You cannot do very much painting without a brush. Although some people would argue with that statement, for now, we will assume you will be using a standard artist’s brush. There are as many brushes on the market as there are paints. Some are made better than others. Do not fall under the misconception that more expensive is better. This is not always the case. I spent $20 on a brush to have the bristles fall out during my first session. I have one brush I have used for four years now that I paid $3.00 for. It is actually the best brush I own, in my opinion. The first thing you need to know is there are many different types of brushes. Each one is made from different materials for the bristles. You can order sable brushes or hog bristles. There are squirrel brushes. You can buy synthetic bristle brushes also. The truth is that most artists will find a particular set of brushes they like and use them consistently. There may be a few times when they alternate. In the long run, most will go back to the one which feels most comfortable in their hand.
You will get a feel for your favourite type of brush the more you paint. There are certain brushes which will give you a particular flow to the paint. You will either like this or you won’t. Until you practice with them, you will never know. The style of the brush can make all the difference when it comes to painting.
A fan brush is a perfect instrument to add leaves to distant trees. A liner brush will allow you to paint the perfect tree limbs on dead trees or winter trees. It can become overwhelming when trying to determine which brushes to buy. There are brush sets which give you a good selection to start with and are also inexpensive. You may just want to start with two or three good brushes until you further your experience
with painting on canvas.
You will definitely want to buy a fan brush, a liner brush, and a flat brush. You will also want to have an angle brush. Each one of these brushes can give you a certain stroke which makes it easier to paint certain things. One brush can be used to create flower petals, while another makes spectacular shrubs. The angled brush can create a perfect beard in a quick time.
You should have a blank canvas available to just practice brush strokes. You will learn how to make each stroke so the effects are beautiful. Do not get discouraged if you do not get it right the first time. With practice comes familiarity. The more familiar you are with a brush, the better of a tool it becomes. One technique which works well to help become familiar with how a brush handles is to try painting a picture only using one brush. You will quickly become familiar with what the brush can do and what it will not do. This is an old trick used by some teachers to help the student understand the limitations of each brush.