There are a rich variety of oil painting brushes, and each type of oil painting brush has unique features and applicable scenarios. The following are several common types of oil painting brushes and their detailed introductions:
1. Flat brush (flat-head brush
Features: The bristles are smooth and of uniform width, allowing for even application of paint.
Applicable scenarios: Mainly used for drawing large-area color blocks, it can quickly cover large areas and present an overall color effect. In addition, flat brushes are also suitable for drawing block textures, adding a sense of layering to the picture.
2. Round brush (round head brush)
Features: The bristles are round with fine tips, capable of precisely depicting fine lines and contours.
Applicable scenarios: The round brush is the preferred tool for drawing details, lines and contours. It is suitable for fine depiction, such as the facial features of characters and the wrinkles of clothes, and can show fine textures and rich details.
3. Flat brush (Flat head brush)
Features: The bristles are flat and wide, allowing for smooth drawing of straight lines and wide surfaces on the carrier.
Applicable scenarios: Flat brushes are suitable for drawing straight lines and wide areas, such as the sky, water surface, ground, etc. It can present a broad and smooth picture effect, enhancing the sense of space and depth of the picture.
4. Angled brush
Feature: The bristles are angled, allowing for easy access to the corners and details of the picture.
Applicable scenarios: The bevel brush is mainly used for precise drawing of edges and details, such as the contour lines of objects and the edges of shadows. It can help painters control the direction and force of brushstrokes more accurately, presenting a fine picture effect.
5. Waist brush
Features: The bristles are of moderate shape, neither completely flat nor completely round, but presenting a waist drum-like appearance.
Applicable scenarios: The waist brush is used to create soft transitions and gradient effects, such as clouds, smoke, water flow, etc. It can easily create a soft and even transition effect, making the picture more natural and vivid.
6. Sector brush
Feature: The bristles spread out in a fan shape, resembling a fan.
Application scenarios: The fan-shaped brush is mainly used for applying and stirring pigments to create rich texture effects. It is suitable for drawing objects with natural textures such as grass, leaves and hair, and can show a fluffy and soft feeling.
7. Outlining pen
Characteristics: The bristles are long and fine, with a sharp tip.
Applicable scenarios: The outlining pen is used to draw very delicate parts, such as a person’s eyebrows, eyelashes, hair strands, etc. It can precisely depict fine lines and contours, presenting a sense of refinement in the picture.
8. Special-shaped brushes
Features: The bristles come in various shapes, such as pill-shaped and hazelnut shaped, etc.
Application scenarios: Special-shaped brushes are used to create specific visual effects. For instance, pill-shaped brushes are suitable for creating natural object effects (such as trees, clouds, water surfaces, etc.), while hazelnut brushes are ideal for depicting smooth strokes and color-mixing effects.
9. Soft-bristled brushes and hard-bristled brushes
Features: Soft-bristled brushes are usually made of soft materials such as wool and mink hair, while hard-bristled brushes are mostly made of hard materials such as pig bristles and horse hair.
Applicable scenarios: Soft-bristled brushes are suitable for scenarios such as shading and detail drawing that require gentle brushstrokes. Hard-bristled brushes are suitable for scenarios such as thick coating and scraper techniques that require strong brushstrokes and texture effects.
In summary, there are numerous types of oil brushes, and each type has its unique features and applicable scenarios. When choosing an oil brush, painters should select the appropriate tool based on the requirements of the painting and their personal painting style to create more vivid and natural artworks.