Now that you are familiar with the 6 basic types of brushes, how to maintain and clean them, you are now ready to see what each brush can do.

ROUND BRUSH

This brush enables you to add fine details when you need control over the size and flow of the paint. Typically they are used with thinner rather than thick paint but can also be used dry. Good for sketching, outlining, detailed work, controlled washes, filling in small areas and stippling.

The beginning of the stroke is pointed due to the shape of the bristles. You can create thin to thick to thin lines (thin at the tip and growing wider when more pressure is applied and reducing pressure at the end).

The ‘comma’ stroke can also be created by initially applying pressure and gradually decreasing pressure as you pull the stroke in the shape of a ‘C’.

FILBERT BRUSH

Filbert brushes are often used when the shape you are painting is circular.

Using the brush on its side will create a stroke that tapers at both ends which is excellent for stems and leaves.

This brush is great for blending and creating soft, rounded edged flower petals. Tapping the tip lightly on your surface can create a stipple effect.

FLAT BRUSH

This thicker brush allows for a large amount of paint to be picked up at one time allowing you to cover a large area quickly. It is recommended for wide strokes, sealing and varnishing finished pieces. Acrylic painters are often encouraged to use large flat brushes to create a bold, looser style of painting. The beginning and end of the stroke is straight in conjunction with the shape of the bristles.

Using the brush on its side can create thin lines for stripes and plaids, wavy and thin lines (when using the tip) and diamond shapes (when pulled on a diagonal).

Alternating pressure at one end or both can be used to create leaves. Pressing down and then rolling the brush to one side as you pull up can create an interesting shape that can simulate a flower bud. Gently tapping the tip of the brush can create a stipple effect.

Pulling the brush along the thin side creates thin lines for botanical items like stems, leaves, grass, feathers, petals.

ANGLED WASH BRUSH

Often known as one of the artists’ most favourite brushes, this brush has an angled or slanted tip which is useful for applying paint to large or small areas. It fits into tight corners, and can create straight and curvy lines of different thicknesses.

These brushes can create a crisp clean edge between two objects.

This brush is ideal for adding a shadow or highlight to your project. This ‘float’ as it is called, is done by dipping your brush into water, tapping it on a paper towel, dipping the tip of the toe into paint and then wiping back and forth on your palette to move the colour across your brush creating a gradient.

FAN BRUSH

We often think of this brush as being used to paint nature elements in landscapes (trees, grasses, shrubbery, leaves, fur, feathers, water) but they are also excellent for adding textures (long thin parallel lines, dots) to designs.This brush is your best choice if you want to blend backgrounds, skies, clouds and add subtle highlights in dark areas

The key to using this brush is the correct amount of water, paint and pressure. When using a fan brush, thin your paint down to ink consistency (50% water) similar to what you would use for liner work. Load the paint onto the tips of the bristles. If the bristles are stuck together wipe them on your palette until the bristles spread out. Hold the brush handle at a 90 degree angle. Don’t apply any pressure, just lightly draw the brush across the surface of the painting to get fine lines.

You can also create cross hatch effect by pulling one direction and then the opposite.

For acrylics, use strong sturdy brushes to prevent the paint from clumping.

LINER OR SCRIPT LINER BRUSH

These very thin brushes with long bristles are usually used in the final stages of painting for adding fine details and when you need full control and want to create very thin, crisp lines. They are excellent for letters, numbers, words and signatures.

The key to painting a thin line is to use paint that is ‘ink consistency’ – 50% water – which allows the paint to flow and spread more smoothly.

Strokes that taper at one end or both are created by applying pressure (spreading out the bristles) at one end, or in the middle and gradually lifting the brush up at one or either end. A ‘comma’ stroke can also be created using this technique by curing the stroke into the shape of a ‘C’ lifting up the brush at the end of the stroke.

Don’t forget the end (tip) of these brushes which can be used to create dots, ovals or tear drop shapes.