Acrylic Brush Guide: Understanding Brush Types and Strokes

Let’s Talk Brushes: Your Guide to the Right Tools for Acrylic Painting

If you’ve ever stood in the art aisle staring at a wall of brushes thinking, “Why are there so many shapes?!”—you’re not alone. Choosing the right brush can feel like a mystery at first, but once you understand how each one behaves, it’s like unlocking a secret weapon for your painting style.

So, let’s walk through this together—brush by brush.

First, What’s a Brush Made Of?

Before we get into shapes and sizes, let’s peek at what’s actually in your hand when you pick up a brush:

  • Handle – Usually wood or acrylic, and either short or long. Long handles are great for standing and painting with broad strokes; short ones give you more control when working up close.

  • Ferrule – That metal bit that holds the bristles in place.

  • Bristles (or filaments) – These can be natural or synthetic. For acrylic painting, synthetic is the way to go—they're tougher and clean up way easier.

The Brush Breakdown: Shapes & When to Use Them

Here’s a quick tour through the most common brush shapes and how they show up on your canvas:

1. Flat Brush

  • Shape: Straight, square tip

  • Great For: Laying down big blocks of color, creating crisp edges, and covering backgrounds quickly

  • Try This: Use the flat edge for sharp lines and turn the brush on its side for more expressive strokes



2. Filbert Brush

  • Shape: Oval tip with rounded edges

  • Great For: Blending, petals, soft edges, and anything round or organic-looking

  • Try This: Rock the brush slightly as you move to create soft, natural curves



3. Round Brush

  • Shape: Pointed tip, round body

  • Great For: Details, dots, lines, and controlled strokes

  • Try This: Press down for thicker lines or just use the tip for delicate work



4. Angle Brush

  • Shape: Slanted tip (think of a diagonal edge)

  • Great For: Clean lines, corners, leaves, and expressive shapes

  • Try This: Change your pressure as you go to make leaves or wave-like strokes



5. Fan Brush

  • Shape: Spread out like—yep—a fan

  • Great For: Textures like grass, trees, fur, or dreamy clouds

  • Try This: Use it dry for scratchy textures or dampen it for soft blends



6. Script or Rigger Brush

  • Shape: Long, skinny bristles

  • Great For: Fine lines, whiskers, tree branches, and even signatures

  • Try This: Thin your paint a bit so it flows smoothly off the brush



Brush Sizes: Where to Start

Brushes are numbered by size—the bigger the number, the larger the brush. If you’re just getting started, I recommend:

  • A large flat brush (size 10–14) for backgrounds and bold areas

  • A medium filbert or round (size 6–8) for general shapes and blending

  • A tiny detail brush (size 0–2) for those finishing touches

You don’t need a hundred brushes—just a few good ones will take you far.

Practice Makes Confident Strokes

Grab some scrap paper or a canvas pad and create your own brush test sheet. Try these exercises:

  • Straight lines and curvy ones

  • Tiny dots and big bold shapes

  • Blending two colors side by side

  • Light pressure vs. heavy pressure

The more you play, the better you’ll understand how each brush behaves—and soon, they’ll feel like extensions of your hand.

Brush TLC 

A few quick tips to keep your brushes in great shape:

  • Rinse right away: Acrylic paint dries fast and ruins bristles if left too long.

  • Use gentle soap: I love a mild dish soap or a brush-specific cleaner.

  • Dry standing up or flat: Never leave them soaking. Reshape the bristles and let them dry naturally.

A Few Brush Brands I Love

These brands have been reliable, durable, and friendly to my wallet:

  • Princeton Select or Velvetouch – Great synthetic options for beginners and beyond

  • Da Vinci Nova – A dream for detail work

  • Royal & Langnickel Zen – Solid quality for a nice price

Final Thoughts

Getting to know your brushes is like getting to know your tools in the kitchen. Once you understand what each one does, painting becomes a whole lot more fun—and way less frustrating. Start small, experiment often, and don’t worry if things get a little messy. That’s where the magic happens.

You’ve got this—and your brushes are ready to back you up.


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