ARTIST HAIR BRUSH
In 2014 I traveled to one of the very few family-owned brush factories in Germany to learn how to make paintbrushes and create 100% homegrown and handmade artist hair brushes, in an attempt to develop a cradle-to-cradle solution for paintbrushes. I decided to grow my hair a second time to create bigger brushes. Five years later I was ready to cut off my hair again. And then shit happened.
2019, 5 YEARS AFTER THE FIRST EDITION
After cutting my hair in 2014, I decided to grow it again to create even bigger artist brushes. So I waited and waited and waited and waited until I totally got bananas. I hated that long hair, it got stuck in zippers, under bags, all messed up, in knots, hanging in my food, in my paint palette... So finally I decided to cut it off! On May 21, 2019, to be exact. YAY!
I packed my ponytail neatly in a good box to ship it to Germany, to the Kolibri Artist Brushes factory. It was sent by registered mail with a track and trace code. So I thought that would be safe. But... it didn't arrive like it should have, after 3 days.
I contacted the customer service of Postnl: yes it should have arrived by now. We'll start an investigation. After 6 weeks I got the messsage that my hair now officially was missing. And there was a compensation of €50. No, really. You must be kidding. Too sad.
LATE 2019: MIRACLES DO EXIST. THE HAIR WAS FOUND
I mourned for months over my great magenta ponytail that was lost in the mail. I grew it for a solid five years with only one purpose: to make new Artist Hair Brushes. I was devastated. And then, after more than 5 months, the good news came: it was found!
So now there are new Artist Hair Brushes 2.0 they are even better than the first edition. They are now available in many sizes, in an unique edition of two each. A million thanks to Kolibri Brushes.
Flat brushes, 25 & 50 mm (1" & 2"), edition 2, stainless steel ferrule, varnished printed handle, 2019
Flat brushes, sizes 4, 10, 18, 30, edition 2, seamless silver ferrule, long varnished printed handle, 2019
Set of 6 colorful Hobby brushes, edition 2, printed handle, 2019
HOW IT STARTED IN 2014
To experience the most direct way to get the artist's DNA on the canvas, these 100% Homegrown, handmade Artist Hair Brushes were created. See how the unique pieces were made by the artist herself in a small, family owned brush factory in Burk, Bavaria, Germany. Special thanks to Thomas and Martin Hackenberger and Katrin Hubricht who were so kind to teach me the fine art of brush making: Kolibri Brushes. Watch the video (2:26) to see the making of.
Human hair is not suitable for artist brushes because it’s powerless. But it’s a very personal way to get the artist’s DNA directly on the canvas. And: no animals were hurt in the production of these brushes. There is a small amount of unique flat Airco Caravan Artist Hair Brushes, sizes 8 and 22. They were on display at Art in Redlight art fair in Amsterdam.
The brushes are be signed and numbered; Size 22, edition 5. Size 8, edition 30; 2014.
