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What Paint Brush Guide: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Painting Brush

Updated: May 13, 2022

“Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant; there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing.” – Georgia O’Keeffe.




Artists are always looking for the perfect brush. They want to find the right tool for their trade, whether they're painting landscapes, portraits, still life or abstract art.

But finding the right brush isn't as easy as it seems. You might think that all brushes are created equal. But there are many different types of brushes available. Some are better suited for certain tasks. Others are designed specifically for particular techniques.

And when it comes to choosing the right brush, it's not just about how well it performs. It's also about how much time you'll spend using it. Because if you don't like the way it feels, you won't use it.


So how do you know which type of brush will suit you? Firstly, you need to understand what kind of artist you are. Do you prefer to work with large canvases or small ones? Are you interested in working on various subjects or sticking to one subject matter?

Secondly, you should consider what technique you'd like to use. If you're going to be doing lots of detail work, you'll probably want a smaller brush. But if you're working quickly, you may want a larger brush.


A painter's brushes are extremely important! When you choose correctly, you let the brush work its magic for you, allowing it to help you create beautiful work. You should know what type of brush you need before you start painting. Below is a comprehensive guide to choosing artist paintbrushes and everything that comes with it.


Painting is an art form that requires patience, skill, and practice. There are thousands of paints available, each with its unique characteristics. If you're going to spend money on a hobby, you may invest in quality tools.


Paintbrushes come in various sizes, shapes, and materials. Some are made out of wood, others out of plastic, and others out of metal. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

To choose the right paintbrush for you, you first need to understand the difference between synthetic and natural bristles. To see recommended brushes click here.


Synthetic bristles are made out of polymers, whereas natural bristles are made out of cellulose.

Synthetic bristles are much stronger than natural ones, and therefore, they last longer. However, they don't absorb water very well, drying out quickly. They also tend to shed more easily.


Natural bristles are softer, more flexible, and absorb water better than synthetic ones. They also hold up better over time. However, they don’t last as long as synthetic ones.

There are two main types of natural bristles: hog bristle and sable. Hog bristles are the most common natural bristles used in professional artists' brushes. Sable brushes are typically used for oil paintings.


Hog bristle brushes are usually made out of hog hair. This type of brush is soft, flexible, and absorbs water well. It holds up well over time, and it doesn't shed as often.


Sable brushes are made out of horsehair. These brushes are stiffer than hog bristle brushes, and they are suitable for applying thick layers of paint. They are also ideal for creating texture.


The next thing you want to consider is the size of the brush. The larger the brush, the more control you have over the amount of paint applied. Smaller brushes are easier to handle, allowing you to apply smaller amounts of paint.

When buying a brush, you should always buy one that feels comfortable in your hand. A brush that feels too heavy can cause fatigue, and a brush that feels too light won't provide enough support.


Next, you want to consider the shape of the brush. Round brushes are good for blending colours, and flat brushes are good for adding detail.


Finally, you want to consider whether or not the brush is designed for use with water-based or oil-based paints. Water-based paints require a different kind of brush than oil-based paints.


Water-based paints are thinner than oil-based paints, so you need a brush designed specifically for this type of paint. Oil-based paints are thicker than water-based paints, so a brush intended for water-based paints won't do the job correctly.

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when choosing the perfect paintbrush. Once you've chosen the right brush for you, you can begin painting!


Paintbrushes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are designed to be used with thick body paints, while others are made for thinner liquids. Some are meant to create fine lines, while others are great for creating textures. Before purchasing them, you need to determine what type of brush works best.


Round brushes are great for drawing details and filling in small areas. They're also helpful for making thicker lines.


Flat brushes are versatile and can be used to paint extensive areas to make bold strokes. Use the edge of the brush to create fine lines.


Bright brushes are great for thick paint application but not for wet on wet painting. Filberts are excellent for both thick and thin applications. They are also handy for details.


.Fans are used to create different textures and patterns. They are also used to make curved lines and fill in corners. Angled brushes are great for creating curves. They are also handy for painting large areas.


.Mop – Mop Brushes come in larger sizes and have softer bristles with rounded edges. They're especially useful and handy for watercolourists, as they are lovely for creating washes of colour and applying a thin glaze of colour over drying layers.


Riggers - This long, thin, round brush works well with fluid paint. Originally used to paint the rigging on ships in paintings, they're the fine liners of the brush world. Riggers brushes make long continuous strokes helpful in painting fine details, such as branches, lettering, and calligraphies.


Stipplers - Stippling brushes are similar to riggers, except they have stiffer bristles. They work well for creating detailed backgrounds and for working with dry media.


Foam brushes - Foam brushes are soft and flexible. They are ideal for use with acrylics and other mediums that don’t absorb much paint. Foam brushes are great for creating texture and for creating interesting effects.


Palette knives are flat blades used to scrape excess paint off your palette.

They are handy for removing unwanted paint from the sides of your canvas.






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