 |
Oil Painting Tips – All About Oil Painting Brushes
Author: Ralph Serpe  | Posted: 27-04-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 51 | Rating: (100)  (?) 
Oil painting brushes come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes and this can sometimes overwhelm a beginner. This article will provide you with an overview of the various oil painting brushes available and help you decide what kind of brushes you should invest in.
BRUSH TEXTURES
Oil painting brushes come in two different textures basically, and they are classified as hard and soft. Hard brushes are generally referred to as “bristle brushes” and they are quite resilient. Hard brushes are made from hog's hair and they are strong and stiff. They will hold a good amount of paint and can handle the oil painting medium quite well. I personally prefer working with bristle brushes exclusively as I tend to paint rather rough and direct.
Soft oil painting brushes are made from softer hairs that come from animals like sable, squirrel, or mongoose. Softer brushes will generally give your painting a softer smoother appearance and are more often used for finishing or detailed work. Sable brushes are the most expensive usually but there are synthetic brushes made of nylon that are very good substitutes for sable. They are more resilient and cheaper than sable.
BRUSH SHAPES
There are five shapes to brushes that are generally used and each is meant to have its own function. I prefer to paint with flats, brights and fliberts of various sizes, and only occasionally make use of the other shapes. This is my preference and you will certainly develop your own the longer you paint with oils.
Flats
Flat oil painting brushes have a wide square end with medium to long hairs. Flat brushes generally have a lot of spring to them and can hold a lot of paint. You can use these brushes for broad sweeping strokes or you can turn the brush on its edge to create fine lines. Flat brushes are great for earlier stages of a painting when you are blocking in large areas.
Brights
Bright oil painting brushes are similar in shape to flat brushes but the hairs are shorter. They are best used for making shorter controlled strokes. They do not hold nearly as much paint as a flat brush.
Filberts
The filbert is also similar to the flat brush only the edge of the brush comes to a rounded shape. The hairs of the filbert are medium to long in length. This rounded shape will give you more control then a bright. The filbert is great for blending and figurative work.
Rounds
A round oil painting brush has a round or pointed tip. They hold a nice amount of paint and are great for making thin or thick lines. Use this brush for dabbing on dots or blotches of color. Round brushes are also good for washes, fills and detailed work. They are not suited for creating hard straight edges.
Fans
The fan oil painting brush is a flat fan shaped brush. The fan brush is a specialized brush. It is either used very often by the artist or not at all. It really depends on your style of painting. This brush is not suited for holding paint. It is used more often for blending colors and you should keep this brush clean and dry if you plan to do a lot of blending during a session. The brush will begin to lose its effectiveness when it becomes filled with paint. You may want to keep a few extras on hand.
BRUSH SIZE
Oil painting brushes come in a variety of sizes indicated by numbers as in 1,2,4,6,8,10; size 1 being the smallest and 10 the largest in this example.
BRUSH MANUFACTURERS
Oil painting brushes are made by a number of different manufacturers. A few of the more popular brands are Winsor & Newton, Silver Brush and Robert Simmons. Some artists prefer one brand over another. Other artists like to have an assortment of different brands available. The only way you will know what you like best is by working with the brushes yourself.
CARING FOR YOUR BRUSHES
No matter what brush you buy, whether they are top of the line expensive brushes, or cheaper ones, you will definitely get more life out of them if you care for them properly. There seems to be a difference of opinion when it comes to brush care, especially when it comes to drying your brushes. I personally have two products on hand for cleaning and conditioning my brushes: Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver and Mona Lisa Pink Brush Soap. I have found that the Masters Brush Cleaner works great on brushes that are deeply stained and hardened with paint, that I would have otherwise thrown out. I use the Mona Lisa Pink Brush Soap to clean my brushes right after a painting session. These cleaners will also help condition your brushes.
After washing my brushes with either of these cleaners, I then attach a clothes pin to the handle of the brush and rest the clothes pin on the edge of a counter or table so that the brush is hanging with the bristles pointing toward the floor. Gravity then pulls the moisture from the brush so that it does not collect in the ferrule, which can damage a brush over time.
I hope this article has helped. Best of luck and happy painting!
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/oil-painting-tips-all-about-oil-painting-brushes-138704.html
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
Oil Painting Lesson - Introduction to Oil Painting Mediums
By: Ralph Serpe | 09/04/2007 | Art
Oil painting is a wonderful medium all on its own, but there are modifiers that you can add to the oil paint that can change its behavior. This article will give you an overview of some of the more popular oil painting mediums available to today's oil painters.
Oil Painting Lesson – an Introduction to Oil Painting Supports
By: Ralph Serpe | 13/04/2007 | Art
An oil painting support is any surface that oil paint can be applied to. There are a variety of different surfaces that artists use to paint on. Everything from certain woods, canvas, and even metals can serve as supports for oil paint. This article will introduce you to those various supports and hopefully help you decide which support is best for your style of oil painting.
Oil Painting Lesson - Introduction to Oil Painting Fundamentals
By: Ralph Serpe | 05/04/2007 | Art
To accurately convey your feelings about the subject you are painting, you should learn and understand the fundamentals of oil painting like drawing, color theory, value and composition. I hope to give you a better understanding of these fundamentals in this article. This article is meant to be an introduction. You should study these topics further on your own when you have time.
Oil Painting for Beginners - How to Get Started in Oil Painting
By: Ralph Serpe | 18/03/2008 | Visual Art
One of the more frequently asked questions from beginners in oil painting is: How do I get Started? To get started in oil painting is relatively easy. There are some basic supplies that you will need and some basic guidelines to follow. This article will discuss how beginners can get started with oil painting. This article will not teach you how to become a good painter however. In fact, no one can make you a good painter. You can only be taught certain things and it is up to you to take what yo
Learn How to Oil Paint - Tips & Techniques From a Master Painter
By: Ralph Serpe | 23/05/2008 | Visual Art
Before you read on, you will have to try and forget everything you ever learned about oil painting and look at your painting from a new perspective. A recent art class I attended, taught by a master painter, has completely changed the way I approach oil painting and has opened up many new creative doors for me. I hope it will do the same for you.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Art Articles
Celtic Artwork
By: Lamar Bell | 23/07/2008
This article is dedicated to such diverse and interesting Celtic artwork
The Internet Emerges as a Rescue for Contemporary Art and Artists Worldwide
By: Smit Mathur | 23/07/2008
The subject of artists and poverty is a story told so many times that it has become a cliché on its own. Contemporarily, however, the Internet has risen to the occasion and has acted as a boon with immeasurable consequences and effects.
DIY Rapid Prototipe, La Impresora 3d, Bricolaje Y Rápida De Prototipos, Replicación
By: Ryan Rounder | 23/07/2008
DIY Rapid Prototipe, la impresora 3D y bricolaje Prototipado Rápido de Información. Aprenda cómo hacer que la impresora 3D
Rotocast, 3d Cad, 3d Impresión, Y Otros Servicios De Rapid Prototipe
By: Ryan Rounder | 23/07/2008
Prototipo de Servicios, Rotocast, CAD 3D e información sobre otros servicios de Prototipo
Electron Beam Melting and Electronic Prototype Information
By: Ryan Rounder | 23/07/2008
Prototipo electrónico y haz de electrones de fusión de información y definición de esta alternativa a la rápida de prototipos.
Prototipo Virtual, Virtual Prototipos, Y Todos Los Prototipos De Información Virtual
By: Ryan Rounder | 23/07/2008
Más información sobre los Prototipos virtuales, prototipos virtuales, y las técnicas de prototipado virtual.
Reparto De Prototipos Y Precisa Reparto De Prototipos, Pcpro Y La Técnica
By: Ryan Rounder | 23/07/2008
Más información sobre Reparto de prototipos, precisa Reparto de prototipos, PCPro y la Técnica.
Prototipo De Moldeado Por Inyección, Moldeo Por Inyección De Termoplásticos, Inyección De Moldes
By: Ryan Rounder | 23/07/2008
Prototipo de moldeado por inyección, moldeo por inyección de termoplásticos, así como información sobre moldes de inyección.
More from Ralph Serpe
20 Beginner Tips for Taking Digital Photography
By: Ralph Serpe | 18/07/2008 | Photography
Many beginners find digital photography rather challenging and rightly so. Today, more and more digital cameras are being created and it seems like the more digital cameras they make, the more difficult they become to use. I hope the following 20 tips for taking digital photography will prove to be useful in your quest for taking better photographs.
Cooking Brisket in the Oven - a Beginners Guide
By: Ralph Serpe | 15/06/2008 | Recipes
Cooking brisket in the oven is a time consuming process, but also a very rewarding one. When your family and friends take their first bite of your delicious brisket, they will most definitely be asking you for the recipe. This article will make you a brisket cooking pro!
Learn How to Oil Paint - Tips & Techniques From a Master Painter
By: Ralph Serpe | 23/05/2008 | Visual Art
Before you read on, you will have to try and forget everything you ever learned about oil painting and look at your painting from a new perspective. A recent art class I attended, taught by a master painter, has completely changed the way I approach oil painting and has opened up many new creative doors for me. I hope it will do the same for you.
Seared Sesame Encrusted Ahi Tuna Steak Recipe
By: Ralph Serpe | 08/05/2008 | Recipes
I made this particular dish the other day and it was absolutely wonderful. My wife, who normally does not eat big portions, cleaned off her plate and wanted more, so that is a very good sign.
Easy Ground Beef Recipes That are Healthy and Delicious
By: Ralph Serpe | 22/04/2008 | Recipes
Looking for some healthy and easy ground beef recipes that do not require a lot of time to make? Below are 3 delicious ground beef recipes that are filling and real crowd pleasers.
What Digital Camera to Buy? Tips to Help You Decide.
By: Ralph Serpe | 17/04/2008 | Digital Photography
Digital cameras are available in a variety of different sizes, colors, brands, zooms, resolutions, etc. The features are endless. There are so many features available in today's cameras that many first time buyers become overwhelmed and have no clue what digital camera to buy...
Easy Italian Recipes - Quick and Delicious for the Entire Family
By: Ralph Serpe | 13/04/2008 | Recipes
Do you need easy Italian recipes that you can cook up fast that are delicious and inexpensive? Below are three very simple Italian recipes that do not require much time to prepare and only use several ingredients that you may even have on hand.
Beginner Acoustic Guitar - Tips & Lessons for Better Guitar Playing
By: Ralph Serpe | 20/03/2008 | Music
I am sure you have been searching for acoustic beginner online guitar lessons for quite some time now. Perhaps these sites have not answered some of the most basic questions that a beginner has when starting acoustic guitar. This article was written to address those questions with tips, lessons and basics that I hope will help you on your way.
|
|
Art and Entertainment 
