Oil Painting Brushes

 Rounds, flats, filberts—brushes for oil painting come in a variety of shapes.
​Knowledge about paintbrush shapes helps painters choose the right art supplies.

Brush Shapes for Oil Painting

A wide variety of paint brush types displayed in cups
​Artists strive for a unique style all their own. With painters, their styles may vary as much as their different mediums. They may work in oils, acrylics, watercolor, or gouache. Most artists find that the type of paintbrush they use helps make their style as individual as their signature.
​Painting with oils has a long history in tradition. Oil painting techniques range from classical realism to post-modern abstract. The paint itself is handled in ways unique to the style. Some paintings are made with very smooth, almost see-through paint layers. Think about the smooth paint of the Mona Lisa. Some paintings are done using large strokes of thick paint, as in Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. These two examples of styles differ widely even though both are made with oil paints and brushes.
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How Oil Painting Brushes Differ by Shape
Oil painting brushes are carefully crafted. They consist of three basic parts: the handle, the ferrule, and the bristles or tips. They are made to feel balanced, light in weight, yet sturdy.
Parts of a Paintbrush:
  • Handles: long length, traditionally wood, may be plastic or nylon
  • Ferrule: the metal sheath that covers the bristles and the handle
  • Bristles: hairs at the tips, may be natural or synthetic
Natural hair bristles are made from animal hairs. Softer tip hairs are made from sable, weasel, squirrel, mongoose, goat, or camel. Stiff hair tips are made of bristle, usually from a hog, and are a clean beige in color. Synthetic bristles are man-made fibers. Brushes that are synthetic blends have a mix of synthetic and natural hairs. All tip materials are usually found in the most common shapes, such as these:
  • Rounds have a round-shaped ferrule, or metal sheath that clamps the hairs or bristles to the handle. The tip may be sharply pointed or rounded off. Large round brushes are useful for fills or blunt strokes. Sharp rounds are great for details or making thin to thick strokes.
  • Flats have a flattened ferrule. The hairs or bristles are medium to long and the tip is squared off. Flats can carry lots of color and they are easy to maneuver. They can make bold, expressive strokes when held flat. These brushes turned on chisel edge are then useful for making lines. When tipped to the corner, small strokes or dots of color can be laid down.
  • Brights are like flats in the flattened ferrule, but the bristles are short in length. Like flats, these brushes can make broad, sweeping strokes but they give a better feeling of control. Brights are useful for driving paint into the fibers of the canvas or for putting on heavy paint as in impasto.
  • Filberts have a thick, but flattened ferrule. The brush tip is a flattened oval shape. These brushes spread paint quickly and evenly like a flat, yet make more versatile strokes like a round brush. Filberts are great for making precise marks and for blending colors.
  • Fans have a very flat wide ferrule that spreads the bristles out like a broom or fan. Soft-bristled fans work especially well for soft blending areas of paints. Stiffer fans make great textural effects.
 
Choosing Oil Painting and Art Supplies
Most painters have cups full of brushes gracing their tables. Certain brushes become favorites. Others sit unused for years. Artists select their art supplies very carefully. Understanding how the shape of the brush affects the paint may help an artist choose new brushes wisely, without wasting time on unnecessary brushes. 
Author: Karla Beatty About
​Today’s artists enjoy the freedom to work in whatever style they like. They have easy access to oil paint brushes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Art supplies are sold in stores, in catalogs, and online. The paintbrushes that artists choose may help them accomplish their personal style.
Read more articles about painting techniques and materials.

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