Lettering
brushes typically have very long hairs, generally of natural fibers,
although the scarcity of some natural fibers has fostered the
development of synthetic alternatives. A lettering brush has a round
ferrule like the liner, but the end of the hair is shaped flat instead
of pointed. This long hair gives them high color carrying capacity,
useful for producing large block letters with a single stroke. Lettering
with brushes requires more skill and patience than lettering with pens.
Two types of brushes are common to lettering. One type brush is red
sable brushes with round ferrules and square tips, this brush is called
a rigger. The second type of preferred brush is red sable brushes with
flat ferrules. These brushes are held in the same way as pencils or the
artist may use a two-finger grip on the middle of the ferrule. The brush
bristles should form approximately a 90-degree angle to the lettering
surface.
Brushes made of soft natural fibers, such as squirrel and sable,
perform best on smooth surfaces such as glass, plastic, vinyl, or metal.
For abrasive surfaces, such as rough wood, ceramics, or acrylic primed
canvas, choose a brush with a more durable fiber, such as bristle or
synthetic. Soft hairs deteriorate rapidly on a rough surface.
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.
