ARTISTS & ILLUSTRATORS’ Ultimate Brush Guide
MEDIUM
The first question to ask is a simple one: with which paint medium do you intend to use the brushes? Art materials manufacturers will often tailor brushes to suit oils, acrylics, watercolours and more, so it pays to know up front.
Watercolour brushes tend to have shorter handles to suit artists sitting at a table or inclined board, whereas acrylic and oil brushes have longer handles designed for standing at an easel and allowing the whole arm to be used. Broadly speaking, oil and acrylic brushes are stiffer too, as you don’t want them to soften in warm water, whereas watercolour and ink brushes need to have a good “snap” so that they spring back into shape.
HAIR
The big choice when it comes to brushes is whether to opt for synthetic or animal hair. Of course, synthetic brushes are usually vegan-friendly, but that’s
