How to Choose the Best Acrylic Paint Brushes

Congratulations on deciding to start your acrylic painting journey! Now, you need the best tools. Read a guide to choosing the best acrylic paint brushes.

There are a few things all artists need to succeed – passion, talent, and the right tools!

You probably already have the passion, and you’ll develop talent over time. But before starting your first painting, you’ll need to acquire the right tools.

If acrylic paint is your preferred medium, it’s important that you find the best acrylic paint brushes to work with. Not all brushes are the same, so you need to figure out which ones will create the effect you’re looking for.

Choosing the Best Acrylic Paint Brushes

1. Synthetic vs Natural Brush Fibers

To a less experienced painter, natural hair bristles may sound more appealing than synthetic. In reality, for acrylic painting in particular synthetic is better.

Synthetic bristle fibers are often cheaper and more durable than natural options. More importantly, natural fibers can actually be broken down by acrylic paint.

For this reason, we recommend choosing synthetic paint brushes.

2. Brush Shape

As you look through paint brush options, you’ll see a lot of different shapes and sizes.

Each paint brush shape has a different purpose. You probably don’t need every single shape available. It depends on the type of painting you want to create.

Flat brushes hold a lot of paint and are good for making broad strokes on the canvas. They’re also good for filling in large areas of color.

Round or pointed tip brushes are more flexible. The brush tapers at the end so it can be used for fine detail work. It can be used for bold strokes when pressed firmly to the canvas.

A filbert brush falls in between flat and round brushes and can be used for either application. Depending on how you use the brush, it can be used for details or for filling in dominant colors.

If you’re on a budget, you might consider starting with a filbert brush and seeing how it accommodates your needs.

There are a number of other brush shapes on the market, so you should think about the type of painting you want to create and which brushes will get the most use.

3. Brush Size

You can have the best acrylic paint brushes in the world, but if they’re the wrong size, you’re going to have a hard time using them.

If your painting requires a lot of detail work, you need a small detail round brush.

For landscapes or other acrylic paintings with wide expanses of color, a large brush will make things much easier.

Medium brushes can do most of the work in between.

Brush sizes are often labeled with number sizes, but just like clothing, these numbers may vary depending on brand. Take a look at the actual brush to get the best idea of what size will work best.

Buying Your Brushes

Once you’ve researched which style and size brush you need, you can start shopping around.

There are a lot of different brands out there, but the best acrylic paint brushes have a few characteristics. Look for brushes that won’t shed – loose bristles can get stuck in the paint and ruin your work.

Consider investing in a set that contains a few size and shape options. While you can probably get away with just using one or two brushes at first, in the long run, it’s best to have some variety.

Want more insider tips on which brands have the best acrylic paint brushes for beginners? We’ve rounded up the top 3 brush sets this year.