consider is breed. While some sources may suggest that certain breeds produce superior hair, the reality is that for hog bristle brushes, the ideal source is actually non-specific. The stiffest and most durable bristles are derived from wild or free-range pigs. Additionally, the quality of the bristle improves when pigs are raised in colder climates.

The biggest importer of hog bristle is China, but quality in most cases is very questionable. The second place belongs to Germany.

Studio grade vs. professional grade

The best hog bristle brushes

As previously noted, the quality of hog-bristle brushes can vary significantly for various reasons. Each brush, regardless of its quality, serves a specific purpose. Let us now explore how to select a brush that aligns with your goals and expectations. While the most effective hog-bristle brushes typically feature a well-defined split at the tip, the finest and most premium options contain no more than 20% split-ended hair. These brushes exhibit exceptional flexibility, returning to their original shape after bending, demonstrating a remarkable ability to spring back.

Additionally, the length of the brush hair often correlates with its cost; however, longer hair is not a necessity for all applications. Longer bristles tend to provide a softer application, making them suitable for certain techniques. Conversely, if you are working with a rough style or aiming for precise flat blending, shorter-haired brushes may be more effective.

Brushes that feature 80% flagged ends are typically less expensive but can still be quite functional. They are particularly well-suited for techniques such as dry brushing or casual painting, as they hold and release paint evenly. Soft-bristled hog brushes or those with a high degree of split ends are ideal for varnish application or overall glazing. You can also find lower-grade brushes in this category at construction supply stores.

The worst hog bristle brushes

The lowest-quality brushes often have very stiff bristles. This occurs when manufacturers prioritize profit by reusing the same hair multiple times. For instance, consider a long strand of high-quality hair: the upper portion may be allocated for a premium brush, while the remaining length is typically repurposed in other industries for products like ropes, threads, or cushion fillings. However, some manufacturers choose to cut this leftover hair and sell it as brush material, significantly increasing their profit margins. Unfortunately, these inexpensive brushes are ineffective for painting purposes. They may be suitable for applications such as glue or certain crafts, but they do not perform well in artistic painting.

Hog bristle paint brushes for oil

Hog bristle brushes are specifically designed for use with oil paints. They excel in underpainting, blending, and spreading oil paints, outperforming other brush types. Other brushes typically lack the stiffness and capacity to hold heavier paint effectively.

However, for very detailed works, after using hog bristle brushes for initial layering, some artists may prefer synthetic or kolinsky sable brushes.

Hog bristle paint brushes for watercolour

We  don’t recommend the use of hog bristle brushes for watercolor painting, as they may cause damage to the paper and compromise your artwork. Instead, we recommend opting for softer alternatives, such as Squirrel, Faux Squirrel, Kolinsky, Faux Kolinsky, White Goat, or Sable Mix brushes.

Hog bristle paint brushes for acrylic

Traditionally we tend to think, that which tools work well for oil will work well for acrylic as well. But that’s not completely true. Oil paints apparently have oil inside, while acrylics are water-based. And hog bristle brushes as any other natural brushes absorb water. This makes acrylic painting uncomfortable as (1) bristle becomes softer and unpredictable (2) water from ferrule may affect painting process.

For acrylic painting we recommend Faux Hog Bristle brushes instead.

Sable paint brushes for tempera

Please see acrylic use.

Ethical questions

Hogs and pigs are not considered rare or at-risk species and are widely farmed across the globe. Additionally, high-quality hog bristle brushes are known for their durability, often outlasting synthetic brushes. Since hog bristle is a natural product, these brushes are also fully biodegradable.

Cleaning and care

Hog bristle brushes are highly durable and can withstand harsh cleaning solutions effectively. For cleaning after oil painting, you may use regular vegetable oil, turpentine, solvents, dishwasher soap, or bar soap.

We suggest using a special ENL: Oil-based brush cleanser. It gently cleans your brushes and conditions them in seconds.

After acrylic or tempera painting you can use just water and soap, such as  ENL: Cleansing Soap, which thanks to natural clays and olive oil removes paint particles and prolongs brush life.

We hope that this brief overview has provided you with valuable insights on how and when to select hog bristle brushes.

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