Silk Painting How to

How To Choose the Right Brush for your Silk Art

How to choose your brushes

Choosing brushes is a personal decision. Watercolor brushes are recommended for their ability to hold more liquid. Some artists invest in expensive squirrel brushes, while others recommend synthetic or a mix of bristles. The important factor is the holding capacity of the brush and its ability to retain its shape.

 

Choices include round, flat, fan, foam, bamboo, sumi and many others. A variety of sizes from #2 to #12 plus a flat wash brush is a good place to begin.

 

  • Silk Brushes vs. Fabric Brushes: Silk brushes are soft and soak up large amounts of dye. They are used for filling in areas and watercolor painting. Fabric brushes are stiffer than silk brushes, which helps to force paint or dye into the weave of fabric.
 
  • Round Tip Brushes: Use on point or apply pressure to make thick-to-thin strokes. Detail work or filling large areas depending upon the size and pressure applied.
 
  • Tiny Round Tip Brushes: Also called Spotter, they are designed for detailing. Great for letters, eyes, eyelashes to name a few.
 
  • Flat Tip Brushes: Also called Shader, used for blocking in color, blending, shading, stroke work and highlighting.
 
  • Liner Brushes: Best used for lines and curves, also can change thickness with pressure.
 
  • Sumi Brushes: Used for silk painting and calligraphy. They become stiffer in the center allowing more liquid to be soaked in. Traditional brushes used in China.
 
  • Chinese Wash Brushes: Used for large broad sweeping strokes.
 
  • Foam Brushes: Wooden handled foam brushes are great for applying silk dyes to the larger areas of a design. They are also good for applying hot wax in batik.