Learn about the types of watercolour brushes, how to choose a paint brush, how to clean paint brushes, and much more in this watercolour brush guide by Tony Paul.

1. Round paint brushes

The round paint brush is the main workhorse brush of the watercolourist. They're available in a good range of sizes from No. 2/0 to 20, with a round metal ferrule and usually a head that swells slightly from the ferrule before tapering to a fine point. They hold a good amount of colour and will deliver anything from broad to pencil-thin strokes. Browse round paint brushes here.

Round paint brushes, as featured in The Artist December 2016 issue. Credit – Ian Sidaway.

2. Filbert or cat’s tongue paint brushes

These have flattened ferrules and the hair is aligned to provide a rounded, rather than a square-shaped end. The rounded, or sometimes pointed, tip allows small touches of detail to be applied. This type is more often used in oil and acrylic painting. Filberts are available in a good range of sizes. Browse filberts here.

Filbert paint brushes, as featured in The Artist December 2016 issue. Credit – Ian Sidaway.

3. Flat paint brushes plus long flats, short flats or brights

Flat brushes are made in a variety of widths from No. 00 to around 1¼in. (3cm) with a flattened round ferrule and handle. Beyond this width they are bound on to a beaver tail flat handle. Long flats have longer hair, they are softer in use and hold more colour, but may lose their shape earlier. Short flats, or brights, have shorter heads, giving a stiffer brushstroke that'll hold less colour, but they keep their shape well. Discover a range of flat brushes.

Flat paint brushes, as featured in The Artist December 2016 issue. Credit – Ian Sidaway.

4. Angle or chisel paint brushes

This type of brush is made in a similar way to flat brushes, but the hair is aligned to give an angle. Originally made for sign-writers, they are favoured by some watercolourists. Browse angular brushes.

Want to read up to 5 years' worth of The Artist and Leisure Painter magazines including the latest issues as as soon as they're available? With Studio Archive you can read digital issues of our magazines on your desktop, mobile or tablet!

5. Fan paint brushes

Initially made as a blending brush for use with oils, it's been hi-jacked by the watercolourist to create tree and foliage effects. The end of the ferrule has been flattened and shaped to fan the hair out, giving a thin, even crescent of hair, which when wetted clots into several mini brushes. Find the perfect fan brush here.

 Fan paint brushes, as featured in The Artist December 2016 issue. Credit – Ian Sidaway.

6. Sword or dagger paint brushes

The sword or dagger paint brush is an extreme version of the angle brush (No. 4). Usually made in softer hair, the taper can be quite extreme. The watercolourist enjoys the paint holding capacity for big, free washes with the fine tip for detail. Made in limited sizes.

7. Mop paint brushes

The mop brush was taken up by the watercolourist simply because it holds prodigious amounts of colour and has a fine point. The head is fixed to the handle with polythene (originally quill) bound with brass wire. Polythene is used, because it doesn’t harden with age. The standard mop head is of squirrel hair, but, nowadays, versions with synthetic or sable heads are available. Browse mop brushes.

"I like squirrel mops in the larger sizes for creating big washes, but smaller sizes are limp and unresponsive. The brushes are made in a moderate range of sizes."

Mop paint brushes, as featured in The Artist December 2016 issue. Credit – Ian Sidaway.

8. Rigger paint brushes

This round long-haired small brush was designed for the marine artist to paint a line of rigging in one stroke. It's still useful for this and for other fine work, having a longer paint reservoir than the standard small round brush. Rigger brushes are made in a limited range of sizes with sable or synthetic heads. 

Rigger paint brushes, as featured in The Artist December 2016 issue. Credit – Ian Sidaway.

9. Spotter paint brushes

Spotter paint brushes are made for photo-retouching and miniature painting, with sable or synthetic heads. Whereas most brushes are engineered to hold as much paint as possible, the miniaturist needs only tiny amounts of colour, but a very fine point on the brush. The head of a spotter is short, but with enough of a reservoir to give a controlled flow to the point. Spotter brushes are made in a limited range of small sizes.

10. Hake paint brushes

A hake is an inexpensive flat brush. Its goat hair head is stitched in the oriental way into a split wooden handle. This kind of brush was popular in the 1980s.

---

Natural vs synthetic paint brushes

Sable brushes are the first choice for most watercolourists. Sables have excellent paint-holding qualities as well as all the other characteristics required of a good brush.

The paint-holding capacity is very important, because when you apply a wash you want to be able to work quickly and if possible cover the whole area in one sweep. The more often you have to stop and reload a brush, the more likely it is that the paint will dry and so leave hard edges within the overall area of colour.

The finest brushes are made from Kolinsky sable. Less expensive types include red sable or pure sable, which are also lovely brushes to use.

The best watercolour brushes

Providing they're properly looked after, quality brushes always prove the best investment, not only economically but also because of the more sensitive way of working that they allow.

However, the extensive choice of combination brushes (those made from a mixture of natural and synthetic hair) offers a reasonable alternative if you're looking for a less expensive option or brushes that aren't made entirely from animal hair.

Obviously, with these brushes you have to accept that they're not quite as durable or expressive as sable.

How to choose the right paint brush

It's better to buy just a few good quality brushes than a large selection of inferior ones. Before you decide to buy a brush, check the following points:

• Examine the three main parts: the belly (hairs); the ferrule (metal band that joins the hairs to the handle); and the handle. Note how well these have been put together.
• Avoid any brushes that don't have a seamless ferrule, because a joined or seamed ferrule is likely to rust and allow water to dissolve the glue that binds the hairs to the handle.
• Hold the brush and see how it feels. Is the size and shape right for you? Perhaps the handle is too fat or too long. Find a brush that inspires confidence!
• Give new brushes a rinse in lukewarm water to free up the hairs. It's quite usual for new brushes to shed a few hairs to begin with.

Now you know which watercolour brushes to use, try painting your own simple watercolour landscape with this step-by-step tutorial.

How to look after paint brushes

• When painting, check that brushes are not left resting on their bristles in water for any lengthy period of time, as this can damage both the hairs and the handles.
• Store your brushes flat in a tray or drawer, or place them upright in a jar, handle first.
• Mediums, such as masking fluid, can be very damaging to brushes, so avoid using your best brushes for this purpose. Choose an old brush for applying masking fluid and first coat it with liquid soap to protect the hairs. Afterwards, rinse the brush in warm water.

Learn how to use masking fluid with Tony Paul's list of top tips along with a helpful tutorial.

How to clean paint brushes

After use, always rinse your brushes thoroughly in plenty of clean water. Dry them with some tissue paper and reshape the tip between finger and thumb.

---

How to hold a paint brush

For applying broad, expressive washes of colour, hold the brush well up the handle. This enables a freer, sweeping action with the brush.

When more control is required, for blocking in shapes or applying more confined colour washes, hold the brush just above the ferrule and use a dragged stroke (left to right, if you are right-handed, or right to left, if you are left-handed).

For really delicate lines and marks, hold the brush quite near the tip, just allowing the point of the hairs to touch the paper.

---

Want to learn more about watercolour painting? Check out our ultimate guide to watercolour painting, including how to stretch watercolour paper and how to choose the right watercolour paper.

Sometimes we may include links to online retailers, from which we might receive a commission if you make a purchase. Affiliate links do not influence editorial coverage and will only be used when covering relevant products.