We’ve all seen the colorful displays of brushes in art stores. From tiny fine-pointed rounds to large flat filberts, they look like an artist’s dream come true! Unfortunately, many artists are disappointed when their new acrylic paint brushes don’t work as well for them as expected. For some people, it seems that no matter what kind of brush they try there is always something wrong with at least one aspect of its shape or performance.
In this article, we will discuss 5 of the best paint brushes for acrylic paint available on the market today. We have taken time to answer some common questions and provide product reviews so you can make an informed decision about which brush is right for you!
How Can You Find the Best Brushes for Acrylic Painting?
We may call all our tools “paintbrush,” but there’s an amazing variety when we break down the term into its components. All artists want their fine-art paintings—acrylic, oil, or watercolor—to look their very best. So they must choose the right brush for each medium and task at hand.
There are many different types of brushes that can be used for acrylic painting, but it is important to know your options before you choose a brush. The best way to find out which type of brush would work well with the project you have in mind is by doing some research and testing them yourself!
There are many different types of acrylic paintbrushes, each with their own specific uses depending on what the project entails. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so make sure you do some research beforehand if you have any questions about which kind will work best for your needs.
Factors to Consider When Buying Best Acrylic Paint Brushes
When you are purchasing the best acrylic paint brushes, there are some factors that you should take into consideration. Let’s look at these now!
Price
Brushes can range in price from $0.25 to over $100 depending on what type of brush and quality it is. When choosing your product, keep in mind how often you will be using it as this may prevent having to buy a new one too soon after buying an expensive model that doesn’t meet expectations if used frequently.
Handle Material
The material the handle of the paintbrush is made out of plays a major role when deciding which kind would work best for each individual artist or person with specific needs. Some types include wood, plastic, rubberized grips, or metal.
Bristle Material
Brushes are made with different types of bristles that can be animal hair, synthetic, or natural fibers. Each bristle material has its own benefits and drawbacks that should be considered before making your purchase.
For example, animal hair bristles tend to hold more paint but they also require more care so they don’t lose their shape over time. Synthetic bristles are easier to clean and are less likely to absorb the paint, while natural fiber bristles offer a softer feel for the artist.
Shape
There are many different shapes in which brushes are available. Here are the most common ones:
Round
This type of brush is used in creating long strokes by rolling them between your fingers while holding them parallel to the canvas. They come in different sizes and are usually used for creating washes, backgrounds, or larger details.
Flat
This brush is shaped like its name suggests-flat! It is great for covering large areas of paint quickly as well as blending colors together. They also come in a variety of sizes and can be used for everything from basic strokes to more detailed work.
Filbert
A filbert brush has a rounded edge that comes to a point and is perfect for painting curved shapes such as flowers or leaves. It can also be used for adding detail such as hair or fur.
Chisel Shaped
This type of brush has a triangular shape with pointed ends which makes it ideal for painting straight lines and creases. It is also good for painting in small areas and can be used by artists who have a steady hand to create thin lines or details in their artwork.
Fan
A fan brush allows the artist to paint large “fan-shaped” strokes that look great when creating flowers, trees, grasses, bodies of water, etc. They are usually larger than most other types so they work well on canvases that require a lot of coverage quickly but don’t offer much room to add fine detail with this type of brush.
Angle Shaped
This art supply helps you get into narrow spaces without getting paint all over your fingers! The angled tip makes it easy to paint corners and edges while allowing you better control over the paint.
Emperor-S
This brush is shaped like a chisel and has very stiff bristles that can be used to create crisp lines with the help of water or pigment for painting details such as leaves, grasses, fur, etc. The long handle makes it great for adding fine detail while standing up but doesn’t offer much control when trying to blend colors together.
Shading Brush
These brushes are flat in shape which allows them to create smooth blends across your entire canvas quickly! They also come in different sizes so you should consider what size will work best on your project before making any final decisions about this type of acrylic paintbrush.
Designer Brush
Similar to shading brushes these have short handles but they tend to flatter and have a more pointed tip. They are perfect for adding details to your work, such as intricate designs or small lettering.
Size
Brushes come in a variety of sizes that range from tiny to extra large. It is important to consider the size you will need for your specific project before making your purchase as it can be difficult (if not impossible) to change the size of a brush once you have started using it.
Now that we have looked at some of the factors you should consider when purchasing a paintbrush for acrylics, let’s take a look at five popular brushes on the market today!
Best Paint Brushes for Acrylic Paint: Comparison Table
Image | Product | |
---|---|---|
Best Value
| BOSOBO Paint Brushes Set
| Check Price |
Best for Professionals
| D'Artisan Shoppe Professional Artist Paint Brush Set
| Check Price |
Best for Beginners
| CONDA Paint Brushes Set
| Check Price |
Best for Fine Details
| AIEX Fine Detail Paint Brush Set
| Check Price |
Best for Travelling
| Mont Marte Art Paint Brushes Set
| Check Price |
1. BOSOBO Paint Brushes Set – Best Value
Unpacking and First impressions
The BOSOBO Paint Brushes Set comes with a variety of 10 different sized brushes. They have wooden handles, nylon bristles, nickel ferrules, and most importantly they feel sturdy enough to take the wear and tear that is associated with working on a canvas.
The set includes 2 filbert brushes, 3 flat brushes, and 5 round brushes (script liners). The brushes have soft bristles which makes it easy for beginners but still efficient enough for more experienced artists! They can be used by both righties and lefties without feeling uncomfortable during use while the wooden handle provides a comfortable grip.
Overall, we feel that this is an excellent value for the price and would recommend it to anyone starting out in acrylic painting or needing an extra set of brushes on hand!
Performance
The bristles are stiff enough to create crisp edges while still being soft enough to form smooth lines! The handle is comfortable in the hand and allows for precise control over this acrylic paintbrush. It also works well with both water-based paints as well as oil colors without any issues arising during use which means it can be used by just about anyone, regardless of your skill level or project preference!
They hold up really well while painting which makes them ideal if you tend to be heavy-handed with your supplies. Overall, they clean off pretty easily after use even though some white paint residue occasionally remains stuck near the ferrule.
Overall, we feel that these brushes hold up extremely well when compared to higher-priced products on the market today so were pleasantly surprised at how inexpensive they actually were considering their high-quality design and construction. We would recommend them to beginners all the way through advanced artists who want a reliable set of tools for creating beautiful paintings with ease!
Verdict
If you are looking for an affordable set of acrylic paintbrushes that come in a variety of shapes and sizes, then the BOSOBO Paint Brushes Set would make an excellent purchase! These brushes feel sturdy and well-made while still being able to produce beautiful paintings with ease. Just keep in mind that some users have complained about the bristles falling out over time so they may not last as long as other products on the market.
2. D’Artisan Shoppe Professional Artist Paint Brush Set – Best Acrylic Paint Brushes for Professionals
Unpacking and First impressions
The D’Artisan Shoppe Professional Artist Paint Brush Set includes 15 paint brushes including 4 flat paintbrushes, 1 fan brush, 3 round brushes, 4 filbert brushes, 1 angle brush, 1 rigger brush, and 1 wide brush.
There are 4 natural hog hair bristle brushes and 11 synthetic bristle brushes in this set, and wooden handles are well balanced to provide an overall comfortable painting experience.
The carrying case is lightweight and compact, making it easy to transport your brushes without having to worry about them getting damaged.
Performance
The bristles are soft which makes them ideal for blending colors together or creating thin lines without any harsh edges. They also hold their shape really well even when used with more viscous paints like oils without becoming misshapen over time.
We found that they worked extremely well for detail work and were able to produce smooth transitions between colors without any streaking occurring. In fact, we would go so far as to say that these are some of the best acrylic paint brushes for blending that we have ever used!
Verdict
If you are looking for an extremely versatile set of acrylic paintbrushes that can be used by professionals or beginners alike, then the D’Artisan Shoppe Professional Artist Paint Brush Set would be a great purchase! They come with a variety of different-sized brushes, all of which are designed to be comfortable and easy to use. We especially loved the way that they blended colors together smoothly without any streaking!
3. CONDA Paint Brushes Set – Best Acrylic Paint Brushes for Beginners
Unpacking and First impressions
The CONDA Paint Brushes Set comes with 24 different brushes including a fan brush, flat brush, filbert brush, round brush, and more.
They are made of nylon bristles which makes them easy to clean and helps prevent streaking when painting. The wooden handles feel well balanced in your hand and the ferrules are tightly secured to the bristles.
The carrying case is also a great added bonus as it helps to keep your brushes organized and prevents them from getting damaged while transporting them.
The other great thing was the price point as it provides a wide variety of paintbrushes for an affordable cost. We would say that this set makes them one of the best acrylic paintbrush options available, especially if you are just starting out or don’t want to break your budget when purchasing new art supplies.
Performance
When we first used these brushes, it became immediately apparent that the bristles were a lot more flimsy than some of the other products on our list. They also didn’t hold their shape as well and would become misshapen over time which made them difficult to use for fine detail work.
That being said, they were still able to get the job done and did manage to produce smooth transitions between colors without any streaking occurring which was a nice bonus.
We found that they tended to be better suited towards beginners who are just starting out rather than professional artists looking for an essential set of tools.
Verdict
If you are looking for an affordable set of paintbrushes that come with a variety of different shapes and sizes, the CONDA Paint Brushes Set would be a great option. However, we do not recommend them for professional artists as the bristles tend to fray easily and the ferrules can fall off during usage.
4. AIEX Fine Detail Paint Brush Set – Best for Fine Details
Unpacking and First impressions
The AIEX Fine Detail Paint Brush Set comes with 12 different brushes including 5 liner brushes (0000/000/00/0/1), 5 round brushes (0000/000/00/0/1), 2 flat brushes(0/1). Each brush comes with a plastic hat to protect the bristles.
The overall feel of these brushes is extremely well-balanced and the triangle grip handles have a nice weight to them.
They are made with high-quality bristles which provides you with an optimal painting experience as they blend colors smoothly without any streaking occurring. Overall, we found that this set was very easy to use for beginners who were just starting out or seasoned artists looking for new tools!
Performance
These brushes perform effortlessly when it came to painting intricate designs onto different surfaces. The bristles are extremely soft which allows you to create thin lines or build them up gradually depending on the look that you are trying to achieve.
They work extremely well for detail work and are able to produce smooth transitions between colors without any streaking occurring.
That being said, we would not recommend them for larger projects as they become difficult to maneuver and use in the process (the smaller brush sizes can be a pro or con depending on what you are looking for).
One thing that we really like about these brushes is their very fine bristles which are great at producing small details without requiring too much precision. We also found that they held up well over time and did not tend to fall apart like some of our other options.
As far as acrylic paintbrushes go, these ones were definitely one of the best options available especially if you want something that feels high-quality and helps you create crisp lines easily.
Verdict
Overall, the AIEX Fine Detail Paint Brush Set is a great investment for any artist looking for high-quality brushes that can create precise lines and details. They are also very easy to use and can be cleaned without too much hassle. We would definitely recommend them to anyone who wants an acrylic paintbrush set that performs well!
5. Mont Marte Art Paint Brushes Set – Best Brushes for Blending Acrylic Paint
Unpacking and First impressions
The Mont Marte Art Paint Brushes Set comes with 15 different brushes including liner, flat, and fan brush types. Each brush is made of high-quality nylon bristles which are extremely soft yet durable at the same time.
They also come in a nice range of sizes (ranging from small to large) so that whether you’re looking for something tiny or medium, there is definitely going to be a brush size that works best for what you have planned.
The wooden handles feel very comfortable when using them for long periods of time without causing fatigue in your hands or wrists. And with the handy zippered holder, transport and storage of these brushes is a breeze.
Performance
These paintbrushes are extremely easy to use for beginners as well as advanced artists who want new tools on the go! They are very light and well-balanced which makes them great for acrylic painting as you can easily paint your designs with minimal effort!
They glide smoothly over any surface while allowing you to achieve crisp lines and smooth gradients effortlessly. The bristles also blend together colors very well which gives your paintings that professional finishing touch!
The bristles are extremely soft but durable at the same time and are easy to clean after using by simply rinsing under tap water. Overall, they perform excellently when dealing with finer details or large areas that need to be filled in.
Verdict
Mont Marte Art Paint Brushes Set is an affordable option for artists looking for high-quality, versatile paintbrushes. The soft bristles make them perfect for delicate details or larger areas. The only downside is that some bristles need to be trimmed before use, and a few users report damaged ferrule. Overall, this set is a great value for the price!
You might also be interested in our article about choosing The Best Plein Air Easel.
Tips on Choosing Acrylic Brushes
The following tips on choosing acrylic paintbrushes may help you find a set that works better for your particular needs and style:
- Acrylic paint is thicker than oil paint, so the brush should be smaller in size.
- For thin acrylics, synthetic brushes are best because they can be used with water-based paints. On the other hand, use natural hair for thicker mediums like oil paint or gel.
- A good rule of thumb is to buy more than one size variety pack so you can experiment with different sizes and shapes before committing to a full set.
- For smooth finishes, look for acrylic paint brushes with sorted bristles that are completely tapered and even throughout. This will give you more control over the amount of paint applied to your surface with each stroke. Flat or washer shapes can also help you achieve this finish if they are short enough to allow good contact between the brush tip and the painting surface (be sure not to press down on these types of bristle tips though!).
- For textured or rustic finishes, choose larger rounder filberts which tend to hold their shape better than flats due to their thicker center stems so keep a light touch when applying pressure during use. A shorter flat may be easier for controlling texture as well.
How to Clean Your Acrylic Brushes
Clean your brushes immediately after use by running them under warm water and using a bit of soap or shampoo. Swish the bristles around until all the paint is gone then rinse thoroughly. Allow the brush to air dry completely before putting it away. You can also try using a brush cleaner if you want to make sure all of the paint is out.
Never leave your brushes soaking in water as this will damage the bristles and shorten the life of your paintbrush.
How to Store Your Acrylic Brushes
Ideally, you should store your brushes in a brush holder or jar and keep them in a cool, dry place. Make sure to reshape the bristles after each use and don’t let them overlap or touch one another. This will help keep your brushes in good condition for a long time!
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Final Words
There are a lot of great options out there when it comes to acrylic paint brushes, and the ones we’ve listed above are just some of our personal favorites. Experiment with different shapes and sizes to find what works best for you, and remember that it’s important to take care of your brushes in order to keep them working well for years to come!