About PAINT and BRUSHES
The vehicle used in acrylics is a synthetic that
dissolves in water (kind of like latex paint that’s
used to paint houses). The synthetic base, when it’s
dry, DOES NOT dissolve in water, so you can’t rewet acrylic paints to use them again, like tempera
or watercolor paints. It also means that when acrylic
paint dries on things like clothes or brushes, it
doesn’t come out very easily.
There are many different kinds of brushes, some made
from natural materials (hair from sable, mink, badgers,
horses or ponies, ox, or rabbit) and others from
synthetics (produced using nylon or polyester
filaments).
Different sizes and shapes are used different jobs.
ROUND: pointed tip, long closely
arranged bristles for detail
FLAT: straight flat tip; used for
painting straight edges and for
spreading paint quickly and evenly
over a surface
LINER: long pointed tip for
painting lines
PPAINTBRUSH ANATOMY
The BRISTLES on the end of the brush, made of
natural or synthetic material, absorb and carry paint.
The CRIMP secures the ferrule to the handle; a crimp is
actually a pinch or bend in the metal.
The FERRULE is a metal piece that secures the
bristles (also called “filaments”) to the handle.
The HANDLE is usually made of maple, birch, or
acrylic. It can have the company name and a number
indicating the size of the brush.