Synthetic or natural? Choose your favourite.
Artists seek out the best paintbrushes for oils to make sure they use the medium to its fullest advantage. But what do they look for in a paintbrush? Firstly, they assess the shape, size handle length and type of hair. Next, be sure to choose a brush that holds its shape and doesn't drop bristles.
Long handled brushes are brilliant for expressive brushstrokes because your hand stays well clear from the painting. Normally, these brushes are rounds, flats and filberts but other specialised shapes do exist. Paints would usually utilise a selection of these different types in a variety of sizes, but most will have a shape preference.
Brush hair comes in many forms, and affects how much paint it holds, how firm it is and how well it holds its shape. Hog hair is popular for its toughness and holding thick oil paint well, whereas natural brushes are soft, form a fine point and are handy for fine detail. Synthetic paintbrushes can be extremely firm or very soft, and feel slicker than hog brushes.