The
square wash can produce varying shapes and widths, and often has a
short, "flat-footed" handle for scraping, burnishing, and
separating watercolor paper from blocks. A wash brush is useful for
laying in large areas of water or color, for wetting the surface, and
for absorbing excess media. The very popular square wash brushes offer
an extra tool in the beveled plastic handles. They are perfect for
separating the sheets of paper on watercolor blocks and for special
scraping and highlighting techniques.
Generally, these brushes are made from soft hairs and not bristles.
Natural fibers include sable, squirrel, ox hair, pony and goat.
Synthetic fiber brushes and synthetic/natural hair blended brushes have
recently gained acceptance. Of all natural fibers, square wash brushes
made from sable hair are universally recognized to be the best for
watercolor painting. Qualities which make sable hair ideal are its
needle-like point, its resilience, and its fine taper from the thicker
central part of the hair to the tip, which serves to hold a reservoir of
color.
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.
