Brushes » Brush Parts & Accessories » Brush Heads

The very nature of a work may call for several styles of brush heads to be used in order for the artist to capture the exact details and desired effects. Offered for painting, cosmetic & for general purposes, brush-heads are available in every conceivable shape - round, flat, filbert, liner, shader, fan, wash, mop etc. The shape of the hairs or the fibers, their placement in the ferrule and the design of their tip all help the paint brush create a multitude of different results. Be it canvas or crafts, there are brush head available for every need.

Round: Good choice for both broad strokes and for thinner detail work. Longer taper hairs are placed in a round ferrule. Its fine point makes it easy to use in tight areas. Apply pressure to produce thicker lines. Ideal for oil, watercolors and acrylic paint.

Flat: Excellent choice for applying color, for blending and for stroke work. Longer taper hairs or fibers are used in the ferrule.

Bright: Similar to a flat, it has shorter and less flexible hair or fibers. It offers the best control for details and is suggested for blending oil paint. It produces brush marks as well as thin lines with the stiff edge. Ideal for oil paints.

Fan: Resembling a fan, it is used for blending, often dry. Identical length hairs are slightly separated and placed in a flat ferrule with an extra extension to keep hairs separated. Used to blend heavy paint to achieve soft shading effects. Ideal for oil and acrylic paints. May also be used in ceramics.

Filbert: Also known as "Cat's Tongue." A flat brush with a rounded end, it is excellent for blending, as well as producing both large and precise applications. Ideal for oil and acrylic paints.

Wash: Designed for maximum water take-up. the hairs or fibers are tied with wire in a hollow shaft as the ferrule. Excellent choice for soft edges and a flowing effect. Can also be used for base coating surfaces and varnishing painted objects. Ideal for watercolors and crafts.

Stencil: Brush used for rubbing paint. The hair or fiber bundles are short and straight. Most often used in crafts with stencils. Ideal for acrylic and oil paints, used in crafts.

Liner: Used for fine detail stroke work. These soft brushes have the long length of the hairs or the fibers out. This brush offers free and flexible handling. Ideal for oil and acrylic paints, used in crafts, scroll work and china painting.

Brushes used for acrylics have long handles that allow the artist to work at a distance from the canvas. Acrylic paints are more caustic than oils, so acrylic brushes are designed with synthetics and bristle. Acrylic brushes are usable in other mediums, particularly oils, while brushes designed specifically for oil painting and watercolors are unsuitable for acrylics. Artists can very effectively use glazing and layering techniques when using acrylic brushes.

Both natural and synthetic bristles can be used with acrylics, depending on the artist's preference. But, acrylics, being alkaline in nature, can be hard on natural hair brushes. Those made with high quality synthetics have excellent durability and offers excellent stiffness, snap and hair shape retention for maximum control. The brushes must be kept clean. If acrylic paint dries in a brush it is very hard to get out without using strong solvents that might damage the brush. Brushes are cleaned promptly by washing them with warm water and mild soap when finished painting.