What brushes do I need for acrylic painting? A plain English guide
Brushes are one of those areas where beginners often spend too little — buying a cheap multipack that sheds bristles and loses its shape within weeks — or too much, buying an intimidating array of expensive options before they have any idea what they actually need. Neither approach sets you up well.
The good news is that you do not need many brushes to paint well with acrylics. A small, well-chosen selection covering different shapes and sizes will handle the vast majority of what you want to do, and quality matters far more than quantity. This guide explains which brush shapes are most useful, what bristle types work best with acrylics, how to choose between the ranges we stock at Craft and Canvas, and how to look after your brushes so they last.
Why the right brush matters for acrylics
Acrylics are a fast-drying, slightly alkaline paint — and those two qualities affect brushes significantly. The alkaline nature of acrylic paint can damage natural hair brushes over time if they are not cleaned promptly and thoroughly. The fast drying time means that if paint is allowed to dry in a brush — even a short time set down between mixing and applying — it can become extremely difficult to remove and will permanently damage the bristles.
Synthetic brushes are the right choice for acrylics for exactly this reason. They are resilient to the alkaline binder, easier to clean thoroughly, more resistant to damage from paint drying in them, and generally less expensive than natural hair alternatives of comparable quality. Modern synthetic bristle technology has advanced significantly — the best synthetic acrylic brushes have spring, responsiveness, and paint-holding capacity that rivals natural hair at a fraction of the cost.
The essential brush shapes for acrylic painting
Before looking at specific ranges, it helps to understand what the core brush shapes do and when you need them.
Round — a pointed, round brush that comes to a fine tip. The most versatile shape in any collection. Use the belly of the brush for flowing strokes and colour coverage; use the tip for fine lines, detail, and precision. Available in sizes from 000 (very fine detail) up to 16 or larger for broad coverage. A size 6 or 8 round covers most situations a beginner encounters.
Flat — a square-ended brush that delivers crisp, straight edges and consistent coverage. Excellent for blocking in large areas, painting sharp geometric shapes, and creating bold, decisive marks. The edge of a flat brush can also be used for fine lines. A medium flat (size 8 to 12) is enormously useful.
Filbert — an oval-shaped brush that is a cross between a round and a flat. The curved tip creates soft, tapered strokes with natural-looking edges — ideal for foliage, petals, skin tones, and any subject where you want marks that do not look too mechanical. One of the most popular shapes among experienced acrylic painters.
Fan — a flat brush with bristles spread in a fan shape. Used for blending softly between colours, creating grass and foliage textures, and dry brush effects. Less essential than the above three shapes but very useful for landscape work.
Rigger or liner — a long, thin brush with a fine point that holds a surprising amount of paint. Named after the fine rigging lines on ships in maritime painting, it is ideal for very fine lines, lettering, branches, wires, and any subject requiring a continuous thin mark over a distance.
One stroke or wash — a wide, flat brush designed for covering large areas quickly and laying in smooth background washes. Useful for the early stages of a painting when you want to cover the canvas efficiently before adding detail.
Bristle types explained
Taklon is a synthetic bristle made from polyester filaments, often golden or white in colour. It is soft and responsive, holds paint well, and produces smooth, even strokes with minimal visible brushwork. Ideal for detailed work, smooth blending, and painters who want a fluid, controlled mark. Royal and Langnickel's Taklon range uses multi-diameter filaments for additional spring and responsiveness.
Synthetic hog bristle (as used in Pro Arte's Acrylix and Bristlene ranges) mimics the stiff, springy quality of natural hog hair using synthetic filaments. It is firm enough to move heavy body acrylic with authority, holds its shape well under vigorous technique, and produces a more textured, visible brushstroke than Taklon. Ideal for impasto work, expressive painting, and painters who want their marks to show.
The key practical difference is feel and stroke quality. Taklon produces softer, smoother marks; synthetic hog produces firmer, more textural marks. Many painters use both — Taklon for detail and blending, synthetic hog for broader, more expressive areas.
The ranges we stock at Craft and Canvas
Pro Arte Acrylix
Pro Arte are one of the UK's most respected brush makers, founded in 1973 and now internationally recognised for their synthetic brush development. The Acrylix range was developed specifically for acrylic painting and is made from a stiff synthetic Taklon-style filament that provides excellent spring, precise pointing, and resilience under repeated use. The bristles are firm enough to handle heavy body acrylic with control and are particularly well suited to detail work and precise application where you want the brush to go exactly where you direct it. Available in round, flat, filbert, and one stroke shapes with short handles for close, controlled work.
Pro Arte Bristlene
The Bristlene range uses a blend of three different synthetic fibres designed to replicate the feel and performance of natural hog hair. The result is a stiffer, more energetic brush than Acrylix — better suited to expressive, gestural painting, dry brushing, impasto work, and any technique where you want a firmer tool that responds with more resistance. The synthetic construction also makes Bristlene an excellent choice for vegan painters looking for a genuine hog hair alternative without compromise. Available in round, flat, filbert, and fan shapes in sizes 0 to 12.
Royal and Langnickel Taklon
Royal and Langnickel are an internationally established brush maker with a strong reputation for quality at accessible prices. Their Golden Taklon range uses multi-diameter synthetic filaments that maintain fine points and sharp edges across repeated use, and are particularly well suited to fluid acrylics and smooth, even application. A good all-round choice for beginners who want reliable, responsive brushes at a sensible price point — the Soft Grip version adds a non-slip rubber handle which many painters find helpful for extended sessions.
PAB Florence
PAB — Pennellificio Attilio Bagnoli — is a Florentine brush maker founded in 1911 and still run by the Bagnoli family. They have an international reputation for exceptional craftsmanship, and their artist brushes are made to a standard that reflects over a century of Italian brush-making tradition. The PAB range includes Kolinsky sable and hog hair brushes of outstanding quality — each one crafted individually and built to last years with proper care. For painters who are ready to invest in tools of the highest quality, PAB brushes are exceptional. The extra long handle flat hog series in particular is popular with painters working at scale who want gestural marks applied with freedom and reach.
Which range should you start with?
If you are new to acrylic painting and building your first set, the Pro Arte Acrylix or Royal and Langnickel Taklon ranges are the natural starting point — both are well made, well priced, and well suited to learning the fundamental techniques. A small round, a medium flat, a filbert, and a wash brush from either range will cover virtually everything you need in the early stages.
As your practice develops and you have a clearer sense of how you paint — whether you tend toward fine detail and smooth blending, or broader, more expressive work — you can add Pro Arte Bristlene for firmer, more textural applications, or invest in individual PAB brushes for the finest quality marks.
Many experienced painters use a combination: a couple of PAB or Pro Arte Bristlene brushes for the main work and a Taklon or Acrylix brush for fine detail and finishing. There is no single right answer — the best brush is the one that makes the marks you want to make.
How many brushes do you actually need?
Less than you think. A complete working set for most acrylic painters is five to eight brushes: one or two rounds in different sizes, a medium flat, a filbert, a fan brush, and a liner or rigger. That covers everything from broad washes to fine detail. Beginners often find a set of five to six brushes more useful than a large mixed set, because a smaller selection forces you to learn what each shape can do.
How to care for acrylic brushes
Proper brush care is the single most important factor in how long your brushes last, and the most common reason for premature brush failure is simple neglect.
Never leave brushes resting on their bristles in water — this permanently bends the tip. Keep brushes horizontal or bristles-up in a jar when not in use mid-session, but never leave them standing in water between sessions.
Rinse brushes immediately after use, before the paint has any chance to dry. Work the bristles gently against the palm of your hand under running water until the water runs clean, then reshape the tip and lay flat to dry. For a thorough clean, a small amount of brush soap or gentle washing-up liquid worked into the bristles and rinsed out will remove paint residue close to the ferrule that water alone misses.
If paint does dry in a brush, a dedicated brush restorer can sometimes salvage it — but prevention is always better than cure. With proper care, a good quality brush should last for years.
Frequently asked questions about brushes for acrylic painting
Can you use watercolour brushes for acrylics? Technically yes, but it is not ideal. Watercolour brushes are typically made from soft natural hair or very soft synthetic fibres and are designed for light, fluid techniques. Acrylic paint is heavier and more abrasive, and will wear soft watercolour brushes out much faster. More importantly, if acrylic paint dries in a soft watercolour brush it is very difficult to remove without damaging the bristles. Use dedicated acrylic brushes for acrylics.
Does brush size matter? Yes, significantly. Using a brush that is too small for the area you are covering forces you to make too many strokes and overwork the paint. Using a brush that is too large makes fine detail impossible. A good rule is to use the largest brush you can for each area of the painting, and switch to a smaller brush only when detail demands it.
What is the difference between short handle and long handle brushes? Short handle brushes are designed for close, controlled work — typically at a desk or table, painting detailed subjects up close. Long handle brushes are designed for easel work, where the painter stands back from the canvas and needs the extra reach and distance to see the whole painting. For most beginners working at a table, short handle brushes are more practical. For canvas work on an easel, longer handles give better freedom of movement.
Do I need a fan brush? Not immediately. A fan brush is a specialist tool that is very useful for certain techniques — blending, dry brush texture, grass and foliage — but it is not essential for building a foundational practice. Add one once you have a core set and know you want to explore the techniques it suits.
How do I know when a brush needs replacing? When the bristles have lost their spring and no longer return to their original shape, when the tip will no longer come to a useful point or edge, or when bristles are splaying permanently to the side. A brush that has lost its shape cannot make the marks it was designed for, no matter how carefully you paint with it.
Shop brushes at Craft and Canvas
We stock Pro Arte Acrylix, Pro Arte Bristlene, Royal and Langnickel Taklon, and PAB Florence brushes at Craft and Canvas in Hebden Bridge and online at craftandcanvas.co.uk. If you are not sure which range or which shapes to start with, come in and speak to us — we are happy to help you put together the right selection for where you are in your painting.
Craft and Canvas | 3 Carlton Street, Hebden Bridge, HX7 8ER | craftandcanvas.co.uk