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The choice is wide: acrylic and oil paint brushes, watercolor brushes, hobby brushes or a primer brush? Which brush is best for you depends primarily on what you want to create with it.
We would like to give you a little insight into the different brushes and their characteristics. With the right brush you can perfect your art and depending on thebrush shape, the most diverse painting techniques are possible.
"To be a good painter you need four things: a soft heart, a fine eye, a light hand and always freshly washed brushes..” Anselm Feuerbach (1829-1880)
Are you curious about the properties of oil paint? Then read our blog article: '' Oil paint: components and properties''
The history of brushes
Brushes were already used by cave painters in the Stone Age. Except themown fingers and small tubes, they also used brushes to paint walls. One of the oldest surviving cave paintings is that of Altamira. Between 16,000 and 11,000 BC. 100 animal images were painted in the 270 meter long cave. Animal hair or feathers were tied to light bones or sticks and fringed on one side. This way the colours could be applied over a large surface. Although modern materials differ from those of that time, this basic form has been preserved until our time.
Until the end of the 17th century, all artists had to tie and make their own brushes. Then in the 18th century the craft of the brush maker emerged and this craft guild deprived future artists of work. Even today, this profession can still be learned and practiced as an apprentice.
The different types of brushes
There are many different brushes which differ not only in the material, but also in their shape. In general, two basic forms can be distinguished:
- Round brushes
- Flat brushes
Other special shapes are always based on these two basic shapes. There is a wide choice of different brush shapes, which are used depending on the painting colour and the desired result. Fan brushes are ideal for oil and acrylic painting. Individual effects can be achieved especially for a naturalistic representation in portrait or landscape paintings, when a cloud or flowing water must be depicted realistically. A priming brush, on the other hand, is designed to cover a very large area of the canvas with one stroke. Priming brushes are powerful and strong, so...any paint and even thick impasto paint can be applied.
A cat's tongue brush, capsule brush or a sword brush: the choice is wide and offers every (amateur) artist different painting effects.
Do you want to master painting better? Then read our blog article: '' Learning to paint: 4 painting techniques & 4 tips for the first painting ''
Brushes made from red sable hair
Brushes not only come in a wide range of shapes, but they are also distinguished by their bristles. Whether boar bristle or fine hair, both types are commonly used in art supplies. Red sable hair brushes are among the particularly high-quality ones. They are obtained from the tail of the Siberian Kilinsky marten. The exceptionally long lifespan and high quality are important properties of these brushes. Most hairs run evenly together from root to tip. The sable hairs only have a root-like thickening after a third of their length. The extremely elastic hair has a fluffy tipand is mainly used for the manufacture of the finest artist brushes.
The right brush for every colour
Every artist knows that only certain brushes are suitable for different colours. Only with the right brush will you get the desired result. Therefore, a distinction is made between the following types of brushes:
- Acrylic paint brushes and oil paint brushes
- Watercolor brushes
- Hobby brushes for creating Paint by Numbers works of art.
