Your Guide to Choosing The Perfect Watercolor Brushes

Watercolor painting is a fascinating art form that demands precision, creativity, and the right tools. While the selection of pigments and paper is crucial, the choice of watercolor painting tools significantly impacts the outcome of your masterpiece. A high-quality brush can enhance your control, fluidity, and overall technique, allowing you to unleash your artistic vision. Since choosing the right paintbrushes is so important, we thought we’d put together a guide for the watercolor beginners out there. In this post, we explore the key qualities to consider when choosing watercolor brushes. We’ll cover everything from brush types, sizes, and shapes to the bristle materials used, so you make an informed decision and achieve outstanding results. 

Brush Types

Watercolor paintbrushes are available in a diverse range of types, each possessing distinctive characteristics that influence the marks they create on the paper. Understanding the different brush types empowers artists to choose the most suitable tools for their artistic intentions. From the precision of round brushes to the versatility of filbert brushes and the textural effects of fan brushes, each type offers a unique set of qualities. By familiarizing yourself with these brush types and their potential, you’ll be able to make informed decisions when selecting brushes for yourself. Try out a new brush shape and see what it can offer your particular style! Here are the most common options and their uses:

• Round Brushes: These versatile brushes have a round, pointed tip and a full belly, making them ideal for intricate details, fine lines, and controlled washes.
• Flat Brushes: Featuring a rectangular shape with a flat, straight edge, flat brushes are excellent for creating broad strokes, washes, and crisp edges.
• Filbert Brushes: Combining the characteristics of round and flat brushes, filbert brushes have an oval-shaped tip with curved edges. They are perfect for blending, creating soft edges, and painting foliage.
• Quill Mop Brushes: With their large, round shape and soft, absorbent bristles, quill mop brushes hold a considerable amount of water and are ideal for washes, backgrounds, and creating expressive strokes. The bristles come to a point for creating thin to thick strokes with changes in pressure.
• Fan Brushes: Recognized by their unique shape resembling a fan, these brushes have spread-out bristles that are excellent for creating textures, foliage, and special effects.
• Cat’s Tongue: Also known as a pointed filbert, this brush shape can make very thin to very broad strokes with changes in pressure. It’s a versatile brush for both loose expressive painting and controlled realism alike.
• Rigger / Liner: This extra-long round brush holds a ton of pigment and comes to a fine point so you can draw long, thin lines without going dry. You can also create calligraphic lines with small variations in pressure. These are great for linear details, branches, power lines, and signatures.
• Angle: Angle brushes are great for getting into tight corners with precision, but can also create short dots and marks with the tip, long thin lines, textures, thick to thin strokes, and broad, flat washes. The pointed tip gives you lots of control.
• Dagger: The dagger brush was originally developed for pinstriping cars, so it’s great for long thin lines as well as organic thick to thin strokes with variations in pressure. These brushes can make foliage and branches easy and natural looking.
  
  

Brush Size and Shape

The size and shape of your brush play a vital role in determining the range of strokes, level of detail, and overall expressive possibilities in your artwork. By carefully considering the brush size and shape, artists can tailor their tools to suit specific painting techniques and artistic visions. Whether you aim to create sweeping washes, intricate details, or precise lines, understanding the significance of brush sizes and shapes will help you achieve the desired results. Here are some important factors to keep in mind when choosing a watercolor brush:

• Size: These watercolor painting tools are available in a range of sizes, typically indicated by numbers or letters. Larger brushes (size 12 or above) are best for covering large areas, holding a lot more paint and water than their smaller counterparts, and applying washes, while smaller brushes (size 0 or 1) are ideal for intricate details.
• Shape: The shape of a brush impacts the type of strokes and effects it can create. Round brushes are versatile and suitable for most techniques. Flat brushes provide sharp edges and precise lines, while filbert brushes offer a softer touch and help you blend smoothly. 

Bristle Material

The bristle material of a watercolor brush is a crucial aspect that directly influences its performance, water capacity, and overall quality. Whether you opt for brushes made from natural hair or synthetic fibers, understanding the characteristics and benefits of each bristle material will guide you in selecting the ideal brushes for your watercolor painting journey. By grasping the nuances of bristle materials, you can make educated choices that enhance your artistic technique. Here’s a closer look at the two most common bristle materials:

• Natural Watercolor Brushes: Brushes made from natural hair, such as sable, squirrel, or Kolinsky sable, offer exceptional water retention, smoothness, and precision. Sable brushes, in particular, are renowned for their springiness and ability to hold a fine point. However, natural hair brushes tend to be more expensive, so they aren’t the most budget-friendly option. 
• Synthetic Watercolor Brushes: Synthetic brushes, often made from nylon or polyester, are a more affordable alternative to natural hair brushes. They have improved over the years and can now replicate the characteristics of natural hair brushes with excellent water absorption and shape retention. Synthetic brushes are also suitable for artists who prefer cruelty-free options.
• Natural and Synthetic Blend Brushes: Brushes that blend both natural and synthetic bristles offer the best of both worlds and can be an economical middle-ground with great performance.
  
  

Brush Handle and Ferrule

While often overlooked, the handle and ferrule of a watercolor brush are critical components that greatly impact an artist's comfort, control, and overall painting experience. The handle serves as the connection between your hand and the brush, while the ferrule secures the bristles in place, ensuring their durability and stability. A well-designed handle offers a balanced grip, allowing for precise movements and extended painting sessions without strain. Similarly, a sturdy ferrule prevents bristle shedding and maintains the brush's structural integrity. Here's what to consider:

• Handle: Choose brushes with comfortable, well-balanced handles that allow for a secure grip and ease of control during long painting sessions. Wooden handles, coated in a waterproof finish, are popular for their durability and tactile appeal.
• Ferrule: The ferrule holds the bristles in place and connects them to the handle. A high-quality ferrule is typically made from seamless nickel-plated brass or aluminum. Hand-tied quill brushes are also considered high quality. Ensure the ferrule is securely attached to prevent the shedding of bristles during painting.
  
  

Testing and Care

To truly understand the capabilities and suitability of watercolor paintbrushes, you need to put them to the test and ensure they receive proper care throughout their lifespan. Testing different brushes allows you to assess their performance, versatility, and responsiveness to your artistic techniques. Additionally, taking care of your brushes is essential to extend their lifespan and ensure consistent performance. With thorough testing and diligent care, you can forge a lasting partnership with your brushes, enabling you to unleash your creativity with confidence and achieve remarkable artistic results. Here are our testing and care tips:

• Testing: Visit an art supply store or attend workshops to test different brushes, observing their feel, flexibility, and water-holding capacity. Experiment with various strokes and techniques to gauge the brush's performance and suitability for your style.
• Care: After every painting session, make sure to rinse your brushes thoroughly with mild soap or brush cleaner. It's important to avoid leaving them in water as it can harm the bristles. To avoid deformation, it's recommended to store your brushes horizontally and never leave them head down in water for long periods.

Unleash Your Creativity with the Perfect Brushes

Choosing the right watercolor painting tools is a critical step in achieving remarkable artistic outcomes. By understanding the various brush types, sizes, shapes, bristle materials, handles, and ferrules, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your artistic style and preferences. Remember to test brushes before committing to a purchase and care for them diligently to ensure their longevity. Once you have your brushes, take the time to play with them on scrap paper and find out everything they can do and what they’re best used for. With the perfect watercolor paintbrushes in hand, you'll unlock new levels of creativity and produce breathtaking watercolor paintings that truly reflect your artistic vision!