"A Quick Brush with Art"

11/30/2024

Tricks and Tips – Visual Art

A Quick Brush with Art

Perhaps one of the most crucial factors in the field of painting is the selection of your brushes. A good brush lets you control the amount of paint and the detail you are seeking in your finished work.

Here are five frequently used brush types:

Filbert = flat head with a rounded tip

Bright or Flat brush = flat head with a square tip (straight edged)

Round brush = round head with a pointed tip

Angular Flat or Shader brush = flat head with an angled edge

Fan Brush = flat head with a hand-fan shape

Every brush type has a variety of sizes. There are also long and short length handles. Longer handles are often used when painting on an easel. Shorter handles are more often used for painting on flat surfaces such as a desk or table top. As you begin to figure out your own painting style and subject matter, you will be better able to determine the sizes.

Again, in my blogs, I am trying not to recommend any specific brand. However, you will want to get quality brushes for your work. Otherwise, you may find that the bristles fall out or the metal section that connects the tip to the handle may come apart easily.

Also, it is important to know that the brush tips made of natural hair like hog’s hair brushes, can be very stiff or when put in water for cleaning can become very soft and loose their shape. They become more like a mop than a paintbrush. Synthetic brush hairs are preferred in acrylic painting, as they tend to hold up well over time.

Warning! One of the quickest ways to destroy any brush is to place it tip down in a glass or similar container of water for the purpose of cleaning or as a holder while switching out two or more brushes while painting. This will result in the tips losing their edge and flaring. Instead, swirl the brush in your cleaning water and wipe on cloth until you get all of the paint out of the bristles. If I want to do a deep clean for a brush, I put it in a shallow pan or bowl and make sure the tip is not jammed up against the bottom or any of the sides. I often add a drop or two of dishwashing soap. Then it can sit for an overnight soak. Be sure you rinse the tip before using to flush out any paint residue and to get the soap out of it before using it again.

I tend to use the Filbert and Flat brushes to cover larger areas. Sizes 8 or 10 are good work horse brushes. Once a brush has lost its edge, it can still be used to scrub or blend paints on the canvas. It is important to use an older brush instead of a newer one. You want to keep your newer brush edges sharp for as long as possible. Scrubbing will wear down a brush in short order.

My last tip this week is to watch a video or two on the subject. I found this video:

PAINTBRUSHES 101: All about paintbrushes! Acrylic painting tips for beginners.

By Jennifer Funnell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3daCD6INXRs&t=290s

You can find more informative videos by using the search-words –“choosing acrylic paint brushes”

I hope you find this helpful and that you are enjoying the holiday season.

Follow your dreams – Make More Art! M.True