Oil Paint BrushesOil paint brushes come in various sizes and shapes. These are ROUNDS, FAN, BRIGHTS, MICRO, FILBERTS, FLATS and SCRIPLINERS. They usually have a longer handle than watercolor paint brushes and have various types of bristles in them. These could be sable,white hog hair, or sythetic filament, or a mixture of sable and synthetic. There are student and professional grade brushes. As a beginner you should buy the best brush you can afford in order to get the best painting results. Stay away from cheap brands as these will shed bristle hair and lose their shape very easily. As a beginner you should have a few brights, flats (longer bristles) rounds and a fan for blending. You will learn as you begin to paint that the type of brush lends itself to what you are painting. Here is what a round brush looks like...
A round brush is used mainly for detail work. They have a pointed tip which makes them ideal for careful detail painting. A filbert brush usually has a tapered bristle to it. Many portrait painters use a filbert brush along with other types of brushes. This is an example of a filbert brush.....
A filbert brush has rounded tips to give distinctive oval-ended marks. As a landscape painter I use brights, flats and rounds mostly. Sometimes I'll use a micro brush for small detail work. Here is another example of some brights and flats....
Brights have shorter bristles than flats. This makes them stiffer and stronger. Brights are good for scrubbing and working paint into surface texture. Also for carrying large load of thick, heavy paint. Brights are absolutely essential for painting with oils. Another type of brush is a fan brush. People use this type of brush for blending colors or using it to make grass or other effects. It is a good idea to have a fan brush. Here is what they look like.....
As you begin to paint you will have a few paint brushes and then some more and then some more and build up your collection. Because I have been painting for quiet awhile I have a good collection and always like to have more. Here is my collection of oil painting brushes....
When you paint with oil paint brushes you start with a broom and end with a toothpick! This is the order of sizes you use. For more information on HOW to paint different techniques go to the painting techniques menu bar.
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