Our brushes
What started as a fun little idea during one of our community nights eventually turned into something very real. After a year of testing, many different prototype iterations, adjustments, calculations and, yap, even more testing, they're finally here! Our very own (yes, pink) Pink Orc Studios brushes. Community evaluated, tested and approved. So excited to finally share them with the world!
Our products
Kolinsky Sable Brushes
Our go-to brushes specifically designed for miniature painting
Brush Soap
Keep your brushes in top shape and make them last.
Coming Soon!
Want to learn how to better paint with these brushes? Check out our academy →
Why we make them
From Axel | How our brushes came to be
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Every month, we teach beginners how to paint miniatures. And every month, the same question comes up: “What brush should I buy?”
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It's a surprisingly difficult question to answer in a few words. Should you start with synthetic brushes or invest in Kolinsky sable? And if you do, which ones should you choose? There are plenty of options to discuss, compare, and weigh against personal preference.
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​But two things kept coming up in our workshops: even painters with years of experience hadn't found THE BRUSH yet, and they weren't always sure how to properly load, clean, store, and care for their brushes.
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That got us thinking. What if we could create our own brushes? Brushes we'd be genuinely excited to paint with ourselves and could confidently recommend to others. Whether they're picking up their very first miniature or have been painting for years.
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And what if we could go one step further? Alongside the brushes, we could share the knowledge needed to get the most out of them and make them last, from loading and handling to proper cleaning and storage.
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So, we got to work!
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Together with our community, we went through round after round of production, testing, and refinement. We carefully evaluated everything from brush belly size and paint capacity to tip precision and springiness. Many versions were discarded. Too thick, too thin, too long, too this, too that. We learned and adjusted. Eventually, we arrived at a range of Kolinsky sable brushes, accompanied by a set of synthetic drybrushes.
And just like that, our very own Pink Orc Studios brushes were born. In pink, of course!
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The result? Our brushes ended up with big bellies (but not too big) to hold the paint with very sharp tips (but not too sharp, yes that's a thing) that stay in shape and give a lot of control. Through our Masterclasses we got some of the big names in the miniature business to try our results (like Juan Hidalgo for example) and the feedback was resounding ("I f...king LOVE THEM" :)). Their feedback was incredibly encouraging, giving us the confidence to take the next step and share our brushes with a wider audience.
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And we're not finished yet.
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We keep listening, gathering feedback, testing ideas, and looking for ways to improve. The next generation of our brushes will (again) be shaped by the people who use them. We've already started collecting ideas, from larger handles and different bristle lengths and shapes to complementary tools such as wet palettes.
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This is just the beginning. We're excited to see where we can take these brushes together with our community.
Taking care of your brushes
If you're new to Kolinsky brushes, don't be intimidated! Besides their excellent painting qualities, one of the biggest advantages of Kolinsky brushes is their longevity. A good-quality Kolinsky brush, when properly maintained, can retain its shape and sharp tip for a very long time. Often considerably longer than many synthetic alternatives.
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They're not difficult to use or look after, either. We've put together a few simple brush care tips and habits to help you get started. For more details, check out our detailed brush care guide in our Shop.
Do
Wet your brush before every session
Before painting, dip the entire brush head in clean water, then remove excess water. This helps prevent paint from drying in unwanted places, especially near the ferrule.
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Load the belly, not just the tip
Use the belly of the brush to pick up paint. This is where your brush holds its paint, while the sharp tip gives you control.
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Rinse regularly while painting
Regularly rinse your brush so paint doesn't get a chance to dry in the bristles, especially when working with acrylics. Don't wait until the end of the session.
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Clean with brush soap after painting
At the end of your session, rinse the brush and clean it with dedicated brush soap. Pay particular attention to the base of the hairs.
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Reshape the tip after cleaning
While the brush is still damp, add a small amount of brush soap and gently bring the hairs back to a sharp point and let it dry.
Don't
Don't get paint into the ferrule
Keep paint to the front of the bristles and away from the metal ferrule. Paint that dries there can force the hairs apart and permanently affect the point.
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Don't let paint dry on the brush
If you notice the paint beginning to dry or become tacky, rinse the brush. Dried paint is one of the easiest ways to damage a brush.
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Don't use hot water
Stick to cool or lukewarm water when cleaning your brush. Hot water can affect the natural hairs and the glue holding them in the ferrule.
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Don't push, scrub or bend the tip
Don't push or grind the brush into your palette or miniature. Use gentle strokes and let the tip do the work.
​
Don't leave the brush standing in water
Letting a brush stand on the tip will damage the tip, plus prolonged soaking can weaken the ferrule and the bond holding the hairs.
Or check out a detailed guide on how to make your kolinsky bushes last below:
Taking care of your brushes
If you're new to Kolinsky brushes, don't be intimidated! Besides their excellent painting qualities, one of the biggest advantages of Kolinsky brushes is their longevity. A good-quality Kolinsky brush, when properly maintained, can retain its shape and sharp tip for a very long time. Often considerably longer than many synthetic alternatives.
​​
They're not difficult to use or look after, either. We've put together a few simple brush care tips and habits to help you get started. For more details, check out our detailed brush care guide in our Shop.
Do
Wet your brush before every session
Before painting, dip the entire brush head in clean water, then remove excess water. This helps prevent paint from drying in unwanted places, especially near the ferrule.
​
Load the belly, not just the tip
Use the belly of the brush to pick up paint. This is where your brush holds its paint, while the sharp tip gives you control.
​
Rinse regularly while painting
Regularly rinse your brush so paint doesn't get a chance to dry in the bristles, especially when working with acrylics. Don't wait until the end of the session.
​
Clean with brush soap after painting
At the end of your session, rinse the brush and clean it with dedicated brush soap. Pay particular attention to the base of the hairs.
​
Reshape the tip after cleaning
While the brush is still damp, add a small amount of brush soap and gently bring the hairs back to a sharp point and let it dry.
Don't
Don't get paint into the ferrule
Keep paint to the front of the bristles and away from the metal ferrule. Paint that dries there can force the hairs apart and permanently affect the point.
​
Don't let paint dry on the brush
If you notice the paint beginning to dry or become tacky, rinse the brush. Dried paint is one of the easiest ways to damage a brush.
​
Don't use hot water
Stick to cool or lukewarm water when cleaning your brush. Hot water can affect the natural hairs and the glue holding them in the ferrule.
​
Don't push, scrub or bend the tip
Don't push or grind the brush into your palette or miniature. Use gentle strokes and let the tip do the work.
​
Don't leave the brush standing in water
Letting a brush stand on the tip will damage the tip, plus prolonged soaking can weaken the ferrule and the bond holding the hairs.
Or check out a detailed guide on how to make your kolinsky bushes last below:
