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Acrylic Paintbrushes
If acrylic paints are your media of choice, you’re in the right place. Blick offers the best acrylic brushes and acrylic paintbrush sets for every acrylic artist, from students and those just starting out to experienced professionals. Available in the most popular shapes — round, pointed round, detail round, bright, flat, angular flat, and fan — many brush lines also include grainers, liners, spotters, stripers, and other specialized brushes.
At one time, almost all acrylic paintbrushes were made from natural hair, but in recent years synthetic alternatives have been introduced that work as well or even better than their natural counterparts. Because acrylic paints, solvents, and even water can cause natural hair paintbrushes to lose their shape and degrade over time, many acrylic artists now prefer brushes made from synthetic fibers. What’s more, synthetic acrylic brushes often cost less and are much easier to clean.
Most acrylic paintbrushes have long handles that allow artists to work at a distance from the painting surface, although many brush selections also include short or even extra-short handle brushes for working closer in. As a rule-of-thumb, acrylic brushes can also be used with other media such as oil paints, while brushes designed for oil and watercolor paints are not recommended for use with acrylic paints. Access our Brush Charts for more information on types of paintbrushes, including brush shapes, fiber types, and measurements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of brushes work best when using acrylic paints?
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.
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. Clean brushes promptly by washing them with warm water and mild soap when finished painting.
What is the difference between artist and student grade acrylics?
Fine artists acrylics use high quality, finely ground and milled pigments, chosen for lightfastness and clarity of color as well as mixing qualities. They also have more resin solids.
Student acrylics use pre-milled pigment dispersions, where most colors are mixed or blended rather than used pure in an acrylic binder. Pigment concentrations are lower, and fillers are used.
What are the differences between brush shapes?
How do I choose between Long Handle and Short Handle brushes?
Long handled brushes are recommended for easel style painting giving the artist additional length to stand back from the canvas. Short handled brushes are often used for table-top painting where the artwork is closer to the artist, and lies flat, such as with watercolor painting. Either type of handle that is most comfortable to the artist can be used.
What are the differences between brushes
Free Brush Charts Download our free brush charts in pdf format.
Brush Hair Types Brush Shapes and Usage Brush Size and Measuring
Brush Shape Fiber Description Angular 
Bristle, Synthetic Flat ferrule, short-length hairs, set with longer hairs at one end. Useful for precise strokes, and for lines and curves, with thick or heavy color. Media - watercolor, acrylic, decorative Brush Shape Fiber Description Bright sable, synthetic, mongoose, bristle, badger, synthetic Flat ferrule, short-length hairs, set with longer hairs at one end. Useful for precise strokes, and for lines and curves, with thick or heavy color. Media - oil, acrylic, decorative
