The selection of the paint number for an oil brush is mainly determined by the following aspects:
First, painting requirements
For large-scale coloring: If you need to quickly cover a large area, such as the background or large color blocks, you can choose a larger-sized oil painting brush, such as 6, 8 or larger brushes. These brushes usually have more bristles, which can hold more paint and improve the efficiency of painting.
Detailed depiction: For parts that require fine depiction, such as the edges, textures or highlights of objects, smaller-sized oil painting brushes should be chosen, such as No. 1, No. 2 or even smaller brushes. These brushes have finer bristles, which can control the brushstrokes more accurately and achieve a fine painting effect.
Second, pigment characteristics
The viscosity of the paint: For thick paint, it is necessary to choose an oil painting brush with harder bristles to better control the flow of the paint and prevent it from spreading too quickly on the canvas. Harder bristles can also better support thick pigments, making the brushstrokes clearer.
Paint dilution: For diluted paint, you can choose an oil painting brush with softer bristles to better blend and transition the colors. Softer bristles can absorb more pigment, making the brushstrokes more gentle.
Third, personal painting style
Brushstroke style: Different painters have different brushstroke styles. Some painters prefer thick brushstrokes to emphasize the texture and layers of the paint. In such cases, a larger-sized oil painting brush can be chosen. Some painters, however, prefer delicate brushstrokes and pay attention to the details and textures of the picture. In such cases, smaller-sized oil painting brushes should be chosen.
Painting habits: An individual’s painting habits are also an important consideration when choosing an oil painting brush number. For instance, some painters are accustomed to using large brushes for large-scale coloring and then small brushes for detailed depiction. Some painters, on the other hand, may prefer to alternate the use of brushes of different sizes to achieve a more diverse brushstroke effect.
Fourth, recommended choices
For beginners, it is recommended to prepare a set of single-numbered or double-numbered oil painting brush sets, such as No. 2, No. 4, No. 6, No. 8, No. 10, etc., as well as a large brush for large areas of coloring. This way, you can flexibly choose brushes of different sizes according to your painting needs. At the same time, if conditions permit, you can also prepare one or two round-tipped outlining pens (such as No. 1) for drawing the detailed parts.