color your world with painting

Watercolor: Basic Brushes

You will need at least one watercolor “round” brush. I suggest a size 8, and if you plan to do larger paintings, a size 10 or 12. I recommend a blend of natural sable or squirrel and synthetic hair (Winsor & Newton Sceptre series is one example). If price is no object, get a good 100% sable-hair brush. Nothing matches their ability to spring back into shape, hold a point, and hold a quantity of pigment and water before running dry. However, know that a natural hair brush will wear out faster than a synthetic one. Yes, your brushes do wear out and will eventually have to be replaced!

You will also need a flat wash brush, 1/2″ or larger. I use Grumbacher Series 4424 Sable Essence, and I have three different sizes from 1/2″ to 1″. They are a synthetic fibre brush, with a handle that has an angled end for scraping, burnishing, scratching and other watercolor techniques. However, if you prefer, you can get an all-sable brush or a blended hair brush in this flat shape.

You will also need an “oval wash” or “mop” brush for getting large amounts of water and/or paint onto your paper surface quickly. The Winsor Newton Series 240 goat hair wash brush, Size 3 is one example, or get an equivalent squirrel hair mop brush. Don’t expect to do detail work or paint around shapes with this brush. It’s a big “floppy” brush good for pre-wetting or washing in a large area. If you primarily paint small (less than half sheet), then you can probably skip this brush. Some people use an inexpensive “hake” brush for this, but I dislike them because they tend to shed hair.

Optional brushes In addition to the basic round, wash and flat brushes that you need to get started, the following brushes are nice to have for specific tasks, and after you’ve been painting for awhile, you may want to add them to your collection.
The rigger or liner brush is good for fine lines and small details.

This brush is about 3″ wide…if you work large (full sheet or larger), this is a great brush to have for its ability to put large amounts of paint on the paper in a very short time. This is a good substitute brush for the oval wash or “mop” brush.