Watercolor Brushes Bristles Check
If you are new to watercolor painting, you have a long and rich time ahead of you as you explore the art and your own talents. You also probably have a sizeable list of supplies that you need to buy including watercolor mixing tray (palette), tubes, paper and paintbrushes. Paintbrushes are one of the most important supplies you can own next to the paints themselves. As a new watercolor artist, you may wonder what watercolor paintbrushes are made of.
Natural Bristle Brushes
Specifically, you might wonder what they should be made of. Brushes of all kinds are made of either synthetic material or natural hairs derived from different animals. Sometimes watercolor brushes are made of a blend of natural and synthetic materials.
The absolute best paintbrushes for watercolors are those made of sable. This hair comes from a sable’s tail. These brushes, when cared for, will last for many years and retain their proper shape and texture. The Kolinsky brushes are the most expensive kind of watercolor brushes, but if you are willing to make an investment in them now they are going to serve you well for a long time.
Hog hair bristles are also used for wash watercolor brushes. These larger paint brushes are ideal for laying down a landscape background or any large surface of your canvas with paint. These are pretty durable brushes and are much less expensive than sable brushes. These are good for exploring your watercolor abilities without taking a ‘financial risk’.
Other types of natural hairs include that of squirrels and goats. Ox is another type of hair used for coarse brushes such as those that have a square, flat shape. You will also come across camel hair brushes. These are not exactly made of camel hair and many professional artists recommend staying away from them due to their inferior quality.
Synthetics Paintbrushes For Artists
Synthetic watercolor brushes are often made of either nylon or polyester or a blend of both. They are actually good in terms of quality provided you purchase a good brand. They will not last as long as natural bristle brushes. They also do not hold the paint as well as natural bristle brushes do. There are also synthetic blends that combine sable with nylon or polyester.
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The type of brush you use for your watercolor paintings really comes down to your preferences. It can also depend on the techniques you decide to use as well as how much you want to spend on your brushes.
If you care about animals and would like to reduce the hunting and suffering, please make a choice and buy synthetic brushes. The Siberian Weasel does not ‘donate his tail’ so people in the US will have their fine Kolinsky brushes, these poor animals are hunted and killed to obtain it.