My Take on Flat Brushes

Let’s discuss flat brushes! I don’t use a lot of different types of brushes, but flats are one of my go-to for painting.  The reason I like flat brushes is they have at least three sides to them. They have a flat side that’s wide, another side when you look at it straight on, and a very thin side if you turn them sideways. Also, when you get a lot of paint onto them, they can taper together so you have a nice edge on them too. I like to scumble with the brushes, which means when I face the canvas I like to hold the brush to the side and scumble in my big blocks and shapes. 

Brush size example

ilberts are a bit rounded off so I generally do not choose those as my first flat brush option. I like to have a razor-sharp edge on the brush. Eventually, they get worn and I have to let them go and put them to the side. I don’t like to toss brushes, I tend to save them since I feel bad throwing them out. I like to put them aside and use them for a different application. Using new, flat brushes will give you those three sides for sure. I like to stick with any good-quality hog bristle. I do not like synthetics as they don’t perform as well for my needs (they might work for you). This is just my preference since I have tried many different materials with trial and error. If you have not tried flat brushes, give them a shot. I like to use sizes in the 5 - 6 range. Try different sizes, but generally, 5 is a good size to start with. 

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