Brushes | Materials

TOOLS

Brushes

A brush is the artist's most direct extension of the hand — the point where intention becomes mark. Unlike paint or surface, which the artist responds to, a brush is chosen and controlled; its shape, hair, and size determine what kind of gesture is even possible before the first stroke is made. There is no single correct brush. There is only the right brush for the mark you are trying to make.

Properties ▾

Classification by shape: Round, Flat, Filbert, Fan, Rigger/Liner, Mop, Angle, Dagger — each shape produces a distinct family of marks Classification by hair: Natural (hog bristle, kolinsky sable, squirrel, goat, ox, badger) vs Synthetic (nylon, Taklon polyester) Natural hair strengths: superior paint/water holding capacity, natural taper to a fine point, prized for oil and watercolour Synthetic strengths: consistent performance regardless of humidity, resistant to solvents and repeated washing, cruelty-free, better suited to acrylic's alkaline chemistry which breaks down natural hair faster Stiffness scale (soft to firm): squirrel → goat → sable → synthetic (varies by filament) → ox → hog bristle

Techniques ▾

Reading brush sizes

Numbers are NOT standardised across manufacturers — a size 6 from one brand may differ significantly from a size 6 from another. Sizes generally run 10/0 (smallest) through 000, 00, 0, then 1 through 8 increasing by one, then by twos above 8 (10, 12, 14...). Always compare actual brushes when switching brands, not just the number on the handle.

Choosing natural vs synthetic: If you paint in oil or watercolour and want maximum paint-holding capacity and a naturally tapered point, natural hair remains superior. If you paint in acrylic, synthetic is now the technically correct choice, not just the economical one — acrylic's chemistry degrades natural hair faster than oil or watercolour do.

Loading a brush: Pick up paint into the belly (the widest part) of the brush, not just the tip — a brush loaded only at the tip runs dry within a few strokes and cannot deliver a full, confident mark.

History ▾

A dedicated history of the brush — from Paleolithic hair-and-branch tools to today's engineered synthetic filaments — is coming soon.

Works in ekphra ▾