How to Choose the Right Brushes for Making Art

There are many reasons to take your time when picking paintbrushes. Using the correct brush allows you to get better control over your strokes, making it easier to achieve the desired effects and details in your artwork. It helps distribute paint more effectively, ensuring smooth and even application.

While you may be tempted to buy the cheapest set, especially if you’re only starting, investing in high-quality options can help you improve your art faster. If you choose high-quality brushes, you’ll use them for years, as they’re made from durable materials that last longer and maintain their shape and performance over time. That means you won’t need to replace them frequently, leading to a more consistent painting experience.

How Do I Choose a Paintbrush for Art?

Considering different factors, such as shape, size, hair type and the medium you’ll be using them for, can help you choose the correct art paintbrushes for your creative process.

Medium

When purchasing a brush, the first thing to consider is the medium it will be used with. Options with bristles are typically used for oil painting, synthetic options for acrylics, and soft natural hair options for watercolours. However, advancements in manufacturing techniques have caused these distinctions to become less clear, as higher-quality synthetic products can now replicate the characteristics of their natural-haired counterparts.

Watercolour

A delicate brush, with either synthetic or natural hair, is frequently the best to use to apply gentle colour washes on the surface of watercolour paper. In addition to being available in a broad range of sizes, styles, and pricing points, watercolour brushes are typically short-handled. They have a large capacity for holding water, providing you with the most control possible.

Acrylic

This water-based medium has a lot of versatility. You can use both watercolour and oil paintbrushes, depending on your skill. They come with either a small handle or a long handle. Acrylic dries quickly to an extremely durable finish, therefore you must clean your brushes right away. Additionally, acrylics are typically painted on rougher surfaces like canvas, which calls for a more resilient brush.

Oil

Typically, when applying oils, one should utilise stiff hog bristles because of their ability to withstand the thickness of oil paint and the ability to hold onto paint particles called “flags,” which enhances the brush’s paint load, and its durability, which can withstand frequent use on rough surfaces. You can also use softer natural or synthetic bristles for delicate detail and gentle mixing. Long handles are common on oil brushes so you can use them at easels.

Water-Mixable Oil

Hog bristles work well with water-mixable oils, but consider whether you’ll paint with water or water-mixable solvents. Water may cause the bristles to become soggy and may cause long-term damage, so it might not be the ideal choice for you. Synthetic hog brushes are made to function similarly to conventional hog bristles while still being water-resistant.

Varnishing

A broad, flat brush works well when applying a painting’s final varnish coat. Softer-haired bristles are necessary for a smooth application because stiffer bristles can leave marks in the varnish. You will use fewer brushstrokes throughout the painted area when the brush is larger. After using, clean it immediately and reserve it for varnish application only.

Shape

Choose a brush shape that complements your artwork from the various sizes and shapes available, ranging from the standard round to the quirky rake.

If you’re merely searching for reliable, daily brushes, the most popular forms for an artist paintbrush are round and flat. Both are adaptable and capable of giving you a range of grades. That’s the place to start if you’re just starting in the art world. Many artists don’t bother to opt for more shapes because these brushes can create many different shapes with only slight adjustments to pressure or brush location.

Size

A larger brush often provides greater control and even coverage than a smaller one. While smaller art paintbrushes are ideal for delicate details, a large option can apply colour quickly and evenly, reducing the need for multiple strokes. Large options can also achieve fine details with light pressure and their fine points.

Round brushes are numbered, ranging from 10/0 (micro detail) to size 40 (very large). The size increases with the number. Flat brushes are measured by width, such as ½ inch or 1 inch. However, there is no universal standard for brush sizes, so a size 10 round brush may vary between manufacturers. A size 10 is a versatile choice, but having a range of sizes offers more flexibility.

Another factor is the handle length. Watercolour brushes typically have short handles, while oil and acrylic ones tend to have long handles. Historically, long-handled brushes allowed artists to stand back from their canvas on a vertical easel, avoiding contact with the wet surface. Choose the handle length that suits your style—short handles offer great control and detail. Consider your art style and select the brush that best enhances your work.

Hair Type

Natural bristle brushes, typically made from hog’s hair, are favoured for oil painting due to their excellent paint pickup and application. The production process involves boiling, bleaching, and trimming the bristles.

Kolinsky sable brushes made from the hair of a little carnivorous animal are well-liked for watercolour and oil painting. Known for their soft, subtle strokes, they’re ideal for thin, translucent layers and detailed work. These durable brushes are well-suited for portrait painting and the ‘drybrush’ technique.

Synthetic bristle options have gained popularity, especially among beginners, due to their quality and versatility. Available in various bristle thicknesses, they can mimic natural bristles for different painting techniques. Synthetic bristles are durable, easy to maintain, and suitable for all canvas types. However, some may lose their shape over time.

Squirrel hair brushes are rarely used in oil painting but are excellent for watercolour. They provide a light tint but are less durable with oil paints.