There are a lot of things that make a good painting great. One of the most important of those things is the type of brush you use. It is your beloved tool or even your magic wand! And they come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and hair types. So let’s learn a bit about these different kinds of brushes, shall we?
This is what your typical brush is made up of:
Bristles: Also known as hairs
Ferrule: The silvery bit that connects the bristles with the handle
Crimp: The part of the ferrule that secures it to the handle
Handle: Usually made of wood or acrylic
1. Size
Believe it or not, size does matter in this case. The size of a brush is indicated by a number printed on the handle. They start from 000, 00, 1, 2 and up. This simply means - the higher the number, the bigger or wider the brush.
2. Shape
We have 2 kinds of brushes with respect to shape. The first kind is the regular shape which consists of round and flat. We also have a special brush range called speciality/hobby brushes which have different shapes like Angular, Deer Foot, Liner, Filbert, Cat’s Tongue, and Dagger. Of course, each painting entails using different kinds of brushes to achieve different uses and textures.
3. How to properly load your paint brush
Dip the brush directly into the paint up to 1/3 of the length of the bristles to prevent dripping. Tap both sides of the brush lightly against the side of the can or pail and do not scrape off the edges to retain the paint.
4. How to take care of your brushes
- Clean with cold water and use soap if necessary. Keep all of your brushes rinsed when not in use, blotted and rest them on paper towels during your project.
- Use a brush washer which not only makes it convenient to wash the brush after painting but also helps keep the brush in proper condition, when not in use.
- Never keep a used brush upright as the paint will seep into the wooden handle and spoil it sooner. It is always best to store it horizontally.
- Never rest your paintbrush with the bristles down in a cup of water as it will spoil its shape forever.
- Re-shape the brushes gently after they are cleaned up, so they are ready to be used again for another inspiration!
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