Painting
brushes are highly efficient for painting all areas, small, medium or
large and for all types of paint. Oil painting brush is made from stiff
or soft hairs, which can be either natural hairs or synthetic fibers.
Soft brush are ideal for thin paint which spreads easily, and for
detailed work as they form a sharp point which allows for precision
painting. Robust, hard brushes are ideal for pushing around thick paint
and for creating brush marks in the paint.
Filaments used in paint brushes are hog bristle and other animal
bristles, as well as man-made filaments, both tapered and level,
including nylon, polyester and other level synthetics. Tapered polyester
filaments are recommended for all paints. They do not absorb water or
lose resiliency as do natural bristles and nylon. Natural bristles work
well only with oil-based paints. Nylon can be used with latex paints or
oil-based paints.
Oil Painting brushes have a high percentage of bristles with flagged
(split) ends, which is important for holding and spreading paint. The
better the flagging, the more paint a brush will hold and the fewer the
brush marks left on the painted 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.
