Watercolour Brushes

There is more to watercolour brushes than meets the eye

Watercolour artists have their own lingo and jargon when it comes to talking about watercolour brushes:
Capacity - how much water and colour a brush can hold
Point - how well the brush comes to a crisp point when wet and holds that point during use.
Snap - how quickly the bristles snap back into parallel with the handle after being bent at an angle. (This will be dependent on the types of bristle- natural animal hair or synthetic fibres).
Spring - how well the belly of the brush controls itself on the page.
Flow/Release - the rate at which the colour flows from the tip of the brush and is released onto the page.
Dump - when a brush releases all its pigment load at once onto the paper, resulting in messy blotches.

When purchasing watercolour bushes, it is always advisable to buy quality over quantity for the best effects. Watercolour brushes with bristles from natural hair (sable, squirrel, goat, ox or hog) are more expensive but likely to last a lifetime if cared for properly.
Bristles from synthetic fibres are more affordable and also have advantages - they tend to keep their full spring and snap even when wet, and if shaped properly, can be superior at holding a point.

Shape matters:
Round brushes are the main brushes for watercolour artists, producing fine lines, broader strokes and straight edges. Smaller round brushes are for detailed work and larger round brushes can be used for larger washes.
Flat watercolour brushes are also versatile for painting straight edges and filling in larger blocks of colour.
Mop and wash brushes provide great coverage and are for looser effects.
Rigger brushes have a long, thin set of hairs used for painting very thin lines and ultra-fine detailing.

Size matters:
If you are new to the world of watercolours, the variety of brush sizes can be overwhelming - from a small rigger brush for painting thin lines to the larger mop brushes for sky washes and covering large areas quickly. Round brushes are sized by number - #1 round is very small and a #20 round is very large - whereas flat brushes are sized in inches.

As an artist, slowly build up your collection of brushes as your passion for watercolour techniques grows.