This is your guide if you are unsure about which brushes to buy or which ones to use depending on the materials and what you are going to paint.
For many centuries, brushes have been an essential tool. Over this time, they have evolved and developed in terms of material, shape, size and quality. As a result, they are now used in all kinds of fields and all over the world.
A wide range of services are available, from artistic painting to cleaning, calligraphy and cosmetics.

Types of brushes and what each one is used for

Which type of brush to choose: natural or synthetic?

While having a wide range of options is advantageous, it can also be problematic as there are so many varieties that it is difficult to know which one to use and how to use it.

Firstly, we can categorise them into two groups: natural and synthetic.

As their name suggests, natural brushes are made from the bristles of animals such as squirrels, ponies, goats, pigs and oxen. They have a very high absorption capacity, are soft and apply brushstrokes evenly. Their main advantage is that they are highly durable and retain their shape well after use.

types of brushes available in Hartem

Synthetic brushes used to have a bad reputation for being made of poor-quality plastic materials that left marks and did not absorb moisture.
However, nothing could be further from the truth: nowadays, synthetic brushes are almost indistinguishable from natural ones. There are imitations of animal hair that are so similar to the real thing that only experts can tell the difference. They are now even more durable, as they are less prone to breakage or fraying and hardly break down after prolonged contact with chemicals.

Both brushes are suitable for any kind of technique.

brushes and their characteristics on sale in Hartem

Shapes of brushes: which to use for the line?

Secondly, we can classify them according to their shape.

Round brushes: one of the most common brushes for all areas. They have a round ferrule from which the hair comes out, ending in a tip that can be more or less sharp in each case. With them we can create different strokes, varying the pressure we exert on it when we work. Their versatility makes them suitable for any technique, both for details and for covering large areas.
Flat brushes: also very common. Their ferrule is flat, and the hair comes out of it, ending in a straight-cut tip. They come in many sizes; this shape has the greatest variety. In the same category, we can consider palette and brushes and large-format flat brushes. They are ideal for oil and acrylic painting techniques, varnishing, and covering large areas.
Filbert or Cat's tongue brushes: a wider, semi-flat ferrule and the hair ends in a rounded, sharp yet wide tip. Resembles a tongue, hence the name. Combines the characteristics of both round and flat in a single format. Popular for watercolour use but also suitable for oil and acrylic. Their shape is very useful for creating gradients and soft brushstrokes.
Bevelled or angled brushes: they are characterised by their angled shape. They are usually flat, with the triangular tip rising towards one side. They are used for outlining, creating planes and creating short, precise strokes in any technique. Their hard bristles allow thick strokes and the use of very thick paints, making them ideal for oil painting.
Precision and fillet brushes: rounded brushes, which can have a very long or, on the other hand, a very short hair tip. Their common feature is that they are extremely fine in order to be able to apply the smallest details. They are used for outlining, detailing and modelling. Most commonly with water based paints.
Fan brushes: their peculiar shape gives them their name. Their open, flat, semi-circle-shaped tip has a small amount of long hair. They are used to create fine layers and effects in particular. Ideal for landscape textures.

different shapes of brushes

Brushes according to technique: oil, acrylic, watercolour etc.

They are also differentiated according to the technique for which they are best suited. Some brushes are only suitable for certain types of paint due to the composition of their bristles or the length of their handle.

Oil brushes: their handles are long, in order to be able to paint on the canvas from a certain distance, as they are usually medium or large formats. They are usually made of natural bristles, although there are also synthetic ones. They need hair with sufficient strength to move thick paint and resist the solvents necessary for cleaning.
Acrylic, gouache and tempera brushes: their handle can be short or long. Sometimes they are also suitable for oil paints. Their characteristics are similar. It is recommended that the hair be synthetic, as acrylic paint removes the natural oils from animal hair.
Watercolour brushes: with short handles for better control, as you work closer to the paper and on a horizontal table. Their hair is abundant and has good absorbent properties to control the amount of water. Both synthetic and natural brushes are a good choice, especially those made of Petit gris or squirrel.

By following these three guidelines you could choose your ideal brush. We hope this guide will help you to create your brush assortment.
Our recommendation if you are just starting out is to have several different types of brushes until you find the one that best suits your needs, or a set with different options so you have plenty to choose from.