How to Select Watercolor Brushes for Painting

Most artists feel that painting with watercolor should be done with fine brushes made of sable. This is a natural hair product used by serious art enthusiasts. Some less expensive imitation sable brushes made of nylon are available for an adequate texture. This is a good choice for an intermediate or beginner artist.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Short-handled brush
• Soap and cleaning solution
• Paper
• Fine sable brush

1. Choose a brush that is well made for your watercolor painting. Select brushes for watercolor made of fine hair such as sable, pure red sable or other hair fibers.
2. Select the right handle for your brush. Watercolor artists tend to use a standard handle brush. Plan on finding a brush with a handle length of approximately 6 to 7 inches. To create detailed work artists generally like to work closer to the medium.
3. Create better brush strokes by using a sable (or similar) fiber material. This will help you perform better techniques since the sable head retains more of the paint when you touch the paper or canvas.
4. Consider using a good type of brush such as a Kolinsky. This natural hair brush has a pointed round tip. Watercolor painters like this brush since it has a good slender tip and provides a lot of flexibility.
5. Explore other types of brushes for watercolor use. Some less expensive offerings include squirrel hair bristles. You can utilize this brush for simple techniques, but overall it's pretty limiting.
6. Learn about the watercolor brushes currently used by artists. Peruse the art department of local colleges to find out about seminars, workshops and events. Get supplies and watercolor brush information at Blick Art Materials online (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• The belly of the head of a paint brush refers to the area of the brush where most of the watercolor congregates in the roundest section of the brush.
• A lot of very good brushes on the market are created with manmade materials. This has resulted mostly due to the high price and limited supplies of natural hair for brushes. Practice with a selection of different brushes to see what works best for you and your budget.
• Damage can occur to your paintbrushes if you do not care for them. Keep up with cleaning your brushes. Dirt can build up at the tips and paint can get clogged between the bristles and the ferrule (metal clasp). Use soap and water or a brush cleaning solution to keep them tidy.

Who Can Help:

• Find Decorators & Designers Here. Compare Up to 4 Quotes, Free Service & No Obligation.