A £100 sable brush won’t turn you into Monet overnight. Here’s how to pick brushes that suit your style, without overspending.
Brushes by Medium
- Oils: Stiff bristles (hog/horsehair) for texture.
- Acrylics: Synthetics (nylon/Taklon) stand up to heavy use.
- Watercolour: Soft sable/synthetic blends for smooth washes.
My Hack: I colour-code handles with tape (blue for watercolours, green for acrylics) so that I don’t mix up my brushes and use them across mediums. If I do decide I need to use a watercolour brush for an oil or acrylic piece, having a colour code means I know where to return it to once washed.
When to Splurge vs. Save
- Splurge: A single high-quality round brush for detail work (e.g., Winsor & Newton Series 7).
- Save: Bulk packs of flats/filberts for bold strokes and underpainting.
Care Tips:
- Clean brushes immediately after use (especially with acrylics). If you don’t, trying to get them back into working order is a lost cause.
- Reshape bristles before drying to prevent curling. I leave my brushes hanging over the edge of my sink to dry and then I place them bristles up in old yoghurt pots.
Final Truth: Great brushes help, but technique is king. A skilled artist can work magic with a cheap £5 brush, so my advice is to invest in practice first!
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