Why Your Brush Choice Matters
Walk into any art supply store and you'll face an entire wall of brushes — flat, round, fan, filbert, rigger — in dozens of sizes, made from natural or synthetic hair, priced from a few cents to over a hundred dollars. How do you choose?
The truth is, no single brush does everything well. Each shape was designed to solve a specific painting problem, and understanding what each does will dramatically improve your painting experience and results.
Brush Shapes and What They Do
Round Brushes
Round brushes come to a point at the tip and are the most versatile shape available. They can produce thin lines (using the tip) or broader strokes (using the belly). Ideal for detail work, outlines, and expressive mark-making. Every painter should own at least one round brush.
Flat Brushes
Flat brushes have square-ended bristles and are excellent for bold, straight-edged strokes, covering large areas, and sharp corners. They're a workhorse brush for blocking in color and architectural details.
Filbert Brushes
A filbert is essentially a flat brush with rounded edges — oval or almond-shaped. This makes it exceptionally versatile: it can blend, create soft edges, and cover area without leaving harsh marks. Many portrait painters consider the filbert their primary brush.
Fan Brushes
Fan brushes are spread in a wide, fan shape. They're excellent for blending, soft foliage textures, and hair effects. Less useful as a primary brush, but invaluable for specific tasks.
Liner / Rigger Brushes
These long, thin brushes hold a reservoir of paint and release it in a fine, consistent line. Rigger brushes were originally used to paint ship rigging — hence the name. Perfect for very fine details, signatures, grasses, and calligraphic strokes.
Understanding Bristle Types
| Bristle Type | Best Medium | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Hog/Bristle (natural) | Oil, heavy acrylic | Stiff, holds thick paint, leaves texture marks |
| Sable (natural) | Watercolor, oil | Very soft, excellent spring and point — premium cost |
| Synthetic (nylon) | Acrylic, watercolor, oil | Durable, affordable, suitable for all mediums |
| Goat/Squirrel (natural) | Watercolor (wash) | Very soft, holds huge amounts of water, no spring |
Understanding Brush Sizes
Brush sizes are numbered, but frustratingly there's no universal standard — a size 6 from one brand may be larger or smaller than a size 6 from another. In general:
- Sizes 000–2: Very fine detail work
- Sizes 4–8: Mid-range, most commonly used
- Sizes 10–20+: Large coverage, backgrounds, washes
A good starter set might include a size 2 round, a size 6 round, a size 6 flat, a size 8 filbert, and a size 10 flat for backgrounds.
Caring for Your Brushes
Even inexpensive brushes last much longer with proper care:
- Never let paint dry in the bristles — rinse immediately after use
- Clean with soap and water for acrylics; use brush cleaner or odourless mineral spirits for oils
- Reshape the tip after washing and let brushes dry horizontally or bristle-up
- Never store wet brushes bristle-down — water pools at the ferrule and loosens the glue
- For oil painting, use a brush basin with a coil insert to suspend brushes while you work
The Bottom Line
You don't need dozens of brushes to create great paintings. Start with a small, quality selection — three to five brushes in different shapes and sizes — and learn them deeply. As you develop specific needs (finer detail, smoother blending, larger washes), add targeted brushes to your collection. Quality over quantity always wins.