Artist Paint Brushes - The Ultimate Guide For Beginners

Your paintbrush should feel like an extension of your arm. However, the wide variety of artist brushes available can sometimes complicate the painting process instead of simplifying it.

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This guide covers the different types of artist paint brushes that are available for you to use.

Anatomy of an Artist Paint Brush

Familiarize yourself with the anatomy of a paintbrush through the following terminology.

Paint Brush Bristles

Artist brushes feature various types of bristles which determine the mediums they can effectively work with. For instance, oil painting requires resilient bristles with good spring, while acrylics are less harsh, allowing for finer bristles. Watercolor painting requires soft bristles that retain moisture well.

Bristles come in two main categories: synthetic and animal. Animal hair brushes are typically more expensive, as they can hold and apply paint in ways that may not be achievable with synthetic options. Nevertheless, synthetic brushes have improved significantly. I use both synthetic and animal hair brushes for my paintings.

Here’s a summary of various bristle types:

Synthetic: These brushes are cost-effective and versatile for all painting mediums. Many synthetic brushes combine synthetic and animal bristles for optimal performance. Avoid very cheap synthetic brushes as they shirk quickly and lose their shape.

Hog: These brushes are stiff, springy, and economical. Hog hair brushes are great for oil painting due to their strength, although I prefer not to use them for finer details.

Sable: True sable brushes, derived from the tail of mink, hold lots of water and are excellent for watercolor and fine oil/acrylic painting due to their fine and springy nature.

Squirrel: Very soft and lacking in resistance, squirrel hair brushes are suitable for watercolor painting, inking, and other low-resistance mediums.

Badger: This hair is popular for oil painting and features thickness at the tip with a thinner belly, ideal for broad brushwork.

Mongoose: Sturdy and resilient, this hair is suitable for oil and acrylic painting.

Paint Brush Shapes

Filbert brushes are versatile, balancing round and flat shapes. Their curved tip allows for soft brushwork and blending. I frequently use filbert brushes for general work.

Round brushes have a large belly and a tapered end, making them adaptable for long strokes and detailing. A round brush made with sable can achieve fine tips for delicate brushwork.

Flat brushes with flat tips can create thick strokes or thin lines. They are perfect for blocking solid colors like roads, fences, and buildings.

Bright brushes resemble flat brushes but have shorter bristles, making them useful for short, controlled strokes.

Fan brushes serve specialty purposes, like painting tree leaves or adding texture to grass or rocks. You can also use them for broad brushwork whenever needed.

Angular brushes have bristles cut at an angle. I seldom use these brushes, so I will refrain from discussing their utility.

Paint Brush Sizes

There is no industry standard for brush sizes, thus it's best to become familiar with a specific brand.

Having a range of small, medium, and large brushes is vital, particularly medium to large brushes, as they will handle most of your painting work.

Generally, I recommend starting with your largest comfortable brush and then moving up a size. The advantages of using larger brushes include:

• Large brushes promote economical and meaningful strokes. Each stroke will have a significant impact.
• Sticking only to small brushes can lead to focusing on unnecessary details, jeopardizing the overall effect.
• Large brushes save time by covering more canvas quickly.

Even in intricately designed paintings, the brushes used are often not tiny rounds. Consider John Singer Sargent's artwork below, and observe the broad and thick strokes created with what likely were medium-sized brushes.

The takeaway is instead of obsessing over minute realism, aim for realism observed from a distance.

Which Artist Paint Brush Should You Use?

Personally, I utilize brushes in the following manner:

• For staining the canvas: I prefer the largest flat or filbert brush available.
• For sketching the composition: I use a medium round brush, or occasionally a fan brush for rough landscape sketches.
• For blocking general colors and shapes: I opt for a medium to large filbert; sometimes I'll switch to a flat brush for angular shapes.
• For adding detail: I use smaller filbert and round brushes. The fan brush may be suitable for specific tasks, such as painting leaves and grass.
• For signing and finely detailing: I utilize a small round brush.

Which Brand of Artist Paint Brush Should You Use?

I have experience with brushes from top brands like Princeton, Winsor & Newton, Royal Langnickel, and Old Holland. Many of these brands offer premium lines with consistent quality.

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. I've heard positive things about Rosemary & Co, and I'm planning to try those brushes soon.

Paint Brush Sets

If you are new to painting or simply looking for additional brushes, consider purchasing a brush set that offers a diverse range of brushes. However, I've found many popular sets to be lower in quality. For high-quality brushes, you usually need to buy them individually, though there are premium sets available for a treat.

Paint Brush Storage

Organizing your brushes is crucial; disorganization could lead to loss or damage. Invest in a simple brush holder or repurpose an old mug.

Caring for Your Paint Brushes

Proper maintenance of your brushes is essential for their longevity. Remember, preventing brush damage is significantly easier than restoring it.

For more insights on cleaning your brushes, click here.

Want to Learn More?

Check out my Painting Academy course, where I cover the fundamental principles of painting, tailored for absolute beginners to intermediates.

Thanks for Reading!

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide! I hope you found it helpful, and feel free to share it with friends.

Happy painting!

Dan Scott

Draw Paint Academy

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