Artis Opus Brushes Review (Are Series S Brushes Worth It?)

Last updated August 28, 2026. By Andrew M. Tan.

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Artis Opus is Latin for “Work of Art”

Artis Opus introduced Series S through a successful Kickstarter campaign and has since grown into an established miniature-painting brush company. Series S remains its signature all-purpose range, alongside the shorter Series M detail brushes and Series D drybrushes.

“The finest brushes for passionate artists, crafted by artisans using true Kolinsky Sable.”

Artis Opus (website tagline)

I’ve been painting miniatures for many years. As a commissioned painter, I’ve tried many, many types of brushes and settled upon the trusty ol’ Winsor & Newton Kolinsky sables as my primary brushes. My complete guide to choosing a miniature-painting brush explains why brush shape and behavior matter more than the number printed on the handle.

Of course, when the Artis Opus hype filled my social media feeds, I couldn’t resist giving these beautiful instruments a try.

Look and Feel

As you can see from the images, the Artis Opus brush set arrived in a handsome case (you can buy the brushes without the case).

The exterior has a laser engraving of the Artis Opus logo.

A simple metal clasp holds the case closed.

Artis Opus put a lot of attention into the packaging. The case interior has several engravings. The Latin wordplay is fun for those who appreciate the language (which I do).

Included in the case was a pamphlet with detailed brush cleaning and care instructions. I was also surprised to see a dated signature and stamp indicating that my brushes underwent a quality control inspection.

Quality control by a real human? Wow. The only other art products I own that show this level of individual attention are quality airbrushes from companies such as Iwata and Badger.

The standard Series S set is sold in four- and five-brush configurations. The four-brush set includes sizes 000, 00, 0, and 1; the five-brush version adds a size 2. Both include brush soap and care instructions. I purchased the additional size 2, which I expected to use for blending color across larger surfaces.

The brushes look distinctive. Their wooden handles have a smooth white lacquer finish, and the brand and brush size are easy to read.

A neat little detail I discovered is that the Artis Opus label is stamped high on the handle. In the several months I’ve used the brushes, this stamp has yet to rub off because my hand isn’t rubbing this area of the handle.

The logos and brush size numbers on my other Kolinsky sables have worn down until they are hard to read.

Ergonomics and Handling

Okay, the package is pretty, but how do the brushes perform? 

I focused most of my testing on the size 1 and 2 brushes. Those are the sizes I reached for during regular painting, so I will not pretend that I tested the smaller brushes to the same depth.

The first thing I noticed when I picked up an Artis Opus brush was the additional heft. It is subtle but noticeable. The handles on every Artis Opus size I examined were thicker than their Winsor & Newton counterparts.

The Artis Opus size 1 handle measured 5.95 mm at its widest point, compared with 5.80 mm for my Winsor & Newton Series 7 size 1. The Artis Opus handle also maintains more of that width along its length, while the Series 7 tapers more.

The increase in handle diameter is small, but I could feel it in use.

With both brushes at about the same length, the extra diameter gave the Artis Opus a center of gravity that felt closer to the bristles.

That balance may explain why I tended to hold it closer to the ferrule during detail work.

Artis Opus markets the wider handle as more comfortable during long painting sessions.

I could not confirm that it reduced hand cramping. My back and neck still complained after two or three hours, regardless of which brush I held.

What I did notice was more control when I pinch-held the Artis Opus close to the ferrule for detail work. The difference is subtle and may take many hours to notice. A good brush should disappear into the task: the less attention I spend correcting the tool, the more attention I can give to the edge, transition, or tiny surface in front of me.

The Bristles (Character)

Every Kolinsky sable brush I’ve used has a specific character.

Winsor & Newton Series 7 brushes are “snappy.” Raphael 8404 brushes have a softer touch and a bit of “flop,” which is excellent for wet blending. Da Vinci Maestro brushes lean toward the springy feel of Winsor & Newton, but their shorter bristles can be useful for texturing and controlled detail work.

The Artis Opus Series S sits on the firmer side of that spectrum. My size 1 and 2 brushes felt stiffer than their Winsor & Newton Series 7 counterparts, with bristles that were also a little longer.

Under 3.5× magnification with this magnifying headband, the individual hairs in the Artis Opus tuft appeared thicker near the ferrule than those in my Winsor & Newton brush. I did not measure the individual hairs, so I treat this as a visual observation rather than a material conclusion. What I could feel was greater bending resistance as the brush moved across the miniature.

You can see a side-by-side inspection further below.

The bellies of the size 1 and 2 brushes are generous and allowed me to use several painting techniques without constant trips back to the palette.

I enjoyed loaded-brush blending and feathering with the size 1. The stiff bristles lend themselves to these advanced techniques.

During the first months of use, the bristles held up to my painting and cleaning routines. They retained their spring, and the fine points stayed sharp.

A Comparison with Other Kolinsky Sables for Miniature Painting

I took side-by-side photographs of the Artis Opus brushes with my Winsor & Newton Series 7 and Raphael 8404 Kolinsky sables. The shared size numbers hide meaningful differences in bristle length, belly, and spring.

The Artis Opus and Winsor & Newton Series 7 size 1 tufts are close in overall proportion. My Series 7 has a larger belly, while the Artis Opus feels firmer when wet and springs back with more force.

The Artis Opus and Raphael 8404 size 1 brushes differ enough that their shared size number is not very useful. The Raphael has longer bristles and a larger belly, making it my choice for blending and longer fluid strokes.

Both brushes kept sharp points during painting. The Raphael 8404 feels soft and flexible, while the Artis Opus returns to shape with more force.

Side by side, the size 1 and 2 Artis Opus brushes are close in length. The size 2 stands apart through its larger belly and greater paint capacity.

For completeness, I also compared the Artis Opus and Raphael 8404 size 2 brushes. Their proportions differ enough that the shared size number is not a useful guide to how they handle.

Price, Durability, and Value

Artis Opus occupies the premium end of the miniature-painting brush market. A brush at this price should offer more than an attractive handle and a handsome box.

Individual Series S brushes begin around $20 in the Artis Opus US store, while the standard boxed set begins around $104. Prices change, so treat those figures as a reference rather than a permanent price. The official Series S collection lists current US pricing.

In terms of performance, I think Artis Opus brushes are a good buy. Their point, paint handling, and control compare well with my Winsor & Newton Series 7 brushes. They look good, handle well, and are a joy to paint with.

My long-term view is more measured than it was during the first months of testing. The brushes remained usable, but my size 1 and 2 lost some of their original snap. A lighter touch became more important. That does not erase their initial quality, but it belongs in the value calculation.

Like any fine natural-hair brush, Series S requires careful rinsing, reshaping, and storage. My miniature paintbrush care tutorial covers the routine I use to protect a sharp point and keep paint away from the ferrule.

Winsor & Newton Series 7 remains a strong benchmark because it can last a long time with proper care. My separate Winsor & Newton Series 7 review explains its performance and quality-control tradeoffs.

The Artis Opus brushes gave me excellent performance during the core test period. Their later loss of some snap changes my durability verdict from “like new” to “still useful, but no longer as crisp as they were at the start.”

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