Your paintbrush should feel like an extension of your arm. But, all the different kinds of artist brushes which are available can sometimes only add confusion to the painting process, rather than making it easier.
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In this post, I discuss the different kinds of artist paint brushes that are available for you to use.
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Anatomy of an Artist Paint Brush
Here is the anatomy of a paint brush for those of you who are not familiar with the terminology:
Paint Brush Bristles
Artist brushes come with many different types of bristles. The bristles will generally determine what medium a brush is suitable for. For example, oil painting requires bristles which are resilient and have a nice spring. Acrylic paint is not as harsh so you can use bristles which are a bit finer. Watercolor painting requires soft bristles which can hold lots of water.
Bristles for artist brushes come in two forms &#; synthetic and animal. Animal hair brushes tend to be more expensive but they can hold and apply paint in a way which is not possible with synthetic brushes. However, synthetic brushes have come a long way. I make use of both synthetic and animal hair brushes for my paintings.
Here is a summary of the different bristles:
Synthetic: Economical and versatile options for all painting mediums. Most synthetic brush manufactures will combine synthetic bristles with animal bristles so you get the best of both worlds. I would avoid cheap synthetic brushes as they are not durable and lose shape quickly.
Hog: Stiff, springy and economical. Hog hair brushes tend to do most of the heavy lifting in oil painting due to their durability and stiffness. I enjoy using hog hair brushes for general oil painting work, but not so much for the finer details.
Sable: Sable is not actually made from sable hair but rather from the tail of a species of mink (a member of the weasel family) found in Northeastern China and Siberia. Sable brushes are extremely fine and springy and hold lots of water, making them perfect for watercolor painting and fine oil/acrylic painting.
Squirrel: Very soft hair with little snap due to a lack of resistance. Squirrel hair is suitable for watercolor painting, inking and any other low-resistance mediums.
Badger: A popular hair for oil painting. Badger hair brushes tend to be the thickest at the tip of the brush and thinner around the belly, making them perfect for general and broad brushwork.
Mongoose: Sturdy and resilient hair that is used in oil and acrylic painting.
Paint Brush Shapes
Filbert brushes are a personal favorite due to their versatility. They are somewhere between a round and flat brush. The curved tip allows for soft brushwork and blending. I use the filbert brush for any general brushwork.
Round brushes have a large belly and a long tapered end. They are extremely versatile and can be used for long, bold strokes and detail work.
A round brush made with sable hair comes to a very fine tip and can be used for delicate brushwork.
Flat brushes have a flat tip and can be used to make thick, consistent strokes or thin lines. Flat brushes are great for blocking in solid shapes of color (i.e roads, fences, buildings, etc).
Bright brushes are pretty much a flat brush with shorter bristles. They are useful for short, controlled strokes.
Fan brushes are more of a specialty brush. They have a range of special uses, such as painting the leaves on trees or adding texture to grass or rocks. But the fan brush is not limited to these special occasions. You can make use of the fan brush whenever you need scattered and broad brushwork.
Angular brushes have bristles that are cut at a slight angle, with one side of the tip longer than the other. I do not use these brushes so I will not comment on how you can use them.
Paint Brush Sizes
There is no industry standard for brush sizes, so it is best to get familiar with one brand.
It is important to have a range of small, medium and large brushes. In particular, you should make sure you have lots of medium to large brushes as these should be doing most of the heavy lifting in your paintings.
I generally recommend that you take the largest brush you feel comfortable using, then use one size up from that. The benefits of using large brushes include:
- Large brushes will ensure you focus on making economical and meaningful strokes. Every stroke will have influence with a large brush.
- By using only small brushes, you tend to get caught up in needless details and miss the overall statement of your painting.
- Large brushes are a great time saver, as you can quickly cover the canvas.
Even in the most intricate looking paintings, you will find that the brushes used were probably not these tiny round brushes. Take a look at the beautiful painting below by John Singer Sargent. Under that I provide a close-up which shows his broad and surprisingly thick strokes of color made with what I assume to be medium sized brushes.
What you should learn from this is &#; instead of trying to make your painting seem realistic up close, aim to make it seem realistic from afar.
John Singer Sargent, An Artist In His Studio,
Which Artist Paint Brush Should You Use?
Personally, I use paint brushes as follows:
- For staining the canvas I use the largest flat or filbert brush I have.
- For sketching the composition I use a medium sized round brush, or sometimes even a fan brush if I want a very rough landscape sketch.
- For blocking in general colors and shapes I use a medium to large filbert. Sometimes I will use a flat brush if the shapes are very angular.
- For adding detail I use smaller filbert and round brushes. I also use the fan brush in certain situations, such as for painting leaves, grass or water.
- For signing the painting and adding very fine details I use a small round brush.
Which Brand of Artist Paint Brush Should You Use?
I have had experience with brushes from most of the top brands such as Princeton, Winsor & Newton, Royal Langnickel and Old Holland. Most of these brands have a premium line of brushes which seem to be fairly consistent in quality.
It really comes down to personal preference. I have heard some great things about Rosemary & Co but I have yet to try those brushes out. I will place an order for some of those brushes soon and will let you know how I go.
Paint Brush Sets
If you are just starting out in painting or you just want some extra brushes, you may want to look into buying a brush set. These will give you a wide range of brushes which you can get a feel for. However, I have found the quality of many popular brush sets to be on the lower end. For very high-quality brushes you will usually need to purchase them individually. But there are premium brush sets like below if you want to treat yourself.
Paint Brush Storage
It is important that you keep all your brushes organized to some extent. Otherwise, they will probably go missing or get damaged. I suggest you invest in a simple brush container or you could even just use an old mug.
Caring for Your Paint Brushes
Taking proper care of your brushes is essential if you want them to last for more than just a few painting sessions. Just remember that the prevention of brush damage is much easier than the restoration of it.
I wrote more about cleaning your brushes here.
Want to Learn More?
You might be interested in my Painting Academy course. I&#;ll walk you through the time-tested fundamentals of painting. It&#;s perfect for absolute beginner to intermediate painters.
Thanks for Reading!
I appreciate you taking the time to read this post and I hope you found it helpful. Feel free to share it with friends.
Happy painting!
Dan Scott
Draw Paint Academy
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Looking for the best watercolor brushes? Let me just state the obvious: This is an overwhelming task. There are so many opinions, brands, and styles of brushes that it can be difficult to actually know if you&#;re choosing the right brush.
If you&#;ve been following my blog or YouTube channel for a while, then you&#;ll know I&#;m a HUGE fan of Princeton brushes. Specifically, the Heritage series for my watercolor paintings. While these brushes are my top picks, I know that some of this comes down to preference and budget, so I thought I&#;d round up an ultimate guide to watercolor brushes, and share more of my top picks and what they&#;re used for, so you can go out on your own and choose what&#;s best for you and your style! Plus, some of these brands might be easier to find in your area.
Disclosure: This contains affiliate links which means for some product purchases, I may earn a small commission&#;at no extra cost to you. I only share my faves and it helps support the free content I share! Thank you!
Why Your Watercolor Brush Choice Matters
Before we dive in, let me just say this. Picking the right watercolor brush is like choosing the perfect tool for a job&#;it makes a world of difference! Imagine trying to paint a delicate flower petal with a square-shape, stiff brush. Frustrating, right? The right brush not only makes your painting experience smoother but also lets you achieve those beautiful, fluid strokes and fine details that make your art pop.
Whether you're going for broad, sweeping landscapes or intricate botanical illustrations, having a variety of quality brushes at your disposal means you'll be equipped for any artistic challenge. Plus, a good brush has a good snap and holds the right amount of water and pigment, giving you more control over your work. So, don't skimp on your brushes&#;I promise I'll give you more affordable options (that are still good!) below. Plus, if you're just getting started with watercolor painting, make sure to grab my FREE complete guide to watercolor for beginners.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Watercolor Paper and The Ultimate Guide to Watercolor Paints
Glossary
I'm going to share my favorite brands (and the pros and cons of each) below, but to make sure you know exactly what I mean when I say certain things, here's a glossary of terms you might want to know (this will help you decode labels on professional artist tools!).
Snap
This is measured by how well a brush &#;snaps&#; back to its original shape or parallel after it&#;s bent. I use synthetic hair brushes that are uniquely designed to mimic Kolinsky Sable hair which is very flexible and snap-y.
Spring
Spring on the other hand, refers to how well a brush holds its shape when you&#;re applying different watercolor techniques or dragging it across your paper. If the hair of the brush remains bent for longer, it has a good spring!
Capacity/Load
This one is simply how much water a brush can hold. This will vary depending on the size and shape of the brush, but certain series and brands of brushes will have a better capacity than others.
And PS &#; before we dive into hair types, if you're excited to learn more about art terms and eager to improve your skills, whether it's a new hobby or your career, I'd love to invite you to join The Art Within. It's been recently updated (as of August ), and I share everything they should have taught you in Art School (from technical skills to finding your creative style!).
Hair Types
Next, let's talk about the different hair types you might want for your watercolor brushes. I've already mentioned I lean more toward synthetic options, but I'm going to talk about the pros and cons below.
Synthetic vs. Natural Hair
There are pros and cons to using both synthetic and natural hair brushes. I personally prefer synthetic hair brushes for the price point and the fact that they don&#;t come from harming animals. Neither are great for the environment if I'm being honest, so it&#;s important that when choosing a brush, you know how to take care of it so it lasts a lifetime!
Related: How to Clean Your Watercolor Brushes
Sable
This is the most coveted and prized hair for watercolor brushes. Especially Kolinsky Sable. If you&#;re a natural hair brush person, this is what you want to look for. This type of hair is best for round shape brushes because of the snap. The Princeton Heritage series is a synthetic sable hair brush and is a fraction of the cost of natural sable hair brushes.
Squirrel
This one is similar to sable hair, but softer and they&#;re not as spring-y as the prized sable hair. I love a good synthetic squirrel hair brush for mop brushes or covering a large surface area though! Obviously you can use the natural squirrel hair, I&#;m just not a natural hair brush person.
Hog
Hog brushes are my least favorite. They&#;re made of really stiff and coarse hair. I&#;d really only use this hair with a flat brush because I like a lot of bounce or spring when I&#;m painting with watercolor.
Goat
Goat hair watercolor brushes are traditionally used in Japanese calligraphy and wash brushes. Brushes with this type of hair don&#;t usually form a crisp point.
Ox
Lastly, we have Ox hair. This is another hair I&#;d only use for flat brushes because of the stiffness. With that said, this type of hair is really great for dry brush texture though!
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Bent Head Paint Brushes.
Brush Shapes
I'm going to give you a few tips on how to choose the best watercolor brushes for you next, but before I do, let's talk about the different brush shapes you might want to shop for.
Round
My favorite and the most diverse and versatile shape. A 2-in-1 stroke brush! The tip of the brush comes to a fine point, and when you use the &#;belly&#; or width of the brush, you can get a nice, fat stroke. In my opinion, every watercolor artist should have at least 2 different size round brushes in their selection &#; a size 6 and size 16. My Princeton Heritage series rounds are my ride or dies.
Flat
These brushes are most commonly used in washes, stripes and more linear strokes and shapes. For this style of brush, I love the Princeton Aqua Elite series flat brushes, specifically the Mottler!
Dagger
Imagine a flat brush, but make it slanted. The only difference between a flat brush and dagger brush is the sharp edge or corner you can use for painting details.
Mop
Think really fat bellies (what a visual, eh?). These brushes are typically made of squirrel (natural or synthetic) hair and are great for drinking up lots of water and still keeping a good point. I personally will always choose a round brush over a mop brush because mop brushes are more difficult to control.
Detail
Last but not least, we have detail brushes. The most common detail brushes are riggers and spotters. The main difference between the two is that riggers have longer hair or bristles than spotters. If you&#;re going to splurge on any type of brush, you want to make sure to invest in a really good quality detail brush. Riggers will give you longer loads because the hair is longer. Think thin lines and larger details, while spotters are great for smaller details.
How to Choose the Right Brush
If you&#;re starting from scratch and don&#;t want to break the bank, my advice is always to go for 1 small brush (like a detail brush or a round size 2), 1 medium round brush (size 6 is my fave!), 1 large round (size 16), 1 filbert brush (size 12), and a large wash/flat brush (Mottler from Aqua Elite). This will give you a well-rounded collection and get you painting anything from flowers to landscapes, portraits to objects in both loose and realistic styles.
Then in terms of knowing which brush to use for particular moments in a painting or technique, keep in mind the tips above and ask yourself these questions:
- What&#;s the main goal for this stroke?
- Smooth coverage?
- Small details?
- Dry texture?
- Compound strokes without having to dip in water between?
My Top Picks
For The Best Brands of Watercolor Brushes
I'm going to share the pros and cons of the best brands of watercolor brushes below, but if you're ready to start shopping you can find all of my favorites over in my Amazon store.
Princeton Heritage
Pros:
- Durability and spring.
The springiest brush I&#;ve found and probably the main reason I love this series so much. I like to paint with bounce, what can I say?
*Bend and snap!*
- Holds a lot of water.
Similarly to the Aqua Elite series below, this series also holds lots of water, though not as much as Aqua Elite.
- Great price.
That's right! Compared to natural sable hair brushes, this synthetic series is comparable in performance, but a MUCH lower price point.
Cons:
Here's a more in-depth look at this series:
Princeton Aqua Elite
Pros:
- Durability.
This series was made for spreading and dragging your brush across any texture of paper and made to last long.
- Holds a lot of water.
The main feature of this brush series is its ability to hold water. This is a thirsty brush! So if you&#;re into painting landscapes or use a lot of wet in wet technique, this is a fabulous brush.
- Great price.
Fantastic brush for the quality and technology!
- Huge range.
You&#;ll find a huge range of sizes and shapes in this series from mottlers and daggers to round brushes of all sizes.
Cons:
- Very soft bristles.
Because this series is known for its ability to hold tons of water, the hair is something to get used to. It&#;s much softer than the Heritage series brushes. This isn&#;t necessarily an issue, it&#;s just a learning curve.
Here's an in-depth look at these Winsor & Newton Cotman brushes:
Winsor and Newton Cotman Short Handle
Pros:
- Snappy.
The hair on these brushes is nice and stiff, but holds its shape well.
- Nice points.
These brushes are great for detail work and offer a great point.
Cons:
- Short handle.
This is more of a preference thing, but the short handles can be a problem if you like to work with big sweeping strokes and prefer a longer handle.
- Not a good hold.
This series doesn&#;t have a good round brush that holds a lot of water. If you&#;re used to working with round brushes like I am, you&#;ll be disappointed in this range unless you can get used to dipping in water more frequently.
See all sizes of shapes of Cotman brushes here.
Da Vinci Maestro
Pros:
- Holds a lot of water.
Similar to the Aqua Elite series, this brush is great at holding water!
- Extra sharp point.
Like sharper than a knife. These points are long and clean and great for detailed work!
- Snappy.
Very durable, stiff hair that snaps well back into shape.
Cons:
- No detail brush.
This brand doesn&#;t offer a detail brush, however, their round brushes do offer the extra sharp point to compensate for that.
- Short handle.
This is more of a preference thing, but the short handles can be a problem if you like to work with big sweeping strokes and prefer a longer handle.
- Price. These are natural and not synthetic hair so while they're high quality, their starting prices are significantly higher than the other synthetic brushes above.
Choosing the Best Watercolor Brushes (So That They Last!)
As I said, once you go through the trouble of finding the best watercolor brushes, you want to learn to take care of them well. Watch the video below for a few of my favorite tips for caring for your watercolor brushes (and a few things you absolutely shouldn't do if you want your brushes to last).
Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing the Best Watercolor Brushes
What's the difference between synthetic and natural hair brushes?
Synthetic brushes are generally more affordable and don&#;t involve harming animals, which is a win! They also tend to have better snap and are easier to care for. Natural hair brushes, like sable or squirrel, can hold more water and paint, but they&#;re pricier and require more maintenance.
Why is brush &#;snap' important?
Snap refers to how well a brush returns to its original shape after you bend it. A good snap means more control and precision in your strokes, which is important for more detailed watercolor painting.
Can I use the same brushes for different types of watercolor techniques?
Definitely! However, remember that some brushes are more versatile than others. Round brushes, for example, can be used for fine details and broad strokes, making them a great all-rounder.
How do I care for my watercolor brushes?
Easy! Always rinse your brushes thoroughly after use, reshape the bristles, and let them dry flat or with the bristles pointing down, but make sure they&#;re not pressed or bent up against anything. Avoid leaving them in water for too long as it can damage the handle and bristles. I have a whole YouTube video on this here if you want more!
Are expensive brushes really worth it?
It depends! While high-quality brushes can make a difference, especially for detailed work, you don&#;t need to break the bank. There are plenty of excellent affordable options, like the Princeton Heritage series, which I personally love.
Where can I find these brushes?
You can find these brushes at most art supply stores or online. I&#;ve included some links in this post to make it easier for you to shop for my top picks, but you can find everything I use and love over on Amazon.
Where can I learn more about watercolor painting?
I thought you'd NEVER ask. Head here next to find my best-selling books on watercolor painting, as well as my Everyday Watercolor Companion Course where I dive even deeper into how to paint using watercolor. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Are you interested in learning more about Large Paint Roller? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
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