Which brush should you choose for watercolor? Our advice

🎨 When starting out with watercolor, one question always comes up: which brush should I choose?
You don't need a complete armory to start. A few well-chosen brushes are enough.

In this guide, we will help you choose the right brush according to your skill level, your intended use and your budget , without unnecessary purchases or headaches.
You will find a clear comparison of the shapes, sizes and types of bristles , concrete recommendations, as well as “minimum” and “ideal” configurations to get started smoothly… and make your brushes last thanks to good maintenance habits.

Before you choose: the 4 qualities of a good watercolor brush

Even before discussing brand or price, a good watercolor brush can be recognized by a few criteria.

A clean, sharp point (even with a large brush)

🖌️ Contrary to popular belief, a larger brush is not less precise.
A good medium-sized round brush (8–10) retains a fine point once wet.

The result: you can create flat areas without streaks, then details without changing brushes.

If the tip collapses or opens too quickly, control becomes difficult.

A water “reservoir” (the belly of the brush)

💧 The “belly” of the brush is its ability to retain water and color .
The better the reserve, the smoother the movement.

Why this is changing:

• fewer trips back and forth in the water or on the paddle,
• more regular washes ,
• fewer trade-in marks on paper.

Nervousness (springiness) vs. gentleness (flexibility)

🎯 Every painter has a different feeling.

• If you feel like your stroke is shaky or you can't control it → the brush may be too soft.
• If you easily go over the lines or if the brush "takes off on its own" → it may lack spring.
• If you can't get the water dosage right → the reservoir or fiber isn't right for you yet.

Synthetic brushes are often stiffer. Natural bristles are softer and more fluid.

The ferrule + the handle

🔍 These details are often overlooked… and yet essential.

To check: the ferrule (metal part) must be tight, without play, no hair should escape at the base, the handle must be smooth, without crack, well balanced in hand.

The main types of brushes for watercolor

When talking about watercolor brushes , some shapes always come up.
You don't need to know them all to get started. Here's the essential information, along with what each one is really used for .

The round (pointed) brush: the absolute essential

🖌️ This is the brush to recommend.
If you had to choose just one, it would be this one.

It is well suited to beginners because it allows you to create flat areas , draw fine lines and add details , thanks to its tip.

A good medium-sized round brush can cover 80% of watercolor uses .
It is the most versatile, the most reassuring…and the most used.

The flat brush: flat areas, lines, architecture

📐 The flat brush is very useful in specific cases.

Its main purpose is to:

• to paint broad and regular backgrounds ,
• draw clean, straight lines
• working with geometric or architectural forms .

It becomes interesting when you like structured compositions or well-defined backgrounds.

The wash brush / “mop” / “quill”: thick washes, skies, backgrounds

💧 This brush is recognizable by its round and very full shape.
It is designed to hold a lot of water .

Typical case:

• You love skies , blurred backgrounds,
• You like very wet gradients ,
• You often paint in large formats.

These brushes are often made of squirrel hair or imitation squirrel hair , known for their excellent water retention. They offer a very fluid application, ideal for generous washes.

Bonus brushes: fan, cat's tongue, liner

🌿 These brushes are interesting… but not essential at the beginning.

They serve specific purposes:

• fan : herbs, foliage, textures,
• cat's tongue : soft shapes, petals,
• plotter : long and thin lines.

Save them for later, when you want to explore specific effects.

Pssst...to learn everything about how to get started with watercolor , it's this way!

Natural vs. synthetic hair: which to choose without making a mistake?

This is one of the questions when looking for which watercolor brush to use .

Kolinsky Sable: precision, resilience and longevity

🖌️ Kolinsky sable brushes are often considered the top of the line in watercolor.

They are known for: an extremely precise tip , excellent spring (the brush returns well to its position), a long lifespan if well maintained, a good water reservoir, without excess.

It's a real pleasure to paint…but also an investment .
They are especially interesting if you paint regularly and already know what you like.

👉 Models like Raphael 8404 or Winsor & Newton Series 7 are often mentioned together in user discussions as quality benchmarks.

Little grey squirrel: gentleness and enormous reserve

💧 The squirrel is the opposite of the marten.

Its strengths:

• extreme flexibility ,
• an impressive water reserve ,
• very fluid and natural washes.

It is perfect for: skies , backgrounds, very wet gradients, broad strokes.

However, it is less precise in its details.
It's a brush of sensation and movement, more than of control.

Modern synthetic turf: the best "no regrets" start

💡 Modern synthetic brushes have improved tremendously.
They are often the best choice for beginners .

Two categories often come up in discussions:

• Imitation squirrel hair (e.g., Neptune type): very flexible, ideal for washes.
• Imitation marten (e.g., Aqua Elite type): firmer, better precision.

These differences explain why two synthetic brushes can give very different sensations.

What size brush should I choose?

If you are hesitating between several sizes, rest assured: that's normal.

The simple rule: “bigger than you imagine”

🖌️ Many beginners choose a brush that is too small.
The result: the paint dries too quickly , leaves marks, and you go over it again… which makes even more marks.

A slightly larger brush: retains more water, makes strokes smoother, facilitates gradients and avoids frustration from the first session.

The easy duo (recommended)

🎯 If you want to keep things simple, here's the duo that works almost every time:

• 1 medium-sized round pointed brush (often size 8–10 ): flat washes, washes, shapes, almost everything
• 1 small round brush (often 2–4 ): details, outlines, small touches

With these two, you cover the majority of your needs, without spreading yourself too thin.

Popular models and brands

Two brushes from the same range can feel very different depending on their shape, fibers, and your brushstrokes. The aim here is to give you reliable guidelines .

Entry-level model that gets the job done (for beginners)

🎯 For whom? Beginners, parents, teachers, occasional practice.

Recommended sizes to start with

• Pointed round 8–10 (versatile)
• Small round 2–4 (details)

Highly popular mid-range

🌿 For whom? Motivated beginners, regular amateurs.

The Princeton Neptune range is often appreciated for:

• its suppleness (imitation squirrel hair),
• its good water supply ,
• its comfort for washes and backgrounds.

Note: Returns vary depending on the tip and size .
Some prefer these brushes for washes, others for medium to large formats. Try them out according to your style.

High-end “tip + reservoir”

✨ For whom? Regular practice, seeking precision and durability.

Kolinsky sable brushes are often cited for their: very fine point , excellent spring , balanced water reservoir , longevity .

The Raphael 8404 regularly comes up in discussions for its tip/reservoir balance, often compared to the Winsor & Newton Series 7 .
These are beautiful tools, designed to last… if they are properly maintained.

Maintenance: keeping a nice point

A good paintbrush can last for years… provided you adopt a few good habits.

The 5 rules to adopt

🖌️ These simple steps are enough to preserve your watercolor brushes:

1. Rinse with lukewarm water
   Avoid hot water, which damages the fibers and the glue of the ferrule.
2. Use a mild soap
   A special brush soap or Marseille soap works very well.
3. Clean without crushing the tip
   Use gentle movements, in the direction of the hair, without rubbing harshly.
4. Reshape the tip with your fingers
   This is a key step to maintaining a good shape.
5. Leave to dry flat
   The brush should dry naturally, without pressure.

Mistakes that kill a paintbrush

🚫 Some very common habits damage brushes:

• Leave the brush to soak in water (the bristles will bend, the ferrule will loosen),
• Dry it upside down while it's still soaked with water.
• Don't forget to wash it after the session.
• crush the tip against the bottom of the pot,
• Store the wet brush in a closed case.