There is a close relationship between the size and shape of oil painting brushes, which directly affects the brushstroke effect, painting speed and the expressiveness of the picture in oil painting creation.
Size and brushstroke effect
Large-sized brushes: Usually with wider brush heads, they are suitable for quickly covering large areas such as backgrounds, skies or large blocks of color. When painting with a large-sized brush, the brushstrokes are relatively rough, which can create distinct textures and layers, making it suitable for expressing a bold and grand visual effect.
Small-sized brush: The brush head is relatively thin, suitable for fine drawing and detailed processing, such as human facial features, clothing wrinkles or tiny objects. Small-sized brushes can control the brushstrokes more precisely, making the picture more delicate and exquisite.
Shape and painting uses
Flat-head brush: The bristles are smooth and of uniform width, making it suitable for applying large areas of color blocks and creating smooth textures. The flat-head brush has uniform strokes and can easily cover large areas. It is a commonly used brush type in oil painting creation.
Round-headed brush: The bristles are round with fine tips, making it suitable for detailed drawing and outlining lines. The round-head brush can rotate flexibly and is suitable for drawing curves and detailed parts. It is a good helper for detail processing.
Flat-head brush: The bristles are flat and the width is relatively wide, making it suitable for drawing straight lines and wide areas. The strokes of the flat-headed brush have directionality, capable of creating smooth lines and wide color blocks, making it suitable for presenting dynamic and tense images.
Angled brush: The bristles are in an angled shape, which is suitable for touching the corners and details of the picture. The angled brush can easily handle the corners and hard-to-reach areas in the picture, making the picture more complete and delicate.
The combined influence of size and shape
The size and shape of the oil painting brush jointly determine its painting purpose and brushstroke effect. For example, large-sized flat-head brushes are suitable for quickly applying large areas of color, creating a rough brushstroke effect; The small-sized round-tipped brush is suitable for finely depicting the details, making the picture more delicate and exquisite. At the same time, brushes of different shapes also have unique advantages when drawing specific types of pictures. For example, flat-head brushes are suitable for drawing straight lines and wide areas, while beveled brushes are suitable for handling corners and detailed parts.
In summary, the size and shape of oil painting brushes are interrelated and influence each other. In oil painting creation, painters should choose the appropriate size and shape of the brush according to the requirements of the picture and their personal style to achieve the best painting effect.