Happy Trees, Pink Bunnies & Purple Puppies
Written: Mar 23 '03 (Updated Nov 09 '04)
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Pros: Sturdy, inexpensive, four sizes to choose from, colored bodies.
Cons: Only four brushes in a pack.
The Bottom Line: A great set of brushes from Crayola. Perfect for replacing brushes from the larger 8 count set
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| Freak369's Full Review: Crayola 4 Count Paint Brushes |
Over the past few months my sons have been doing more creative school projects and that has meant more art supplies on the shopping list. We already have a ton of Crayola items that see a good deal of use but the paintbrushes are really getting a work out these days. They have two main projects that they are working on – the first being a huge solar system model and the second an Egyptian pyramid that they are building from the ground up. Both of these projects have involved the use of paintbrushes with a few of them being tossed in the trash after being ruined. Normally the Crayola brushes hold up to a good bit of use before they see the inside of the trash can but with the different paints they have been using, a few of them have bit the dust.
The variety of sizes in the four count pack is nice for general painting as well as for younger kids to practice with. Since these are incredibly sturdy they will hold up to heavy hands that haven’t yet grasped the art of holding a paintbrush the right way. My neighbor’s daughter started out with these about five or six months ago and was a true demon – painting anything that didn’t move – and a few things that did move [namely the dog]. Since she started out she has really excelled at painting and I really think it was due to these brushes. The barrel is nicely shaped and made of plastic so clean up is easy and you won’t have to worry about a wooden handle soaking up water when the brushes are being cleaned in between colors. This also makes the total clean up easier because unlike wood, the plastic barrel won’t bloat / retain water and take forever to dry.
The Goods
Essentially this the same product as the eight count package of paint brushes however there are only four brushes in this package, one of each size. In the eight count there are multiples of the more common sized brushes but I have found that this one is a great supplement for replacing the ones that have been damaged, lost or tossed in the trash. It’s getting harder and harder to find the eight count of brushes so lately I have been purchasing the four count hoping to come across the larger assortment in the near future so I can stock up on them.
There are four brushes in four sizes in this package. The largest is lime green and is great for painting large areas, making banners or the most common use in this house – painting styrofoam balls for the solar system. I’ve also used these [new, never touched paint] in the kitchen for coating breadsticks with butter. Sound odd? Well, I invested a nice chunk of change into basting brushes that mysteriously disappeared to later resurface in the basement or garage with paint gunk all over them. While it was a little painstaking using the paintbrush to apply the garlic salt and butter combination to the breadsticks – never let it be said that I don’t product test something before I review it.
The blue brush is what will probably see the most amount of use since it is a medium sized brush head that can be used for coloring in small or large areas, creating a border, drawing straight or curved lines or making poofy clouds. Since there is a lot of play with the bristles kids of all ages will be able to handle this sized brush head with ease. I really wish they sold this size in bulk because the boys go through these the quickest. My neighbor’s daughter spends a few afternoons a week at my house and has no problem using any of the brushes in this set but is particularly fond of this size brush. I thought that with her small delicate hands she might not have much control over the brush but she has really progressed from the “stab and paint” method she started out with.
The red and orange colored brushes see a good bit of use but are reserved for filling in small areas or where a little bit of detail is needed. The perfect size for lettering, creating rainbows or design patterns. These are the ones that we seem to have the most of so guess who gets stuck with them – me. These are great for when you need to do a touch up or need to overlap a color over a dried section just make sure you are using a clean, dry brush to avoid over saturation. Since there were a lot of these I started using them around the house to get in between the keys on the computer keyboard, in the air vents of the vehicle and for getting dust off of Lego figures.
Clean Up
Make sure you have enough containers of clean water when kids are painting with these – and it doesn’t hurt to have a few stacks of napkins handy for spills or to blot off excess water. If you can round up all the brushes right after your child stops painting, it makes getting them clean a lot easier. Run under tap water or soak briefly in clean water to remove the bulk of the paint. If there is paint all the way up to the ends of the bristle [near the paintbrush barrel] you may need to use a finger brush or scrubber pad to work out the paint. More than likely it will be dried or caked on so it may take a little bit of time to get it all off. When they are clean, pat them dry to remove most of the water and then allow them to air dry flat or place them inside a tall jar with the bristles facing up. When they are dry, give the bristles a slight tug to see if they are still in good condition. If more than a few of the bristles come loose you might want to pitch it in the trash rather than having to pick stray bristles out of wet paint.
The Bottom Line
If you only need a few assorted brushes, this is the best way to go. If you think that you might need more than four, try the eight count set or look for the bulk mixed institutionalized size that is sold at most office supply stores. Some people might think that spending a few dollars on paintbrushes is a waste since they get treated so roughly. This is true – but – you are dealing with a Crayola product that is designed to put up with a lot of use as well as abuse. I have to give these a huge thumbs up and I highly recommend them to anyone that has a little artist in the house.
As always, thanks for the visit!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2003 Freak369
Other Crayola product reviews …
• Big MiniStampers • Doodle Pad • Watercolor Pencils • Art & Craft Brushes – 8 Count • Create-A-Kid • Collecting Keepsakes • Halloween Treat Pack • Halloween Boo Bucket • Washable Water Colors – 8 Color • Pencil Pouch • Crayola Crayons – 24 Count • Metallic Crayons • Superfine Markers – 5 Count • Gel FX Washable Markers • Tub of Fun • Crayola Sketch Pad • Point Tip Scissors • Sidewalk Chalk – Chicks & Eggs • Art & Craft Brushes – 4 Count • Twistables – 16 Count • Stack-N-Store Art Tower • Washable Water Colors – 24 Color • Sidewalk Chalk – Animal Assortment • Crayola Lap Desk • Click ‘Em On Washable Markers • Washable Markers – 16 Count • Alphabet & Number Pad • Blunt Tip Scissors • Spinning Desk Top Organizer • Crayola Online Store •
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $1.99
Type of Toy: Arts and Crafts
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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