Brushes act as a bridge between your imagination and the canvas. A perfect brush can give your imagination a vision to create a unique artwork. Do you have any idea what kind of brush works with different watercolor techniques? Difficult task…. right? If you are a beginner this might be a difficult task, but if you are a professional and have an idea about brushes and color then it is not easy to find high-quality brushes at affordable prices.
Cowling and Wilcox is here to solve these problems. We are a multi-brand store that provides art supplies both online (at our website) and offline (London, Kent). We provide art supplies from top brands like:
- Daler-Rowney
- Royal and Langnickel
- Pro Arte
- Da Vinci
- Winsor and Newton
Understand the Watercolor Techniques You Want to Explore
Each watercolor painting method requires its unique brush characteristics. Watercolor artists need specialized brushes according to the specific wash method they choose between detailed line work, soft washes and vibrant wet-on-wet painting.
- Wet-on-wet technique: The wet-on-wet technique works best with a brush which has enough space to store both water as well as pigment. A mop brush by Pro Arte or a round brush by Liquitex, made from soft bristles will do the job nicely. Professional paint brushes made for watercolor applications help artists create smooth gradients together with blurred edges.
- Dry Brush Technique: A dry brush should be used to achieve texture by allowing minimal application of water from the brush. For obtaining rough broken brush strokes, you should choose a stiff flat brush from Royal and Langnickel.
- Detailing and Precision: The accomplishment of precise mark-making through small lines and crisp strokes requires utilizing a brush with thin tips. The precise technique for creating small details and highlights can be accomplished using either a pointed round brush from Da Vinci or a liner brush from Pro Arte.
Brush Material: Synthetic or Natural
Someone starting watercolor painting must decide between natural and synthetic hair brushes as their material. Testing both synthetic and natural hairbrushes will help you find which one works better for your artwork.
Synthetic material
Paint brushes manufactured from synthetic materials provide easy access to both precise work and controlled handling techniques.
Natural Material
Natural brush bristles derived from squirrel and sable hair offer better water retention properties that favor fluid watercolor aspects.
Research different brush formats in addition to sizes and materials because they will contribute to better creative work while delivering exceptional watercolor results.