Thin brushes for painting. How to choose brushes for painting paintings by numbers

There are a huge variety of brushes now, and the most unusual ones. IN Once again While going through my brushes, I decided to figure out the types of bristles, what exactly is suitable for what. After all, we draw so often that we no longer think about why a squirrel is used or how a kolinsky differs from a bristle.

Squirrel

One of the most famous brushes with which many begin learning to draw. They are made from hairs from the tail of a squirrel, and the hair taken from the top of the tail is much more valuable. Such brushes are only round, very soft and elastic; they can also be used to make flute-shaped brushes (but the width of the flute is limited). They are mainly used for working with watercolors and water-based paints, because these brushes hold water well. At the same time, the protein is too delicate for oil and may begin to come out from the solvent. Squirrel hair retains its shape perfectly, does not break, absorbs moisture and washes well under running water. The squirrel brush allows you to paint without uneven stripes and blurry spots due to the fact that when in contact with paper, porcelain, earthenware, the hairs do not separate and lead a clear, directional line. Squirrel brushes need to be carefully looked after. The squirrel's hair is very thin, blue, black or brown.

I read here that the material for these brushes can be bristles different breeds Siberian squirrels.

For example, the hair of the CASAN breed is considered the thinnest. It is used to make tools used to paint ceramics and porcelain. The bristles of the TALUTKY breed squirrel are longer and are used for brushes used for calligraphy. CANADISCHE squirrels are valuable for their short, black hair. Each of their hairs has a thin tip. Therefore, this breed of squirrel makes excellent watercolor brushes.

Columns

Brushes made from its bristles are considered very valuable. The kolonok is a cross between a ferret, a marten and a mink at the same time. There are only a few of these animals in nature, and besides, it is not so easy to prepare. For example, the ponytail of a Siberian weasel produces no more than 2 g of bristles, suitable for brushes. It will make 3-4 thin brushes and 1-2 large ones. For brushes, fur is taken only from its tail and only from animals living in the river valleys of Siberia, China and Korea. Kolonkovy hair is very elastic, light and has a sharp tip. The best quality kolinsky brushes are those made from male hair caught in winter. By the way, a pile column suitable for painting is called spine. Hair color may vary. It depends on the season in which the animal was caught, generally it is golden brown in color. They are similar in quality to squirrel ones, although there are differences. The villi of the column at the very base are much stiffer and thicker, and at the tip they are softer, very elastic and elastic. The brush can be cylindrical or flat, different shades from light red to dark brown. These brushes are used for both thin and thick paints. IN oil painting They are used when making small details; core brushes are also convenient for glazing techniques on wet surfaces.

Sable

The golden mean between soft squirrel and elastic column. The peculiarity of sable brushes is that they are very durable and almost do not wear out, even when working with rough surfaces; they are made from sable tails. The brush is very flexible, picks up a large volume of paint and releases it in doses. Because of these qualities, such brushes allow you to work in various techniques, from dry brush, to wet technology. Everything can be done with one brush, which is very convenient. The best choice for working with watercolors, egg tempera, gouache. Sable brushes are quite rare and quite expensive, but they are worth it.

Marten

Weasel

An alternative to pile column. The hairs are red-brown in color, with a good sharp tip, good fullness, but not as long as that of the Kolinka.

Bristle

Quite tough, elastic and long. It is sorted by shade (available in black, gray and white) and length, treated with chemicals and bleached. The prepared bristles are doused with boiling water, after which it becomes more elastic. In finished form it has light color. Stubble High Quality produced in China and Russia.

You can distinguish this brush from others by visual inspection - the pig's hair is split at the end. It was this feature that led to the use of pig hair - the specific tip allows the brush to absorb a large volume of paint and apply it evenly, without dipping the brush again. The best brushes of this type have up to 80% split hairs, but for art brushes, calibrated unsplit bristles are still better. These brushes are chosen for painting with oil, acrylic (you don’t need to dilute), gouache and tempera. These brushes have a peculiarity - there is no ending at the beam, thanks to this the brush is able to pick up a fairly large amount of paint and retain it. The basic shape of the brush is flat, although there are cylindrical and fan shapes, as well as fluted ones.

Pony

Soft pile with a cylindrical tuft, absorbs water well. The bristles that grow behind the ears or on the back are used. Brushes are often used in schools and kindergartens to teach watercolor techniques. Brushes made from pony hair absorb paints well, but give them off worse than they absorb, they gather into a cone shape, hold their shape well, but do not have sufficient elasticity. This type hair, like that of a pony, belongs to the design group, since it does not have a sharp tip, due to this, these brushes are not very suitable for professional work. May be brown or white. Designed for working with water-soluble paint: watercolor, gouache or tempera.

Goat

Goat hair is elastic, resilient and quite long, and comes in white and yellow shades. Softer than pig bristles. The brushes retain their shape, absorb paint and water perfectly, resulting in smooth strokes. They are used in watercolor painting, calligraphy, batik and ceramic painting, and Japanese painting. It is noteworthy that for calligraphy, brushes are used mainly with bamboo handles because of their lightness. This brush is suitable for batik work because it can withstand hot wax.

Ear hair brushes

Such brushes are made from hair that is taken from the inside of the ears of oxen and cows, the quality of which is determined by the breed of the animal. Typically, such brushes are inexpensive, but durable, elastic and sensitive in use, give good results and retain their shape well. The hair has a silky texture. They are made flat and round, and brushes are also made for covering large surfaces. Oxhair brushes are used to work with oil paints, acrylic, tempera, and gouache. Cow hair brushes are used to work with almost all types of paints: watercolor, gouache, tempera, acrylic, oil paints.

Mongoose

Mongoose brushes are easily distinguished by the color of the bristles; the tip is dark brown and the base is black and white or grayish. Brushes are cylindrical or flat, elastic and slightly hard. They are usually used when working with thick paints (for example, oil and acrylic). From my own experience, I can say that it can also be used for painting with watercolors using a dry technique; it holds its shape well and has a thin tip, but does not hold water very well.

Wolf

Rather exotic for us, but quite common in the east. These brushes are made from wolf hair. They are distinguished by their special elasticity and elasticity; thanks to these qualities, such brushes are mainly used for calligraphy and Guohua painting (the style of traditional Chinese painting which uses ink and water paints on silk or paper), also the type of “wolf” brushes includes brushes made from Chinese yellow wolf, which is essentially a kolinsky brush.

Bear

Made from processed brown or polar bear. Brushes made from polar bear hair are flat in shape with a long or short hair tuft; brushes made from brown bear hair are round, as in the photo above. These brushes are less rigid, but more elastic compared to bristle brushes; they have high elasticity and softness. Used for “heavy” types of paints: oil paints. gouache, etc. Brushes made from brown bear hair are round in shape and are more soft and elastic. Used for working with tempera, watercolor, ink, etc.

Badger

The hair for these brushes is taken from the tail of a badger. Due to its properties, badger fur has become an ideal material for making butter tools. Brushes made from badger hair are softer than bristle brushes, have a conical shape, and are distinguished by their “fluffiness.” The best badger fur brushes can be identified by their white tip and a stripe in the middle.

Manufacturers sometimes imitate them by dyeing pig bristles or goat hair brushes. However, the latter cannot compare with a badger hair brush in their working properties. If you are not sure about the authenticity of the brush, pay attention to the following: if the hair does not have a “belly” or tip, and there are twisted and curled hairs along its length, then it is a goat hair brush; if there are split hairs, it is hog bristles.

Synthetics

Synthetic brushes are made from nylon, polyester and other fibers.
Nylon-based synthetic hair is hard and does not release water, so it is not suitable for watercolor painting, but for oil paints and acrylic this quality is just appropriate.
Synthetic hair based on polyesters provides varying degrees of elasticity. Hairs of different lengths and diameters are collected into a bundle, which gives a capillary effect, which allows you to use such brushes even in watercolors.

Such brushes are less prone to destruction under the influence of thinners, insects, paints, and direct sunlight. But due to mechanical stress, these brushes are inferior in wear resistance to natural ones; the bristles quickly wear out and become soft. There are many variations of mixed types of brushes made from different bristles. They mix both natural piles and combine synthetic and natural ones. Lately The production of synthetic brushes is actively developing and high-quality synthetics may well replace or complement natural bristles over time.

A short guide to different materials and types of pile.

Oil - bristle brush, kolinsky, ear hair, synthetic, badger.
Tempera - synthetic, badger, squirrel, brush bristles, kolinsky, ear hair
Gouache - ear hair, synthetics, protein, bristle brush, kolinsky
Watercolor - brush squirrel, kolinsky, synthetic imitation.
Acrylic - synthetic, brush, squirrel.

In Petrykivka painting, craftsmen themselves make brushes from cat fur hairs, the so-called cats. I even found a master class for those who like experimenting.

And here's how the brushes are assembled.

While I was writing this post, I was thinking a lot about the ethics of making natural brushes. It is clear that the technology has been developed for centuries and brushes are often made from fur production waste, but at the same time it is clear that demand can increase harvesting volumes. No one will catch animals and cut off the required amount of hair from them from the required places. Therefore, it’s like with natural fur coats - beautiful, comfortable, but how humane? I personally switched to synthetics and imitation a long time ago; natural brushes are rather rare, but I calmly paint watercolors with synthetics, not disdaining the cheapest brushes. I really hope that over time synthetics will replace natural fibers and they will become more exotic than necessary.

Once upon a time, it was quite difficult to buy a good brush. In Soviet-era stores and stationery departments there were only skinny splayed pieces of white bristles of unknown origin. It was impossible to make a thin stroke with such a brush. Watercolor paint dripped from it in a muddy puddle, and the paper was scratched. By the way, it’s worth remembering the colors themselves. These bricks are in a cardboard box, hard, dry...

You can order all the brushes mentioned in the online store for artists
http://www.kraski-kisti.ru/

Brushes were ordered to the capital for visiting relatives. Sometimes, very rarely, it was possible to get a treasure in your own city - a soft, fluffy squirrel brush. It was especially difficult to acquire a large, thick squirrel brush. And the core speakers were a dream...

Now it’s a different matter. Spreaders can now be bought in stores, they are very cheap. The cheapest ones are made of who knows what. But those that can really draw something worthwhile still need to be looked for and chosen correctly.

Oddly enough, tassels made from the hair of pony horses are common. Sounds exotic and tempting, but for work gouache paints They don't fit well. Too soft. Not elastic enough. They wipe off quickly.

The same can be said about goat brushes. Soft, do not gather into a bun with a sharp tip when wet. Unless you paint large spaces with them - they take a lot of water and paint.

Squirrel ones are good. Gathered with a sharp tip, they give an elegant stroke with a clear edge. And the colors are quite captivating. Just right for working with watercolors. True, sometimes their elasticity is not enough, and when writing with gouache, brushes made from squirrel tails are wiped off and deteriorate quite quickly - it’s a pity.

Columnar brushes (animal hair kolinsa) are considered the best for watercolor painting, gouache, and oil. Elastic, durable, with pile that gathers into a sharp tip. The drawback - if it is a drawback - is one: they are expensive. Look for core brushes at specialty art supply stores.

Brushes made of stiff bristles of different sizes are also needed. For painting with oil paints and acrylics. For gouache, when it has dried a little and you need to mix it with water...

There are now brushes on sale that combine very good qualities– strength, durability, elasticity – with a low price. These are nylon brushes. You will recognize them by the slight shine of their hair and its reddish color. When applying paint, the tip of such a brush is sharp, as it should be, and you get a good stroke. There are synthetic brushes different sizes And different shapes, round and flat. In school supply stores you will find options in two or three sizes that are quite suitable for work, and in stores for artists - professional brushes and the sets are somewhat more expensive.

For watercolor and gouache – round brushes.

For oil, gouache, acrylic, tempera, both round and flat ones are suitable. It depends on what task they have to complete. Paint over the background or work out the details... And different sizes are needed. However, usually two or three pieces are enough for work: one round thin one, another up to a centimeter thick, and another flat one made of stiffer hair.

The length of the brush is whatever is most convenient for you or your child, usually about twenty centimeters, so that it fits into a box of paints or a pencil case.

And remember, brushes need to be washed after use. If you write acrylic paints, you will simply destroy them if the dye remains on the hair. You should not leave brushes in the jar with the hair down and generally store them in such a way that the hair remains bent. Treat your artist's tool with care and it will serve you for a long time.

6 brushes, different bristles.

Review of brushes with different bristles, as well as palettes for painting. Which brush is better: squirrel, goat, kolinsky, pony, bristles or synthetic?

Which brushes are ideal depends on the quality of the brushes, paints (watercolor, oil, gouache, etc.), and the habits of the painter.

Squirrel brushes are the softest and most flexible. Colonel is soft, but elastic, it is tougher than squirrel. Modern synthetics are close in quality to columnar. It does not wear out as quickly as natural bristle brushes, and is even more convenient to use because its bristles are smoother. Most artists prefer to work with natural brushes, but synthetic brushes are also great for children’s painting.

To paint with watercolors, use brushes: squirrel, kolinsky, synthetic.

Columns Suitable for any style of painting, but it is also one of the most expensive. If you are in doubt about which brush to choose, you can use Kolinsky.

Squirrel good for watercolors, synthetics - for acrylic painting. The tip of the squirrel hair brush is sharp, in terms of fluidity control it is not inferior to kolinsky, but not as elastic as kolinsky.

Pony Usually they take it when it is not possible to take a weasel or a squirrel. Ponies are tougher than squirrels, they are closer to the column.

Pig bristle brush Best suited for acrylic and oil, it allows you to work even with very thick paint.

Badger brush good for soft paints, it is very easy to work with.

Sable In terms of properties, it combines the kolinsky and the squirrel; number 2 can be used to paint both miniatures and large works.

Nylon bristles (synthetic) Not suitable for watercolor, but great for acrylic.

The brush should not be very soft, but not too hard.

Squirrel brushes

Brushes with different bristles.

A traditional, well-known brush is a squirrel brush, it is soft, thin and elastic, the strokes are juicy and bright. It usually consists of a wooden stylus and a galvanized braid that clamps the squirrel's hair.

The squirrel brush holds its shape perfectly, does not break, absorbs moisture well and is easy to clean under running water. When in contact with paper and other surfaces (porcelain, earthenware, wood), the hairs do not separate and lead a clear line, without “stripes”.

The most valuable among artists are brushes made from the upper part of the tail of a Siberian squirrel. The best pile is located in tail whites, the hairs are the longest there.

Squirrel fur has good moisture retention properties, which makes it different from kolinka hair when working with watercolors and tempera paints. When wet, a squirrel brush gathers into one dense bunch, which is suitable for painstaking contour work. It can be kept in water for a long time.

Squirrel brushes are mostly round, but squirrel brushes can also be used to make brushes of other shapes.

So: squirrel brushes are mainly used for working with watercolors and water-based paints. Squirrel brushes are not suitable for oil paints; they are very delicate and immediately begin to peel off from the solvent.

Squirrel brushes need to be looked after, washed after use, dried, and put in a box.

Column Brushes

The Kolonok is an animal from the weasel family, its fur has excellent properties - it is soft and elastic. The bristles of the kolinsky brush adhere perfectly to water, improve the flow of paint, and are suitable for working with watercolors (including professional ones).

The core brush is the leader among brushes. The hair of kolinsky brushes is thin, elastic and has a conical shape. The paint flows from the tip of the brush in a continuous stream and with the best consistency. They are distinguished by a combination of elasticity and elasticity, while at the same time remaining soft.

From top to bottom, brushes in the photo: nylon 7, goat 7, synthetic 6, synthetic 5, kolinsky 4, squirrel 7.

Column brushes are designed for artwork With watercolor, oil, tempera, gouache and acrylic. In oil painting they are used for small details. There are round and flat.

But who is this speaker? Few have heard of this animal.

Kolinsky (lat. Mustela sibirica) is a valuable fur-bearing commercial animal, from the genus of weasels and trochees, its fur is highly valued, and long hairs from the tail are used for artists’ brushes. Kolinsky fur is very thick, soft, warm, lush.

Kolonok is a red animal, smaller in size than a cat, flexible, and has a black “mask” on its face. He hunts relatively large animals: hares, black grouse, wood grouse. It does not consume plant foods; in extreme cases, it can feed on insects. All winter he sits in a hole, moving, if necessary, under the snow. In the snow tunnels, the kolonok catches voles. He stores food for the winter and sets up entire warehouses.

You don't have to buy very expensive brushes. But cheap ones are almost never of high quality, so it’s not worth buying the cheapest ones, even for a child. You can choose the middle price category. The main thing is that the brushes have a uniform tuft of bristles when dry, without any protruding hairs. Good manufacturer protects his brushes with special caps so that the pile does not fray.

Tool Brush(Brush Tool) - the most popular instrument among digital artists, but at the same time it is one of the most difficult. When you first start working, you get that same feeling that you need a separate brush for each effect you want to create. The set of brushes that comes with Photoshop by default doesn't seem particularly suitable for such purposes, but professional artists often share their work, so you can always download something more powerful and suitable specifically for your work.

The problem is that the more complex the brush you choose, the more difficult it will be to use in the right way. And if you have ever observed the work of professionals in this field, then you have seen that most Most of the time they use either a simple round brush or a slightly textured brush. They could have used a simple default brush set and still created great work with it. But why is this not within your power?

In reality, using Photoshop is not just about pressing some buttons and expecting the program to do something for us. You can't just pick up a brush, try to paint something with it, and if it doesn't work, then start choosing another brush. And the point here is not at all in the brushes, but in the person who uses them!

In this tutorial I will show you how to create a basic set of brushes. He will be a little less than that, which comes “out of the box” with the program, and it certainly won’t confuse you. I'll also show you how to use these brushes to create a detailed image. This way, you will understand how to create freely without having to constantly search for new brushes.

1. Create a Texture Brush for Sketching

Before we begin, open the brushes menu (where you select your presets) and click Restore (reset) brushes(Reset Brushes). Oh, and don't forget to save your current set before resetting!

Step 1

Create a new document. Take the tool Polygon(Polygon Tool) and install number of sides(Sides) 3. Now draw a black triangle.

Step 2

Create a new layer. Draw a rectangle using the tool Rectangle(Rectangle Tool (U)) in mode Pixels(Pixel).

Step 3

Now go to Filter - Noise - Add Noise(Filter > Noise > Add Noise). Select distribution(distribution) by Gauss(gaussian) and turn the slider to maximum.

Step 4

Now cut our “noise” rectangle to a triangle shape. This is done by using Clipping Mask(Clipping mask) Ctrl-Alt-G.

Step 5

Change the size of the "noise" layer using the tool Free transformation(Free Transform Tool (Ctrl-T)), this will make the white areas more obvious.

Step 6

Now go to (Edit - Define Brush Preset). We're using this shape as part of a more complex brush, so don't worry about naming it.

Let's go to Brush Settings(Brush Settings (F5)). Choosing a brush Chalk(Chalk) from the list of default brushes. Set its size to 30.

Step 7

Selecting items Broadcast(Transfer), Noise(Noise) and Smoothing(Smoothing).

Step 8

Select Double brush(Dual Brush). Find our triangle in the list and select it. Next, set the settings according to the image below.

Save the brush by clicking on the white card icon at the bottom of the brush settings dialog box. Name the brush Texture Sketch.

This is my favorite brush, it's very versatile. It is both chaotic and quite precise. You can use it in the first sketching stage to get a rough idea of ​​your idea before you even know what you want to draw. Starting a painting with a free sketch is The best way creating something out of nothing, without planning, allows you to make the end result more natural and organic.

2. Create a brush for detailed sketches

Select Hard round brush(Hard Round brush). Change her Size(Size) and Intervals(Spacing) and check the checkbox Broadcast(Transfer).

That's all! Save this brush as Sketch Detail and try to draw something with it.

This brush is ideal when used as a regular pencil. The less confident you are, the more transparent your lines will be, and this means that some shortcomings and mistakes will be easy to correct. This brush feels comfortable and natural and is great for creating detailed sketches.

3. Creating a brush for large shapes and lighting

Step 1

Create a new document, grab the tool Polygon(Polygon Tool) with number of sides(sides) 6 and draw a hexagon. Next we go to Editing - Define Brush(Edit > Define Brush Preset)

Step 2

Let's go to Brush settings(Brush Settings) and set the value Interval(Spacing) 1%. Use big Size(Size) brushes.

Step 3

Place a tick in the checkbox Broadcast(Transfer). Enter the value Opacity(Opacity) depending on Pen pressure(Pen Pressure).

Translator's note: In chapter Opacity fluctuation(Opacity jitter) next to Control(Control) select Pen pressure(Pen Pressure).

Save the brush and name it Block.

This is a large, bulky brush, and with its help it is impossible to draw individual small parts. This is exactly what we need! This brush is great for painting large shapes or creating areas of light and shadow. This is quite difficult, but at the same time, it allows you to achieve an easy blending effect.

Most brush sets include what are called "blending brushes." They are typically used to hide the boundaries between colors and their shades (i.e. to create smooth transitions in color). However, it is very important to understand that when mixing, the details are everything! If you shade your creation and then mix the shading with something soft, your surface will automatically become smooth like plastic. When painting objects with an unsmooth surface, do not try to blend with a large brush. Instead, use texture brush(Texture Sketch) to draw large parts by selecting colors/shades on both sides of each transition border.

Yes, and don't worry if this step takes you a long time. It's quite normal!

4. Create a brush for inking, sharp details, and clipping masks

Step 1

Let's choose again Round hard brush(Hard Round brush). Let's make it a little smaller and smoother.

Step 2

Place a tick in the checkbox Dynamics of shape(Shape Dynamics) and set the Size as a function of Pen pressure(Pen Pressure).

Translator's note: In chapter Size fluctuation(Size jitter) next to Control(Control) select Pen pressure(Pen Pressure).

Save this brush as Ink.

The purpose of this brush is quite obvious. With it, you can draw clean artistic lines, or outline a hard outline without any translucent spots. In this tutorial, such a brush was used to erase the area outside the bird image by painting with the brush along Layer mask(Layer Mask). This brush is indispensable when you are absolutely sure of what you are painting and don't want any surprises or even creative mistakes.

5. Creating a Painting and Masking Brush

Step 1

Select Soft Round Brush(Soft Round brush). Make it big enough and make sure that Dynamics of shape(Shape Dynamics) is turned off.

Step 2

Select an option Broadcast(Transfer). In this section, activate only Pressure fluctuation(Flow jitter).

Save this brush and name it Soft.

This brush is present in almost every set, but in reality, it is not as useful as novice artists think. You can use it to blend on a layer mask by selecting quick mask mode(Quick Mask Mode (Q)), as well as when painting.

In my case I used a copy of the base to create Clipping Mask(Clipping Mask) for flowers, installed Blend Mode(Blend Mode) for a grayscale layer Multiplication(Multiply) and drew the colors below. This made it possible to achieve beautiful gradient transitions between tones. If you want to color any part separately, select it using the tool Lasso(Lasso Tool (L)) or by creating a mask. This will give you a more natural effect than painting with a harder brush.

You can easily change the colors of light and shadow using Overlay Options(Blending Options), without manually selecting these areas. Duplicate (Ctrl+J) the grayscale layer twice and place these two copies on top of it. Press Ctrl+B to make the first one yellow, then double click on it, and make the dark areas transparent by adjusting the slider in the dialog box Mix if(Blend If). Then change Blend Mode(Blend Mode) on Soft light(Soft Light). To move only half of the marker on the slider, hold down the Alt key.

Do the same with another copy, this time relative to the shadow. Make it blue, hide the bright parts, and set Blend Mode(Blend Mode) on Color tone(Hue).

6. Creating a Detail Brush

This will be easy - we'll just create a modification of our Texture Sketch brush that we created at the very beginning. Select it, and then enable the option Pen pressure(Pen Pressure) in the section Dynamics of shape(Shape Dynamics), this will allow you to create a brush with a resizable size.

Save this brush and name it Rendering.

This brush looks small, but it really doesn't matter what size you choose for it. This way you are simply forced to paint small details instead of covering large areas of the image. Use this brush on a separate layer. Select colors from the illuminated area, brighten them, and add detail. Don't draw details in the shadows!

Next, create a new layer, again select the colors and make them brighter, but this time paint on the opposite side. Leave a dark area between the main light and the secondary light. Press Ctrl-B to make these details blue and lower opacity(Opacity) for this layer.

Once all the main work is done, you can find additional uses for your brushes. For example, you can create a radiant outline using the Ink brush...

And also shine below the bird using the Soft brush to better highlight our creation.

7. Make your main brush set more accessible

Step 1

These are the brushes you will use the most. You may have a hundred more, but you will only use them occasionally. That's why our kit needs to be more affordable and easy to find.

To keep all of those essential brushes within reach, you can save them as Tool Option Sets(Tool Presets). Open this palette via Window - Tool Presets(Window > Tool Presets). Then remove the ones that were there by default.

Step 2

Select a brush from the palette and click on the white card icon. Give the set a name and click OK.

Step 3

Do the same for each of your brushes that you would like to have quick access to. Now, even if you download another set of brushes, your homemade brushes will still be with you! Finally, you can store your specialty brushes in separate sets, if necessary, loading only the one you need at a time. this moment time, without losing the main ones.

Well, great job, you're all done!

Now you have a basic set of brushes that you actually know how to use! Of course, this does not mean that you cannot use something else besides them, but I still advise you to stick to them at the learning stage. In this case, less is more!

Believe me, most professional artists there is this basic set of brushes, usually from 3 to 10, which they use 90% of the time, and these sets are about the same among themselves! Don't get stuck trying to constantly find the perfect set of brushes for you, just get good at the one you already have. Give this set a chance. Practice, have fun, and feel free to modify your brushes to suit your style.

Are you planning to start painting, but don't know which brush to choose? For artistic display there are various paint brushes. Let's look at each one separately.

Squirrel brush

To create a brush, squirrel hair is used. The brush itself is quite soft and does not lose its shape when used. Mostly this brush is convenient for painting with acrylic, tempera and gouache. It is very convenient to apply paint to porcelain products, and also to use it for painting earthenware. But such brushes are not durable; if used for other purposes, the bristles will begin to fall out, and it will be difficult to make a beautiful stroke with the brush. In addition, you can extend the functionality artistic instrument, if you care for it with the utmost care.

Column brush

You can make such a brush from the bristles of animals of the mustelid genus. You can draw anything with it, it is universal. The kolinsky brush is suitable for painting with watercolors, as well as for creating a painting with gouache. This brush is of medium hardness, due to which it is more wear-resistant than a squirrel brush, however, it is also more difficult to care for; the paint from the fibers is not washed out immediately.

Sable brush

Paint brushes, made from sable hair, are considered leaders among other artistic instruments.

Firstly, it is incredibly soft, making it very comfortable to draw with.

Secondly, it will last a sufficient amount of time compared to the brushes described above; even if you paint a house with it, it will not fray.

Thirdly, a sable brush allows you to draw fairly fine strokes, which the “squirrel” cannot boast of. Yes, and it is suitable for working with any paint.

Bristle brush

To create such paint brushes They take real pig bristles, which is interesting: not just any bristles, but the ones that live in China. It’s clear that you can’t write a letter with such a brush, you can’t paint over small strokes, and you can’t really paint with watercolors. It is very tough, but it is what artists prefer. This brush is great for painting on canvas.

Synthetic brush

Synthetic paint brushes made from unnatural pile. Mostly medium hard. It has excellent elasticity, but at the same time it can never have a pointed end, as a result of which it is difficult to draw a thin line with such a brush. The brush can be found quite often; most schoolchildren use it to paint. It is well used when painting with regular watercolors and gouache.

In general: brushes are different, but every artist will be able to choose a brush that will help him create a new masterpiece.

Video on the topic

How to choose paint brushes

How to choose brushes for oil painting