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Art SuppliesWhen you are learning to paint, choosing the correct brushes can be a daunting task. There are many different shapes and sizes available, and just as many different types of bristles to choose from. Whether you use acrylic paint or oil paint, these five basic shapes will be the most common brush types that you need.
Round
Round-tipped paint brushes are a traditional shape and come to a fine point. They can be used to achieve a variety of techniques, and are the first type of brush that most beginners should consider purchasing.
Flat
Flat brushes have a wide, flat shape to them and are good for filling in areas with broad strokes. The length of the bristles will vary from brush to brush, depending on the technique to wish to use. If you turn a flat brush, you can use its thin edge to create a completely different look.
Filbert
A filbert brush has many of the features of both flat and round brushes. In fact, they look like flat brushes that come to a rounded point in the middle. These are often the first brush that painters learn to use because you can create so many different looks.
Mop
Mop brushes are large brushes with many bristles. They are good to use with thinner paints, such as watercolors, and they hold plenty of paint.
Fan
Fan brushes look just like the name would suggest. They have a thin layer of bristles that fan out from a central point. Fan brushes are useful for blending color or stippling paint, but may not be necessary in a beginner's toolkit.
