The Complete Guide to Watercolor Brushes

I remember the first time I painted with watercolors as a child.
The teacher had us buy a set of three synthetic round brushes—small, medium, and large—and one wide flat brush. With just these four brushes, I painted for years, yet I knew almost nothing about watercolor brushes.
Today I would still recommend beginners start with this basic set; it’s definitely sufficient to get started.
However, it’s a shame not to explore and understand more about the different types of brushes out there.
So, let’s get to know watercolor brushes better!

Structure of a Watercolor Brush

Let’s first look at the basic structure of a general watercolor brush.

Hair:
The brush head consists of both the tip and the belly, made from either natural animal hair or synthetic fibers. Each material and shape offers different painting effects and capabilities.

Ferrule:
The ferrule is the part connecting the brush head to the handle, typically made from metal or plastic, providing a secure bond to prevent shedding.

Handle:
Handles come in a range of materials, such as wood, metal, plastic, or resin. They can vary in length, with options like short (around 18-20cm) or long handles (up to 25cm). Wooden handles often have waterproof coatings to prevent warping or cracking. Ergonomic handles may feature special curves or grips, offering improved stability and comfort during use.

Markings on the Handle:

Handles often display key information such as brush size, brand name, series name, hair type, and place of manufacture. Some handles also specify brush shapes, like “mop,” “flat,” “round,” or “liner.”

Sizing of Watercolor Brushes

Watercolor brush sizing can be confusing, as each brand has its own scale:

Escoda: Sizes range from 0000 to 24.
Da Vinci: Numbers span from 10/0 to 50.
Princeton: Available sizes range from 0 to 30.
Winsor & Newton: Sizes extend from the very fine 0000 to a broad 50.
Round brushes are typically sized with a series of numbers (e.g., 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10), while flat brushes may be marked by width, like Winsor & Newton’s Sceptre Gold II Brush 606, which lists sizes as 3mm, 6mm, 10mm, etc.

One key thing to note is that brush sizing varies between brands, so similar numbers across brands may not correspond to the same size. The image below highlights how size numbers are not standardized across different brands, making cross-brand comparisons tricky.

Therefore, if you are purchasing art supplies online, I recommend that you check the actual measurements on the brand’s official website to better predict the actual size.

How to choose the right size?
You should base your choice on the typical paper size you use. For smaller works (like A5 or smaller), you can choose round brushes in sizes 0 to 8. For larger works (A3 or larger), it’s better to go for brushes size 8 or larger to cover large areas.

Common Watercolor Brush Shapes

Although round brushes can generally handle most painting techniques, you may want to try different shapes depending on your painting style. Whether you’re rendering landscapes, fine illustrations, floral petals, or portraits, you may discover other interesting brush options beyond the round brush.

Here are common watercolor brush shapes:

1. Round: The most common type of watercolor brush, capable of drawing fine lines and medium-range fills. Suitable for most watercolor techniques.
2. Flat: A flat, rectangular, or square-shaped brush head, great for broad strokes and covering large areas of color. It can also be used on its side for drawing lines.
3. Mop: A round brush with a thicker, looser head, designed to carry a lot of water and pigment. It’s great for wet-on-wet techniques and large-area washes.
4. Rigger: A long, thin brush with extended bristles. It’s perfect for drawing long, stable lines.
5. Filbert: A flat brush with an oval-shaped head, combining the qualities of both flat and round brushes.
6. Dagger: A brush with an angled, dagger-like head, allowing you to switch between fine lines and broad strokes, creating varying line thicknesses.
7. Liner: A very fine, long brush ideal for intricate details and small, precise work.

In addition to the above shapes, many other types of watercolor brushes exist. I recommend visiting the official websites of various brands to discover even more unique shapes and names.

Watercolor Brush Material

Watercolor brushes typically fall into two categories: animal hair and synthetic fibers. The common types include:

• Natural Hair: Includes Kolinsky sable, squirrel hair, bristle (hog hair), goat hair, pony/horse hair, and ox hair.
• Synthetic Fiber: Made from materials like nylon, Taklon, and Toray.

Natural animal hair generally holds more water than synthetic fibers, allowing for longer painting without reloading the brush. However, recent advancements in fiber technology mean synthetic brushes now perform exceptionally well, and I personally find synthetic brushes entirely sufficient for watercoloring.

Brushes Made from Natural Hair

Here are some popular watercolor brushes made from animal hair:

• Escoda Aquario Series – Squirrel hair
• Escoda Reserva Series – Kolinsky sable (male)
• Tintoretto 334 – Kolinsky sable
• Tintoretto 1400 – Blue squirrel hair
• Raphaël 8404 – Kolinsky sable

Recommended Synthetic Watercolor Brushes

Many artists highly recommend these synthetic brushes:

• Princeton Neptune Series – Mimics the softness and absorbency of squirrel hair.
• Escoda Versatil Series – Imitates the flexibility and water-holding capacity of Kolinsky sable.
• Escoda Perla Series – Features a fine tip made from white Toray fiber.
• Raphaël SoftAqua Series – Mimics the softness and absorbency of squirrel hair.
• Da Vinci Casaneo Series – Made from soft, smooth synthetic fibers that offer excellent flexibility and absorbency.

Brushes with Blended Fibers (Natural and Synthetic)

These brushes combine the durability and elasticity of synthetic fibers with the water retention and softness of natural hair:

• Da Vinci Cosmotop Mix B Series
• Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold II Series
• Escoda Chronos Series – 90% synthetic Toray fiber, 10% red sable.
• Silver Brush Black Velvet Series – A favorite among floral and botanical artists, combining natural squirrel hair and black synthetic Risslon fibers.

About Travel Watercolor Brushes

What is a Travel Watercolor Brush?
A travel watercolor brush is a portable, detachable brush designed for artists who paint outdoors or on the go. These brushes are crafted to be compact, as their brush heads detach and store inside the handle. This not only reduces their size but also protects the brush bristles while traveling. Once assembled, they function just like regular brushes but may be slightly more expensive due to the added portability features.

Why are Travel Brushes Popular?

1. Portability: Lightweight and easy to carry, ideal for sketching while traveling.
2. Convenience: The brush handle doubles as a protective cap for the bristles, eliminating the need for a separate brush case.
3. Quality Materials: Many travel brushes use high-quality natural or synthetic fibers, ensuring they perform similarly to studio-grade brushes.

Popular Brands for Travel Brushes:

• Herend Viaje Set
• Tintoretto (Models 1330/1337)
• Rosemary & Co.
• Escoda (Reserva, Versatil, and Perla series)
• Silver 3100ST
• Raphael
• Princeton Neptune
• Da Vinci Casaneo

These brands offer a range of travel brushes featuring various materials and tip types, allowing artists to select brushes that best suit their painting style and travel needs.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Watercolor Brush

Watercolor brushes are essential tools for controlling the unique flow of watercolor paints. Although a standard round brush can handle most tasks, there are specific factors to consider to determine if your current brushes are truly suitable:

• Brush Hair
  Different brush hairs and tips may suit different painting needs. For example, very soft hair types (such as squirrel hair) may not be ideal for detailed or continuous strokes, as they do not spring back into shape after pressure is applied, making it difficult to create consistent strokes or details.
  
• Brush Tip
  Round brushes, even within this shape, vary greatly. Some round brushes hold their shape well and can form a sharp tip when wet, while others have a more rounded curve, creating varied stroke qualities. For example, the brush in the image below demonstrates how a finer tip can more easily handle detailed work.

Brush Size
Brush size also plays a role. I occasionally see students using a medium-sized brush (such as a size 8 or 10) for backgrounds. However, the limited water capacity of these brushes often leads to drying mid-stroke, making it challenging to maintain a continuous flow. In these cases, switching to a larger brush, like a size 16 or above, can save both time and effort.

How Should Beginners Choose Watercolor Brushes?

Now that you understand the basics of watercolor brush structure, materials, sizes, and types, here are some beginner-friendly tips to help you pick out your first watercolor brushes.

1. Consider Your Art Style or Subject Matter
   Think about what you’ll be painting—botanical illustrations or large-scale landscapes, for example, might require different brush types. Knowing your focus will guide you to specific sizes and shapes that work best for that subject.
   
2. Start with a Versatile Brush Shape
   If you’re not yet sure of your art style, starting with round brushes is a great option. They’re highly flexible, working well for a variety of techniques, from detailed work to filling in larger areas. You could start with just a few: a small brush for detail (#2 or #4), a medium brush for general painting (#8 or #10), and a large brush (#16) for backgrounds and washes. If needed, you can add a flat or mop brush for even greater flexibility.
   
3. Invest in a Few High-Quality Brushes
   any artists find they tend to favor a few brushes over time, so investing in fewer, higher-quality brushes often pays off. Even though I own over 30 brushes, I regularly use only about 3–4. High-quality brushes perform better and last longer, making them a good investment for a beginner.If possible, test out brushes at an art supply store to see what feels right for you.
   
   If that’s not an option, check for YouTube videos or Instagram posts from trusted brands or other artists using the specific brush you’re interested in. For instance, I recently bought the Tintoretto 853 after watching videos and browsing Instagram to see how it performs.

I hope this guide helps you find brushes you love and that feel comfortable to use!