Paintbrushes
BRUSHING UP ON THE BASICS
Perhaps not enough emphasis is placed on the importance of the paintbrush, which shapes and forms each stroke of a painting. Skimping on the quality can have significant consequences, including frayed, unwieldy bristles or stray hairs that become part of the painting.
Brushes come in three basic hair types. Soft natural-hair bristles are made up of the hair of an animal (such as a weasel or badger). These bristles, which are very resilient and hold a good amount of moisture, are an excellent choice for watercolor. Soft synthetic-hair bristles are made up of man-made fibers and are recommended for acrylic paints. Bristle brushes, which have thick, coarse hair, are best for oil painting and can be either natural or synthetic.
Listed below are the most common brush shapes: fan, flat, round, and rigger. With these brushes, you can produce a wide range of strokes—as a beginner, you really don’t need more than these. And although brushes are available in a wide range of sizes, you’ll need a smaller selection than you imagine. Try starting with two flats (small and large), three rounds (small, medium, and large), a medium fan brush, and a rigger. —ETG
Fan Brush Splayed bristles in a crescent shape; great for drybrushing (page 278) and loosely dabbing on paint
Flat Brush Ideal for thick strokes, large washes, and (when used edgewise) thin lines
Round Brush Bristles taper to a soft point, allowing for a variety of stroke widths
Rigger or Liner Brush Only a few hairs thick; perfect for fine lines and details
REMEMBER THIS!
Here is an excellent piece of advice from artist Joseph Stoddard: “Use the largest brush you are comfortable with while painting a particular area. This will help you stay loose and avoid painting too much detail.”