Brush size and type vary. This is determined by a numbering system with 0 being the smallest and goes
to 24 (or even higher). A brush marked as 4/0 - or 0000 - is smaller than a size 0. Sizes range from:
30/0, 20/0, 12/0, 10/0, 7/0, 6/0, 5/0, 4/0 (also written 0000), 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30
Although the numbering system is used in the industry, there are deviations from manufacturer to
manufacturer
Types of Brush Hair
Red Sable - from the "red hair" of the weasel family. A good alternative to more expensive hairs.
Camel Hair - doesn't come from camels but made from squirrel, goat, ox, pony, or a blend of these
types. Varies with intended softness and use. Camel Hair doesn't have "snap" or "memory" and will not
return to a point after being used in a brush stroke.
Taklon - An artificial polyester fiber and a synthetic alternative to animal hair brushes
Shapes
The styles of brush tip seen most commonly are:
• Round: pointed tip, long closely arranged bristles for detail work, fills, thin to thick lines
• Pointed narrow: a round brush with a pointed tip. For fine detailing, fines lines, spotting, and
retouching
• Flat: for spreading paint quickly and evenly over a surface. They will have longer hairs than their
Bright counterpart.
• Bright: shorter than flats. Flat brushes with short stiff bristles, good for driving paint into the
weave of a canvas in thinner paint applications, as well as thicker painting styles like impasto
work.
• Filbert: flat brushes with domed ends. They allow good coverage and the ability to perform some
detail work.
• Fan: for blending broad areas of paint.
• Angle: like the filbert, these are versatile and can be applied in both general painting application
as well as some detail work.
• Mop/Wash: a larger format brush with a rounded edge for broad soft paint application as well as
for getting thinner glazes over existing drying layers of paint without damaging lower layers.
• Rigger: round brushes with longish hairs, traditionally used for painting the rigging in pictures of
ships. They are useful for fine lines and are versatile for both oils and watercolors.
• Stippler and deer-foot stippler: short, stubby rounds
• Script/Liner: for fine lettering, highlighting, or long continuous strokes
• Scripts: highly elongated rounds
• Full Bellied Round: for lettering or long continuous strokes
• Detail Round: for detail painting or short strokes
• Egbert: For soft rounded edges, blending, or figurative work
