Traditionally
used by Oil painters, the standard oil brush shapes are: Filbert-
shaped like a filbert nut; Bright- flat with short bristle; Flat - flat
with long bristle; Fan - shaped like a fan and sometimes referred to as
a fan blender; Round - shaped like a bullet which comes to a blunt
point. Many oil mediums contain solvents or oils in such concentration
that they could present a hazard to the oil brushes.
Natural bristle doesn't come to a point, it actually has two or three
splits at the end, these are called 'flags'. This allows the bristle to
hold more paint, with use, the 'flags' often change color after being
stained by strong pigment, but this has no detrimental effect on the
oil brush. Besides using bristle brushes for oils, sable & synthetic
mixed or synthetic is also used. The sable and sable/synthetic mix
usually gives a softer, smoother look to the applied paint, these are
also useful for detail work. The synthetic type, range from soft to
bristle effect.
