Choosing the Right Brush

Every artist chooses their tools based on personal preference. There are a lot of factors that go into how an artist decides what brushes to use for a particular project. Some of those factors are based on the need of the project and some are what the artist feels most comfortable using.

Overall size of brush: The size of the project can determine the size of the brush. As I have stated in a prior blog post, I worked large scale as a Scenic Artist for 15 years so I needed big brushes that held a lot of paint. If you are laying down a lot of color at once, you are going to want a tool that is big enough for the job. If you use something too small, your job will take much longer! And vice versa--if you are working small and use a brush that is too big, you will spend a lot of time cleaning up your work. Picking the right size brush for the task is important.

Length of handle: An artist's preference for handle length is influenced by a few things. If you are working on something large and need a big brush, you likely will need a big handle. Working large scale means you are probably standing up and using your whole arm to paint, so you will need a longer handle for control and reach over a big surface. If you work in a smaller scale, you likely will prefer a small handled brush--especially if you sit at a table while you paint. A longer handled brush may just get in your way! If you like working very close to your piece, painting small details, a small handled brush is the way to go. If you prefer to stand at an easel and be an arm's length away from your work, a long handled brush may be for you.

Shape of bristle: Flat, round, filbert, fan, oval, bright, angle, liner--all great shapes to choose from! Different shapes create different marks and different textures depending on how you use them. I like to experiment to see what different shaped bristles can do.

Type of bristle: The type of bristle you choose often depends upon what kind of paints you work with, what kind of surface you paint on, and how flexible you like your bristles to be. Hog hair, camel hair, sable, nylon, and synthetic are a just a few of the varieties of bristles Dynasty Brush uses in our brushes.

Comfort: Sometimes it is just about how a brush feels in your hand. Too heavy? Too light? Just right? Is the handle too thick or too thin? All of these seemingly little things are important. Being comfortable with your tools and in your work space leads to a better environment in which to create.

Price: We all want the best brushes, no matter what our budget. Dynasty Brush provides a wide range of fine quality artist brushes for fine art, craft, hobby, and decorative painting alike. Check out our website to see what brush is perfect for you and your art!



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