#Paintbrush sizes pro#

These types of brushes can be used over standard flat surfaces or for cutting into small or intricate areas such as skirting boards etc. Types of brushesĪvailable in a wide variety of sizes, this is your standard paintbrush with long bristles and a flat top. With so many different types of brushes in a variety of bristle materials, it can be very confusing as to which brush/s you require.

#Paintbrush sizes pro#

Some of my personal favourites are Princeton Brush, Pro Arte, Escoda, Daler Rowney and Raphael.Īnd with all paintbrushes, the most important thing is to take good care of them.This guide to buying paint brushes will help you understand the difference in brushes and which ones will be better suited for your particular project. If you’re not sure, it’s best to go with a reputable brand. Once a bristle is damaged, it’s harder to fix it. And make sure all the hairs are pointing in the same direction – cheap brushes have hairs that aim in all different directions. Look for round brushes that have a nice pointy tip. It can create nice thick strokes or fine thin ones, so it’s like having two brushes in one. I also strongly recommend having at least one round brush, because it’s so versatile. Try synthetic brushes first – many beginners find them easier to control. With that being said, here are my top tips for finding the best watercolour brush for you. Art supplies are very personal, and you may hate something that other people love. These three sizes are usually enough for watercolour beginners to get started, but you’ll soon see what you use more of as you start watercolour painting.Ĭaveat alert! Finding the best watercolour brush largely depends on your preferences. You would be better to start with a size 2 mop for something medium. If you want a mop brush, be aware that mop brush sizes are different to regular round brushes – a size 6 mop will be very large. You can use a smaller round size like 2 or 1 for details, and a bigger size 12 or 16 round brush for larger, looser work and watercolour washes. Many watercolourists use a size 6 round brush, which is a good medium size. I know from experience how easy it is to get mixed up when you’re buying brushes online! What size brushes are best for watercolour painting? For example, a 5/0 brush has a very small ferrule and very short bristles. Note that very small brushes are numbered in fractions. Bear in mind that sizes can differ between brands too.

Most often, sizes go up from 0 to 10, and then increase in intervals of twos or more, all the way to 24 or even larger. Brush sizes are numbered, and the bigger the number, the wider the brush. The final part of the puzzle is to choose the size. Read my guide to watercolour brush types for more sizes and shapes. These have long bristles that are good for creating smooth long lines. These watercolour brushes have rounded edges can be used flat or on their sides to make interesting marks. They’re good for painting with a lot of water and loose work, but bear in mind they are most commonly made of animal hair like squirrel. You’ll recognise these from the plastic ferrule. These are large round watercolour paintbrushes that hold more water. A large flat brush can cover the paper quickly, ensuring equal water content that’s great for blending. They are great for lines, edges and geometric shapes, as well as watercolour washes. They work as two-in-one brushes, because they have a pointy tip that can be used to create fine strokes, and a wider belly where they are pressed down on the watercolour paper, which creates thicker strokes.įlat watercolour brushes have a flat ferrule and usually short, squared bristles. The most common brushes for watercolour are round brushes. There are dozens of different watercolour brush shapes and types. Some brands create mixed brushes that use both natural and synthetic fibres to get the benefits of both at a more affordable price.īe aware that some brands also have a natural and synthetic version of the same brush, so it’s worth checking you’re getting the right one, especially if you’re ordering online! Watercolour brush shapes This is sometimes referred to as having a good ‘snap’, meaning the fibres snap back to a straight position after you lift them off the page. Synthetic watercolour brushes tend to be a little firmer than real ones and hold their shape better, making them easier to control. In truth, modern synthetic brushes paint and perform in a very similar way to animal hair brushes – the quality is almost the same. The most common type of synthetic hair is called Taklon, and is usually ‘gold’ to mimic the sable hair, though it can be brown or white too. Synthetic watercolour brushes are designed to mimic the real ones but using synthetic fibres.