Who ever thought a paintbrush could make you so happy? I thought I’d share a few favorites with you. I am using these with mixed media and acrylics mostly, except for my watercolor brush. I’m not an expert in brushes to tell you which ones are the best or preferred, but these are some I personally like right now.
The first is my “Happy Cloud” brush. Though I don’t make that many happy clouds, every time I use this I can’t help but think of Bob Ross painting “happy little clouds” and “happy little trees”. I swear I smile every time I paint with this brush. I love how it has a good balanced weight in my hand and blends effortlessly when working a larger surface area.
The second brush is a plain 2” Gesso Brush. I’ve been using my standard 1.5” acrylic brushes and it would take a while to get a smooth coat of gesso. I finally bought a gesso brush and it is amazing the difference in how quickly and smoothly I can cover a piece with gesso. Even if you don’t want a smooth finish, this helps speed the process and holds a bit of gesso without wasting it.
Finally, this little #8 Round Escoda Kolinsky sable brush. This is probably the most expensive brush I’ve bought so far, but it has made a difference in my watercolors and how well I can move the paint and water around.
A good brush does make a difference. I think I’m going to spend some time next year playing with different brushes and learning what makes a “GOOD” brush. What are your thoughts?
