In paint brushes as in wine, quality matters, and you want to have the best, but it’s just as important to know what you're choosing, because the “right” brush depends on what you need to do with it.
So, for the next few issues (or as long as it takes) we will try to shine a little light on the subject by taking a look at one type of brush at a time. We’ll start with the “Round”.
The “Round” brush comes in two basic versions. Both have a generous, oval shape to the bristles and carry a lot of pigment. The bristles are held in a round “ferrule” (the metal part of the brush). The bristles are “soft hair” - either natural or synthetic.
The round “Round” has a rounded tip and is a great brush for floating in areas of color. In larger sizes, it is sometimes called a “mop” and is used, as the name implies, to lay down large areas of washes or glazes, and to soak up excess paint or lift out areas of color.
The “Pointed Round” has bristles that come to a point, and, while this brush can also lay in areas of color, it has the added attraction of being able to draw a fine line.
Three of my Pointed Round “friends” from my studio are shown at the right. The center brush has synthetic nylon bristles and I use it mostly for acrylics. The other two are Pure Red Sable and are used for watercolor.
Red Sable brushes are expensive, but worth the money, because they carry a lot of paint and handle like a dream. You can tell if you are getting a good one by asking the store to dip the brush in water. Then, shake it like you would a thermometer. The bristles should form a perfectly pointed shape as shown in my brushes. You also do this after cleaning them each time you paint and store them upright in a container - handle down.
Although Rounds can be used for anything, they are mostly used for the light body paints: watercolors and acrylic washes and inks. The bristles can carry a lot of light bodied paint and still keep their shape, so that you can make a variety of strokes: from broad, fill-in strokes to fine lines. Long handled versions are used for oil painting glazes. Rounds come in a vast number of sizes and price ranges.
Care and Feeding:
NEVER leave a good paintbrush standing “on its head” in water. The hairs will lose their shape and water will loosen the glue holding the ferrule firmly to the wood handle - then your brush will wiggle.
Cleaning:
When working, rinse by “stirring” in a glass of water between colors. Blot on paper towel.
When finished working, run a stream of warm water over the bristles until most of the pigment is rinsed away. Then, put a spot of dish detergent (we like Dawn for cleaning brushes) in the palm of your hand and gently “paint” your palm - making suds. The suds will be the color of the paint you thought was all rinsed out. Repeat this procedure until the suds is white, then rinse thoroughly under running water and shake like a thermometer. The bristles will “remember” their shape. Stand the brush handle down in a container or store in a professional brush case.
