UNDERSTAND THE TECHNIQUE
Get to know the range
In the introductory film, Fleury presents PANART's Hobby & Craft brushes: different shapes and sizes with synthetic fibres. The presenter introduces short films about the individual brush types and a look at how they are made. Each shape has a different focus, such as details, lines, areas of colour or textures. Choose a specific task for your first experiment. A range name alone does not tell you which brush will best suit your paint and way of working.
Three parts, three roles
The head reveals the tip, width and length of the fibres. The tip makes the first contact, while the rest of the head carries paint and changes its contact area under pressure. The ferrule holds the head to the handle. Avoid working paint unnecessarily into this base, as dried residue can push the fibres apart. The handle gives you room to move: a grip close to the head can help with details; holding farther back lets you explore a larger movement from the hand and arm. Choose a comfortable position with a clear view of where the brush touches down.
Size is more than a number
A number is useful within a series, but is not a reliable comparison between different shapes. Also compare millimetre measurements and the visible head shape. A broad flat head and a round head with a similar number behave differently. Fibre length and blend matter too. With a similar construction, a longer head may flex more, but length alone cannot tell you its paint capacity. Choose the size according to your painting's dimensions and the mark you need, not just the number on the handle.
The medium determines the application
Acrylic, oil, watercolour and gouache call for different mixtures and working rhythms. With acrylic, watch for drying; with watercolour, watch the moisture in the paper. Conventional oil paint can be adjusted with a suitable painting medium if needed; water is unsuitable. Gouache can be opaque or more transparent, depending on dilution. A suitable brush shape does not determine the ideal mixture. Test flow, opacity and edges on a spare piece of the same surface.
Compare with a small stroke test
A useful comparison changes one factor at a time. Use the same paint and surface, then change the shape, pressure or position. Note beside each mark how you made it. A small brush chart like this will soon tell you more than a list of sizes. The following pages explore the subjects of the brush films and add experiments for you to try. The product selection then helps you find a suitable available size.
All sketches show shape and movement direction schematically. The actual paint mark also depends on paint, surface and moisture.