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Synthetic Brushes
Advancements in synthetic paint brush technology have resulted in many synthetic oil paint brushes, watercolor brushes, acrylic brushes, and synthetic bristle brushes that perform as well or better than their natural counterparts. This performance, plus more affordable prices in many cases, make these brushes an attractive alternate for oil painters, acrylic painters, watercolorists, muralists, mixed media artists, craft and hobby artists, and others who use artist brushes for professional or recreational use.
Constructed from different types of taklon, nylon, synthetic blends, or a blend of synthetic and natural fibers, these brush filaments can be tapered, abraded, flagged, or otherwise treated to increase their color-carrying and water-carrying abilities. They can also be dyed or baked to make them softer and more absorbent. Synthetic paint brushes are less susceptible to damage from solvents and paints. They’re also easier to clean and less prone to breakage on rougher painting surfaces.
Access our Brush Charts for more information on types of paintbrushes, including brush shapes, fiber types, and measurements.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 brush fibers?
What are the differences between brush shapes?
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 How do I care for watercolor brushes?
To clean watercolor brushes, rinse them thoroughly in water, then wash them with a mild soap in warm water. Rinse under running water and lay them flat to dry. Once dry, store brushes bristle-end up. Always reshape your brushes before storing to prevent damage to the bristles.
How do I clean oil paint from my brushes?
Cleaning your brushes is a very important step in ensuring a longer life for your brush. In the case of oil paints, the brush should be cleaned off thoroughly starting with solvent and rags or tissue. Once the brush is fairly clean from the solvent, rub the bristles in a glass or plastic jar with either a brush conditioner or a human hair shampoo. Give the brush a good final rinse and squeeze out any water. Dry the brush with its hair end lower than the handle end to prevent water from loosening the handle and the ferrule. Dry brushes can be stored bristle up in a jar, or laid flat. Protective storage containers are available too.
What brushes should I use with oil paints?
A wide range of brushes may be used. From natural to synthetic bristles, the brush can be left largely up to the artist. By experimenting with different brushes, each individual artist can find ones that suit their needs.
Traditional oil painting brushes have long handles, so that the artist can work at some distance from the canvas. The hair is generally firmer and stiffer than for a watercolor brush.
Palette knives can also be a very useful tool for mixing and/or applying oil paints to paintings.
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 brushes should I use for watercolor painting?
Three characteristics are used to evaluate the performance of a watercolor brush: how much water/color does the brush hold; does the brush have and maintain a sharp point or edge; and does the brush snap back to its original shape.
Traditionally, the best watercolor brushes are made with Kolinsky Sable. Kolinsky is regarded as the best grade of sable hair. Another option is squirrel, which holds more color than sable but has less snap. Camel hair (which is really pony or goat) is a more economical choice.
Today, better quality synthetic-hair brushes and synthetic-sable combinations can be as good, if not better, than many natural-hair brushes. Synthetics are a more durable, and sometimes a more affordable, alternative to natural hair and still provide a high-quality performance.
