Watercolor painting is a versatile and flexible medium that offers a range of possibilities for artistic expression. To unleash the potential of watercolors, having the right tools at hand is essential. Among the most crucial tools in your kit are your brushes; choosing the right types and learning about their unique qualities can significantly shape your work’s outcome. This article will highlight some highly recommended brushes for watercolor beginners, giving you a firm foundation from which to start your watercolor journey.
Broadly, watercolor brushes fall into two categories: natural-haired brushes and synthetic brushes. The former is often made with real animal hair, usually sable, squirrel, hog, or goat. The latter, synthetic brushes, are made with nylon or polyester. They’ve been carefully designed to mimic the natural hair’s traits, offering a less expensive option without compromising on quality.
Natural hair brushes
Natural hair brushes are highly regarded in the watercolor world. Brushes made from Kolinsky sable hair are often revered due to their capacity for holding a lot of water, and their hairs maintaining a sharp point – perfect for detailed work. However, these brushes come with a high price tag.
A less costly alternative would be the Red Sable or Squirrel hair brushes. They are excellent for water holding-capacity and come with a pointy tip, making them ideal for larger washes and finer details.
Synthetic Brushes
For those seeking a more budget-friendly option, synthetic brushes are the way to go. Made from nylon or polyester, these brushes have improved significantly over the years, and now closely rival natural hair brushes in terms of performance. Synthetic brushes are also a great choice for animal-friendly painters.
A highly recommended synthetic brush for beginners is the Golden Taklon brush. Its hair is resilient, maintains shape well, and is quite flexible, allowing beginners to experiment with various strokes.
Brush Shapes
In addition to the type of hair, the shape of the brush head plays a significant role in the kind of work you can do.
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Round Brushes: They are the most versatile and essential brush that beginners must have. They come with a round body and a pointed tip, allowing for a wide array of techniques, from thick to thin lines, washes, and minute details. The number 6 or 8 round brush is a good starting point for beginners.
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Flat Brushes: Characterized by their flat, rectangular shape, these brushes are great for creating sharp lines, edges and for filling larger areas with color. They are also capable of providing a variety of widths, making them invaluable for beginner kits.
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Mop Brushes: Mop brushes have a rounded shape and hold a large amount of water, making them perfect for laying down large washes of color. They are available in both natural hair and synthetic variety.
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Rigger or Liner Brushes: These brushes have long, thin hairs, which make them suitable for fine lines and details, such as tree branches or hair.
Selecting brushes from this range of types and shapes will start your watercolor adventure on the right foot.
Top Brands of brushes for beginners
There are many reliable brands in the market offering excellent brushes for beginners. Some of the most recommended include Winsor & Newton, Da Vinci, and Daler-Rowney.
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Winsor & Newton’s Cotman Brush series: Cotman series is an affordable range of synthetic brushes that closely imitates the characteristics of sable hair. Their resilience and durability make them perfect for beginners.
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Da Vinci Brushes: Whether it’s their synthetic or natural hair brushes, Da Vinci brushes deliver top-notch quality. Their Maestro series is a great choice for those willing to invest in natural hair brushes, while the Nova series of synthetic brushes is well-priced and offers excellent performance.
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Daler Rowney’s Aquafine brushes: This is another budget-friendly line of synthetic brushes that doesn’t compromise on quality. They’re resilient, maintain their shape well, and ideal for beginners testing different techniques.
Caring for Your Brushes
No matter what brushes you decide to start with, taking care of them is crucial to their longevity.
After painting, always cleanse your brushes with lukewarm water, ensuring all paint residue has been removed. Gently reshape the brush head with your fingers before letting it dry horizontally or head-down. Never let your brushes dry pointing upward, as water can seep down and loosen the adhesive holding the bristles, damaging the brush’s structure.
Brushes should be stored upright with the bristles pointing up, never crammed into holders that distort their shape.
Unlike some painting mediums, watercolors don’t require a plethora of brushes. However, having the right brushes that cater to the basic techniques can significantly enhance your watercolor painting journey. Whether it’s natural or synthetic, round or flat, each brush holds its distinctive charm. With time and practice, you will discover which brushes best suit your personal style. And remember, quality over quantity is the golden rule when it comes to brushes. Even as a beginner, investing in a few high-quality brushes can make all the difference in your watercolor endeavors.
