Well, except if you're planning to use just your hands, painting on canvas won't be possible without a brush for your acrylic paint. Brushes get such a low rep when it fact, it is at the core of anything you can get done as a budding painter.
If this is your first time buying your brushes, this article will be especially helpful for you. We'll help you understand specifically designed for acrylic paint.
If this is your first time buying your brushes, this article will be especially helpful for you. We'll help you understand specifically designed for acrylic paint.
Anatomy of a paint brush
Quiz time! Do you know how the different parts of a paint brush are called? A typical paint brush has the following parts - the head (composed of the tip and the belly), the ferule, the crump and the handle.
Shapes of an acrylic paint brush
Compared to watercolor paintbrushes, brushes for acrylic paint are more diverse in terms of shapes. There are eight main shapes to choose from - round, pointed round, flat, bright, filbert, angular flat, fan and detail round.
Round and pointed round brushes have large bellies and taper to a point. Use this shape when making bold strokes. It is a great brush to use too not only when covering large areas of your canvas, but even when rendering fine lines and details.
Flat brushes have square ends. It is very flexible to hold a lot of paint. Use it flat to create long, sweeping brush strokes and for blending and painting in large areas. Use the tips when making delicate lines and small touches.
Bright brushes are ideal to use when making short and controlled brush strokes. It is a brush used for thick and heavy colors because of its wide brush head and long handle.
Filbert brushes are for making soft and rounded edges. It is also ideal for blending colors.
Fan brushes are for smoothing and blending. If you want to achieve certain special effects and textures on your canvas, the fan brush is ideal.
Detail round brushes are for making details on your artwork. Use it for short, fine strokes you need to make.
Flat brushes have square ends. It is very flexible to hold a lot of paint. Use it flat to create long, sweeping brush strokes and for blending and painting in large areas. Use the tips when making delicate lines and small touches.
Bright brushes are ideal to use when making short and controlled brush strokes. It is a brush used for thick and heavy colors because of its wide brush head and long handle.
Filbert brushes are for making soft and rounded edges. It is also ideal for blending colors.
Fan brushes are for smoothing and blending. If you want to achieve certain special effects and textures on your canvas, the fan brush is ideal.
Detail round brushes are for making details on your artwork. Use it for short, fine strokes you need to make.
Sizes of an acrylic paint brush
Did you know that brush sizes range from 0000 to 24? Now that is a lot of brushes in between! Thankfully for beginners, there are only 3 general sizes to choose from - mid-size, small-size and large-size.
Mid-size paint brushes are for versatility, small-size paint brushes are for making the details of your work and large-size paint brushes are for washes and making painted areas on your canvas.
Ideally, you should be starting off with mid-sized brushes. These are size 6 and 8 brushes.
You might also notice that there are acrylic paint brushes with short handles and some with long handles. The ones with the long handles are helpful when working with an easel or when you want to paint from a distance. Brushes with longer handles allow you to see your whole artwork at once.
Ideally, you should be starting off with mid-sized brushes. These are size 6 and 8 brushes.
You might also notice that there are acrylic paint brushes with short handles and some with long handles. The ones with the long handles are helpful when working with an easel or when you want to paint from a distance. Brushes with longer handles allow you to see your whole artwork at once.
Should you use natural or synthetic brush hairs?
Choosing which of the two options to use largely depends on your style and preference.
Natural bristles are widely recommended for acrylic paints because it can handle and cope well with the heavy nature of the paint. It maintains its shape even after many uses. However, over time, these brushes wear out and can be damaged through the years. It also does not want to sit in water for too long.
Synthetic bristles mimic the feel of natural bristles, but it's more durable. It copes well with the acrylic resins, it's easier to clean and it does not mind sitting in water! While it does not hold it's shape quite well, beginners prefer brushes with synthetic bristles because it's cheaper and more durable.
Natural bristles are widely recommended for acrylic paints because it can handle and cope well with the heavy nature of the paint. It maintains its shape even after many uses. However, over time, these brushes wear out and can be damaged through the years. It also does not want to sit in water for too long.
Synthetic bristles mimic the feel of natural bristles, but it's more durable. It copes well with the acrylic resins, it's easier to clean and it does not mind sitting in water! While it does not hold it's shape quite well, beginners prefer brushes with synthetic bristles because it's cheaper and more durable.
Learn more about brushes and how to paint at Art Smart
Learn the beautiful brushes you can use (and how to properly care for them) and how to create wonderful art at Art Smart. Learn acrylic on canvas painting even oil pastel painting, drawing, tile mosaics, paper crafts and more!
Below is our art class schedule for 2017 for your reference.
Below is our art class schedule for 2017 for your reference.
To enroll or for any inquiries you may have, please call us at 0917-8784766 / 02 -6160305 / 0915-5948191 / 0995-260 8927. See you all soon in our studios!
Photo sources:
http://homesthetics.net/learn-the-basics-of-canvas-painting-ideas-and-projects/
https://www.art-is-fun.com/paintbrushes-for-acrylics/
http://homesthetics.net/learn-the-basics-of-canvas-painting-ideas-and-projects/
https://www.art-is-fun.com/paintbrushes-for-acrylics/
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