Selecting Brushes

Art supply catalogs contain a tremendous variety of brush types along with a price range from several dollars to several hundreds of dollars.  With the many choices available, what should be considered when selecting a watercolor brush?

First is the type of hair or filament used.  Generally, watercolor brushes are made from soft hairs and not bristles.  Natural fibers include sable, squirrel, ox hair, pony and goat.  Synthetic fiber brushes and synthetic/natural hair blended brushes have recently gained acceptance.  The kinds of materials used will, of course, determine the prices.

Of all natural fibers, brushes made from sable hair are universally recognized to be the best for watercolor painting.  Qualities which make sable hair ideal are its needle-like point, its resilience, and its fine taper from the thicker central part of the hair to the tip, which serves to hold a reservoir of color.  No other fiber offers this combination of assets.  Since there are several grades of sable hair, one should be cautioned to buy brushes from only a reputable manufacturer.

In addition to the choice of brush fibers, you must select from a variety of brush shapes and understand the intended purpose of each.  The round watercolor brush is the most common style and also the most versatile.  Its sharp, tapered point can trace the finest line, while the full body can carry a large amount of color to the painting surface for general brush work.  Of round brushes, the Series 7 sable brush by Winsor & Newton is considered by many to be the best of premium brushes.  It is manufactured under rigorous standards, using only hand-selected premium grade sable hair.

Designer "pencils," very small brushes, are slimmer than the conventional round brushes and are ideal for precise work in tightly confined spaces.  Flat wash brushes are generally used for covering broad areas and for applying fluid washes.  They are available in sizes up to three inches wide with the brush head built in a flat, square style.  Smaller sizes are useful for cutting a hard line of color.  Aquarelle flat wash brushes are a variation on traditional flat wash brushes, but have a plastic handle with a beveled tip which is used to scrape away color for highlighting effects.

Round or oval mop brushes are used to lay down large areas of color, particularly for a wet-on-wet technique.  They are commonly used to moisten paper prior to painting.  One-stroke brushes are designed for lettering and poster work, but are also useful for painting in tempera, gouache and casein.  Shape is similar to the flat wash brush, but the hair is longer out of the ferrule, allowing for excellent color-holding capacity.

TIP:  To care for watercolor brushes, rinse off paint residue under clear running water.  The, using a mild soap (not a detergent), work up a lather in the palm of the hand and use to thoroughly clean brushes until all traces of color have disappeared.  Rinse again and arrange brush hairs into correct shape.  To dry, always store flat or vertically on the end of the handle, never on the hairs.  Brushes stored for longer than a week or two should be kept in an airtight container, which should not be sealed until the brushes are completely dry.  A small amount of moth repellent such as napthalene may be added to the container.