Oil Brushes

Oil Brushes - bringing the skills of the traditional masters to your contemporary artwork

If oil painting is your art medium of choice, you will need a selection of oil brushes that are specifically designed to move the oil paint against the grip of the canvas fabric fibres. The best oil brushes for this are hog bristle brushes (natural or synthetic), in different shapes and sizes.

The most common types of oil brushes for your art supplies kit are:
FIlbert - the most versatile of all oil brushes, it has an oval shape combining the characteristics of flat and round brushes. It can also be used for mixing oil paints.
Flat - for accuracy and covering large areas
Round - coming in different sizes, round oil brushes are used for detailed work and delicate techniques.
Bright - this is a short flat brush for applying and moving oil paint easily against the grip of the canvas as the bristles bend less.
Fan - these brushes are for feathering and softer techniques like painting grasses etc and for gently covering larger areas.
Angular - the different angles and hair lengths allow the artist to create unique brushstrokes and precise details.
Mop - A mop brush is excellent for blending and removing brushstrokes and can also be used for varnishing and glazing.

Oil brushes typically come with long handles (unlike watercolour brushes which have short handles).

Whatever stage of your creative oil painting journey you are at, make sure you buy the best quality oil brush you can afford and slowly build up your collection of different shapes and sizes.