Oil Painting - Paintbrush basics

Oil Painting - Paintbrush basics

Oil Painting - Paintbrush basics

At this point, we assume that you have your equipment and have already made a few paintings. After the first three or four paintings, every artist begins to develop a preference for a particular brush. You'll catch yourself staring at the brush and saying endearing things to it. Maybe it's the shape or the size or just that it's a different (better quality) brush than the others you picked up. You're getting to know brushes and what they can do.

Working with a good brush that suits your painting methods means that the painting process feels more natural. So, make a note of the shape, size, and brand of your favorite brush. Write it down. When it's time to go brush shopping, you can make some informed choices. In the following sections, we go over some of the basic features of your brush so that you know what to ask about.

A paintbrush is made up of bristles, the handle, and the ferrule (that little sleeve of metal) that holds the bristles to the handle. Brushes are usually about 12 inches long, which allows you to vary the brushstrokes just by changing the way you hold the brush. Here are some examples:

By holding the brush down by the ferrule, you use the small muscles of your hand and fingers and have fine control over the strokes.

By holding the brush farther away from the ferrule, you have a looser hold on the brush for loose, expressive strokes. Some artists make specific use of the brush to get this quality. Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti attached extensions to his brush handles to make them as long as possible in order to have the least control over his brushstrokes.

The handle also makes a convenient tool for measuring and sighting. Use the handle of the brush as a bridge to steady your hand while you work. Balance the end of a dry, clean brush against the side of the canvas or easel to support your hand while you paint with another brush. Mahl sticks are tools made especially for this purpose.

The size and shape of the bristles determine what type of mark the brush makes:

A short, square-ended bright makes square corners and tight edges. You can easily control it. This brush is great for geometric shapes or manmade objects.

Long, floppy filberts make elegant, organic, lozenge-shaped marks, perfect for organic, natural objects.

In addition to regular bristle brushes, you also see brushes with sable or synthetic fibers. These brushes are more delicate than the bristle brushes and leave less of a mark. So, you have a choice of shape, size, and type of bristle.

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