Beginner's Guide to Paintbrushes

There are many different types of paint brushes on the market today, and as a beginner it's not surprising that we get very confused and overwhelmed! There are lots of different brands, shapes and different sizes and most of the brushes serve very different functions. Fear not! We are here to guide and support your creative journey, to discuss the different characteristics and properties of each paint brush.

Over the course of this article we will cover what type of brush is recommended for watercolours, gouache, oils and acrylics. We have created this beginner's guide to help you find the right paint brush for your creative needs and painting style; hopefully saving you money and time. Not all brushes are made equal and nor can the same brush be suitable for all types of paint, so we have started by outlining what brush is best suited to what medium. You will have lots of choices for you to select the right synthetic bristles or natural hair bristles depending on your style and personal preference and medium. We hope after reading these guidelines you will come to understand how many brushes you actually need and the functions they serve. You may be surprised to find that a good set of brushes will provide you with all your technical needs and that many different marks can be made with the same brush!

Anatomy of a paintbrush

Bristles

This refers to the end of the brush which transfers the paint onto the substrate surface. The type of bristle used may be different for each of your brushes, if you are a vegan artist you should look for completely synthetic brushes which are readily available on the market. There are lots of brushes made out of animal hair and this should be identified in the description on the packaging.

Animal hair used for watercolour painting brushes are usually Squirrel, Sable, Weasel, and Mink. Kolinsky Sable is regarded as the best bristle for watercolours and are considered to be high quality brushes but are probably the most expensive. Synthetic brushes have been made to mimic the quality of animal hair and are used by both professionals and students.

Animal hair used for oil painting brushes include; Hog, Goat, Badger, Pony, Sheep and Ox. Again synthetic brushes have been developed to mimic the various qualities of these animal hairs and are believed to be just as effective.

Acrylic paint brushes are mostly nylon or synthetic and are animal friendly, however some oil brushes will work for heavier applications of acrylic paint also. Specifically Acrylic brushes are designed to deliver medium to heavy viscosity paints.

The end of the bristles are referred to by the toe or tip. The middle of the brush which carries the water and pigment, or oil and pigment is called the belly of the brush. The belly of the brush is basically a reservoir holding the right amount of pigment to deposit through the tip of the brush, depending on how much pressure you use on application.

Ferrule

The ferrule is a metal band that holds the bristles of the brush in place, the flat section at the top of the ferrule nearest the bristles is sometimes referred to as the heel and joins them to the handle. The end of the Ferrule which holds the brush onto the handle is often crimped for extra strength. Ferrules can be made out of stainless steel, brass, copper, aluminium, nickel, and sometimes plastic.

Handle

The handle comes in all lengths and shapes. Often made from wood or moulded plastic. The length of the handle usually indicates what medium you are using and what style. For oil painters a long handle is favoured to enable ease of movement whilst standing at an easel, especially when long arm movements are required for creating long lines during live model painting or plein air painting at an easel. A short handled brush would be needed for detailed and intricate work close to the canvas or paper. A wide handle would be needed if the brush was used for varnishing and bold strokes were needed.

Artists' Paint brushes also have many sizes!

Each brand of brush will have their own size ranges, and are not consistent, for example a size 1 in one brand might be a size 4 in another!. Do not be tempted to buy every single size they offer you! You do not need the whole range. Round brushes seem to go from 000 up to 30, or even larger! The higher the number usually indicates a larger brush head.

Flat brushes are usually measured in inches for example; 1 inch, 2 inch, 4 inch, 6 inch and 8 inch. Not all brands will have brushes available in these sizes ranges.

What type of brush do I need for watercolour and gouache paint?

Traditionally watercolour painting will require soft bristles that will hold plenty of pigment and water in its belly and will spring back into shape. They should glide onto the paper and deposit a good amount of wet paint smoothly and consistently. Watercolour painting brushes are designed to have a soft hair bristle so they are ideal for painting large areas with floods of pigment or alternatively they can be extremely sensitive to applying very fine details. Fortunately you do have a large selection of synthetic brushes, blended (a mix of animal and synthetic) and animal bristles at your disposal, most of them claiming to do just that. Also most watercolor painting brushes are extremely versatile and will serve both watercolour and gouache painting, although it is better to have dedicated brushes for each medium you use.

When starting out, you should aim to buy at least 3 round brushes, small, medium and large. These brushes will serve a multitude of purposes. Round brushes should hold their shape and come to a fine point. Then aim for a medium size flat brush, medium size filbert brush and possibly a mop brush. You can always buy extra brushes to build your tool box when you become more accustomed to brush types and their functions. There are lots of specialist brushes listed below to help you decide what else you need.

What type of brush do I need for acrylic paints?

For Acrylic painting your brushes can be a little bit sturdier and firmer as the thicker consistency of the paint requires a stronger brush. You should be looking for synthetic filaments which give the brush both spring and strength. Taklon is a good brush for Acrylic painting and aims to mimic the characteristics of natural sable, they are softer than nylon but give a sharper and more precise working edge and tip. Rounds, filbert and flats and a fan are all good brushes to have. But remember to clean them immediately after use.

What type of brush do I need for oil painting?

Ideally when looking for oil painting brushes you need brushes that will not shred, will hold their shape, carry the paint and not disintegrate when cleaned with solvents! Most oil painting brushes have long handles so you can create expressive paintings. Most artists own a selection of sizes in rounds, filberts and flats. Hog brushes are very popular, as they are tough and will hold thick oil paint well. Also sable is used for a softer bristle. A good firm brush should hold its shape whilst painting.

Types of paint brushes and their functions

Round brushes

Have a large belly and a long tapered end.

A round brush can be found in many sizes and is extremely versatile. The large rounds can be used for long and bold strokes for applying sweeps of colour and wetting the paper, whilst a small round brush is ideal for applying drawing out your composition, adding detail and intricate fine line work. It is always worth owning at least 4 good round brushes in various sizes. Round brushes are great for all types of mediums, Watercolour, Gouache, Acrylic, and Oils. The handle lengths and bristles will vary depending on which medium you are using.

Beginner's Guide to Paintbrushes

Anatomy of a paintbrush

Bristles

Ferrule

Handle

Artists' Paint brushes also have many sizes!

What type of brush do I need for watercolour and gouache paint?

What type of brush do I need for acrylic paints?

What type of brush do I need for oil painting?

Types of paint brushes and their functions

Round brushes

Have a large belly and a long tapered end.

Pointed round brush

Round with an elongated point and tip.

Flat brushes

Square in shape and flat.

Brights

Similar to the flat brush but with shorter bristles.

Fan brushes

Fan shaped flat head brush

Filbert brush

Similar to a flat brush but with a curved tip or toe.

Angular brushes

Sword or dagger

Mop brushes

Large, broad and round.

Wash brushes

Large, broad and flat.

Liner/script and rigger brush

Long and thin

Spotter brush

Small, round with short bristles.

Blender brush

Soft bristle

Liquitex splatter brushes

Splatter effects.

Liquitex Short Handle Paddle Brush

Pocket size for portability

Varnish brushes

Wide and flat

Oil painting brush sets

Acrylic paint brush sets

Watercolour and Gouache paint brush sets

How to clean your Brushes - here are a few tips to keep your brushes tip top!

How to store your brushes

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