Angular: This brush has shortish hairs, usually made of natural bristle or synthetic (set in a flat ferrule). The hairs are set at an angle (one end longer than the other). This makes the brush useful for precise lines, strokes and curves. The brush is suitable for using thick or heavy color. Media: Water color, Acrylic, Decorative
Bright: Shortish hairs, the length and width of the brush head is about equal set (in a flat ferrule). Hairs can be sable, mongoose, bristle, badger or synthetic. The handle is usually long.
This brush is useful for short, controlled strokes and suitable for thick or heavy color. Media: Oil, Acrylic, Decorative.
Fan: Fan-shaped spread hairs (flat ferrule). The brush is used mainly for smoothing and soft blending and therefore natural hair like bristle or badger, is most often used. Synthetic hairs are good when textural effects are required. Media: Oil, Acrylic, Decorative.
Filbert: Oval-shaped brush with medium to long hairs (thick flat ferrule) and a long handle. The rounded edge made of natural hairs like sable, mongoose, badger and bristle, hold together when wet and make this style brush suitable for blending and figurative work. Brush is also available in synthetic hair. Media: Oil, Acrylic, Decorative.
Flat Bristle (My most used brush): Square-ended brush with medium to long hairs (flat ferrule). The brush holds lots of color capacity and offers easy maneuverability. Perfect for bold, sweeping strokes and also has good fine line capability when used on its edge. Great for underpainting large areas. The brush can hold heavy filling for heavier paints. Hairs are available in all natural and synthetic types. Media: All media
Hake: Long hairs (squirrel, goat, ox, bristle, synthetic) set in a shaped flat handle. This oriental-style wash brush is useful for laying in large areas of watercolor, wetting surfaces and for absorbing excess media. Media: Watercolor
Highliner (aka outliner): Extra long hairs (sable, squirrel, synthetic), set in a rounded ferrule and in a thin arrangement with squared end, usually with a short handle. The brush offers large color carrying capacity and useful for delicate lettering, outlining and long continuous strokes. Media: Ink, Sign paint
Mop: This brush is a round version of the flat was brush. The soft absorbent natural hairs (usually squirrel) make it useful for laying large areas of water color, wetting surfaces and for absorbing excess media. Media: Watercolor.
One stroke: Medium to long hairs (sable, squirrel, ox, synthetic) with squared ends, set in a flat ferrule. Usually with a short handle. Brush has a large color carrying capacity and useful for painting block letters in a single stroke. Media: Oil, Ink, decorative, Sign paint
Oval wash: This brush can come in varied shapes. Usually set in a flat ferrule and rounded hairs with no point (Squirrel, ox, bristle, synthetic). This brush produces a soft edge. A wash brush is useful for laying in large areas of water or color, for wetting the surface, and for absorbing excess media.
Media: Watercolor
Quill: This brush has a permanent or detachable handle with a plastic or natural quill ferrule. Long hairs, form a natural-shaped tip. The writer has a round ferrule and a short handle. Useful for lettering and poster work. Good on smooth surfaces such as glass. Media: Ink, Sign paint
Round: Hairs (natural and synthetic) set in a round ferrule form a round or pointed tip. Brush has many uses - detail, wash, fills and thin to thick lines. The pointed round style is used for fine detail. A pointed round with very short hairs is especially good for details (called a detailer). Media: All media
Sash: The tapered bristles hairs set on a long handle are perfect for detailed work on large paintings. Also good for delicate decorative painting. Media: Oil, Acrylic, Decorative.
Script/liner: The Script brush has very long hairs that form a point. The Liners have shorter hairs and narrower. Both have short handles and round ferrules and made from sable, ox and synthetic hair. Having large color carrying capacity these brushes are useful for delicate lettering, highlighting, outlining, and long continuous strokes. Media: Watercolor, Decorative, ink, Sign paint.
Square wash: As seen above, Wash brushes come in varied shapes and come in hairs such as (squirrel, ox, bristle and synthetic). The square wash can produce varying shapes and widths, and often has a short, "flat-footed" handle for scraping, burnishing, and separating watercolor paper from blocks. A wash brush is useful for laying in large areas of water or color, for wetting the surface, and for absorbing excess media. Media: Water color
Types of Brushes
Don't forget to preserve your finished painting to give them lasting beauty.
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