In children’s painting, choosing the right combination of brushes and paints is crucial for stimulating children’s creativity and cultivating their painting skills. Here are some suggestions on the usage methods of children’s painting brushes in combination with different pigments:
First, the selection of the paintbrush
Material
For children, soft and easy-to-hold brushes are more suitable. Brushes made of nylon or artificial fibers are usually soft and durable, making them suitable for children to use.
Natural soft-bristled brushes (such as those made of wool or squirrel hair) are of superior quality, but they are relatively expensive and may be too delicate for children to control.
Shape and size
Round-tipped brushes are suitable for outlining lines and drawing details.
Flat brushes are suitable for applying large areas of color.
For children, medium-sized brushes are easier to handle. They are neither too large to be difficult to control nor too small to reduce painting efficiency.
Second, the selection of pigments
Watercolor paint
Features: Fresh and transparent colors, easy to mix and blend, suitable for presenting soft and elegant visual effects.
Matching: Use watercolor paper and round-tipped or flat-tipped brushes. Round-tipped brushes are used to outline lines and draw details, while flat-tipped brushes are used to apply large areas of color.
Usage tips: Watercolor pigments need to be diluted with water. The depth and transparency of the color can be adjusted by controlling the amount of water. When painting, you can start with a light color as a base and gradually add dark colors to create rich color gradation.
Acrylic paint
Features: Bright and vivid colors, fast drying speed, easy to clean, suitable for painting on various materials.
Matching: Use drawing paper, canvas or wooden boards as the base for painting, and pair them with round-tipped or flat-tipped brushes. Acrylic paint is not easy to fall off after drying and is suitable for making wall paintings, handicrafts, etc.
Usage tips: Acrylic paint can be used directly or diluted with water. When painting, you can first use a light color as a base and then gradually add dark colors. Pay attention to controlling the amount of paint used to avoid the picture being too heavy.
Oil paint
Features: Rich and full colors, strong plasticity, suitable for detailed depiction and long-term shaping. However, oil paints dry slowly and require a longer painting time.
Matching: Use canvas or paper as the base for painting and pair it with flat or fan-shaped brushes. Oil paints usually need to be mixed with toner or turpentine to adjust the viscosity and drying speed of the paint.
Usage tips: As oil paints dry slowly, they need to be applied in layers when painting. After each layer is applied, wait for it to dry before proceeding to the next layer. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to controlling the amount of paint used and the force of the brushstrokes to avoid the picture being too thick or leaving brushstroke marks.
Third, precautions
Safety
Make sure that the brushes and paints used by children are all safe and non-toxic. Avoid using pigments or brushes containing harmful substances.
Easy to clean
Choose brushes and paints that are easy to clean to facilitate children’s cleaning of tools and hands after painting.
Fun
Encourage children to try different combinations of brushes and paints to stimulate their creativity and imagination. They can be allowed to freely express themselves and create their own unique works.
Guidance and direction
During the process of children’s painting, parents or teachers should offer appropriate guidance and direction. It can help them master basic painting skills and methods, while encouraging them to exert their individuality and creativity.