Similar to Ivorine, but usually thinner. This can be useful if you want to trace a design through from the back. Miniatures may also be painted on to fabrics, such as velvet or silk, or painted or even enamelled on to copper. Miniatures may be painted with watercolours, gouaches, alkyds, acrylics, oils, or even pastels. Unless you are quite determined that your paintings will never sell always check the colour fastness before using them.
Some paints fade alarmingly fast particularly on the celluloid-type surfaces.
Those of us using watercolour commonly use sable brushes made by Winsor and Newton , series 7, series 12, or series 16. Sizes go down to as small as 000. Ken Bromley Art Supplies can send these by mail order. Chromacolour make an excellent series of nylon brushes, as do Trip the Daisey. In the US, Miniart supply various brushes suitable for miniaturists.