Acrylic Brushes

Get the lowdown on acrylic brushes

For an artist who loves working with acrylics, selecting and building up a collection of acrylic brushes can be a confusing exercise. As beginners, it is tricky to know the combination of shape, brand and size to suit your specific painting needs.

Brush Sizes:
Small-size brushes are for detailed work, mid-size brushes are for versatility, and large-size brushes are for painting larger areas and wash techniques. You can also choose between short handle or long handled brushes. If you are working on an easel, then acrylic brushes with longer handles are more suitable. Start with a couple of quality mid-sized brushes (size 6-8) and then slowly add smaller and larger brushes depending on your budget and painting style as different brushes are used for different effects and techniques.

Synthetic vs natural:
The advantage of acrylics is that you can use either synthetic fibre bristles or natural animal hair bristles. But on the whole, synthetic brushes are a better option as acrylic paint can damage natural hair brushes over time.
Synthetic acrylic brushes are made from nylon or polyester and can be stiff or soft, able to cope with the acrylic resin. They can also sit in water without being compromised.

Popular acrylic brushes:
A wash brush is a larger, thicker brush and a firm favourite for quickly covering large parts of a canvas.
An angled brush with a slanted tip is a go-to brush for many acrylic artists. It gives you the flexibility of going from thick to thin strokes with one brush and for creating curves.
A flat brush is super for controlled wider strokes and more coverage.
A fan brush is any acrylic artist’s BFF, ideal for feathered techniques and painting grasses, trees, shrubs or any abstract watery effects. A fan brush will also help with blending backgrounds or adding subtle highlights to darker areas.
A round brush is for more controlled detailed work and the handles are slightly narrower, mimicking the way you would hold a pencil.
A liner brush, which is very long and thin, will help with very fine detailing. It also helps if you want to add lettering to your artwork or to sign your masterpieces.

But at the end of the day, as Picasso said, “Learn the rules like a pro so that you can break them like an artist.”

While some brushes are more common for different methods and techniques, there is certainly no wrong brush and it is totally up to you to decide which acrylic brushes you are most comfortable working with.
Art should be fun, so just start experimenting and creating your next masterpiece.