Brush Chart

FLAT Good for: bolder strokes, large washes, filling wide spaces.

• Can use it on its edge for thinner lines.

• Creates straight edges and stripes.
• Long bristles are great for varnishing.

BRIGHT Good for: short, controlled strokes.

• Can handle thick, heavy color.

ROUND Good for: outlining, detailed work, controlled washes, filling in small areas.

• Creates thin to thick lines - depending on pressure

applied.
• Best used with thinned paint rather than thick paint.

RIGGER Good for: fine lettering and lines.

• Can hold a lot of paint and create long, thin lines.

FILBERT Good for: blending, soft rounded edges like flower petals.

• Very versitile.
• Can create curves like a round brush but cover
more space.

FAN Good for: blending and feathering.

• Creating textural effects like grasses, clouds, and

leaves on trees.

Parts of an oil paintbrush

These are the part of the brush or the hairs that carry the paint. Bristles can be stiff hog’s
BRISTLES
hair, softer sable (or other soft, natural hair), or even synthetic.

FERRULE The ferrule is the metal band that secures the bristles and connects them to the handle.

Handles are long or short, wood or plastic. Typically, in oil painting, long-handled brushes
HANDLE
are used most often.

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