Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Dali, Picasso, Rembrandt, oil painting masters of the past. But you might be surprised to know that oil painting actually dates back as early as the 7th century. Whether you are new to this type of art or not, it’s important to have the best brushes for oil painting.
Oil painting is a special type of painting different from that of watercolors or acrylic. It’s a bit trickier to handle as it doesn’t dry but rather hardens. You’ll also need to learn special techniques to achieve crisp output and fusion of colors.
When it comes to oil painting, you’ll definitely need special brushes. Since oil paints are thicker than other color mediums, it’s important to have durable brushes. You’ll also need to take care of them properly as oil paints can destroy brushes. Check out some of our top brushes for oil painting below:
Best Brushes for Oil Painting: Princeton
Synthetic brushes, like the Aspen from Princeton, are able to offer you more control on oil paints as the bristles are stiff. The bristles are also smooth, which helps in absorbing vibrant pigments.
The Aspen 6500 is a good option for Plein Air Painting. You can take your canvas and easel with you to the great outdoors. This set comes with 5 brushes: short filbert, liner, flat, round, and bright. All of them have non-glare ferrules, so you can paint even when the sun is out.
Princeton’s Aspen delivers high-quality performance. What’s more, the brushes last longer thanks to their synthetic make-up. They can resist damage caused commonly by oil paints and solvents.
Best Brushes for Wet on Wet Oil Painting: Landscape Set by Bob Ross
The Alla Prima or the wet on wet technique has been around for centuries. But it was painter Bob Ross who has taught this technique to the masses through his show. So, where’s the best place to get brushes for this wet on wet technique? Why through Bob Ross of course.
The Landscape Brush Set designed by Bob Ross is manufactured in Germany. The brushes are designed specifically for oil paints and should not be used with water-based products or water. With natural bristles, these brushes are easy to control and deliver precise results.
With the landscape Brush Set by Bob Ross, you’ll get a total of 10 brushes and 2 painting knives, including fan blenders, foliage brush, filbert, and oval bristle. So, whip out the Cadmium Yellow and Prussian blue, it’s time to paint nature like Bob Ross.
Best Oil Painting Brushes for Professional Brushes: Winsor & Newton
Sometimes, it can be frustrating when you are trying to copy the brushing technique of the master. The colors just won’t match or the strokes aren’t precise. Most of the time, you are not to blame but rather the brush. If you want professional brush strokes, check out the Winsor & Newton Monarch brush.
This round brush may be synthetic but it is able to mimic that of natural mongoose hair. You can make fine details, glazes, and lines with the Winsor & Newtown Monarch brush. It’s also great for blending and delivering full-bodied colors.
Best Budget-Friendly Oil Brush: Artify
So, you’re new to the intimidating world of oil painting? That doesn’t mean you need to shell out a huge sum of money to start. There are budget-friendly options when it comes to oil painting brushes. Check out this set from Artify. It already comes with 10 different brushes plus it even comes with its own carrying case.
You might be still adjusting to handling paintbrushes, it’s a good thing the Artify Set comes with ergonomic handles. These brushes also have strong ferrules so bristles won’t easily come apart. At the same time, you’ll never find unwelcome, stray hair sticking on your artwork.
Artify’s nylon paintbrush set includes round, flat shader, fan, liner, filbert, and more to help you through your oil painting journey. With a 3-layer coating on the wooden handles, you don’t have to worry about soaking your brushes. They won’t get damaged even if you leave them in the water for 2 days plus clean up is easier.
Best Hog Bristle Brushes for Oil Painting: da Vinci
Stiff, strong, and durable, there’s a reason why hog bristle brushes remain as one of the most used and popular brushes for oil painting. The da Vinci Maestro 2, which is handmade in Germany, features interlocked hog bristles and sustainable wood handles.
Even with constant use, the da Vinci Maestro will continue to retain its shape thanks to the nickel-brass ferrules. You can expect consistent and even oil painting, thanks to the natural tips on the brushes.
Best Synthetic Brushes for Oil Painting: Royal & Langnickel
The Royal & Langnickel Zen Series is made out of synthetic fibers. They have multi-diameter filaments so it’s as if you are painting with natural white bristles. Royal & Langnickel traded in the usual wooden handles with ultra-metallic silver handles. This isn’t just for aesthetic purposes, although, it really does make the Zen series look sleek and cool. But rather to prevent chipping, cracking, and swelling, which is very common with wood handles.
To keep the synthetic bristles intact (and complete the shiny look) the brushes have anodized aluminum ferrules in dark silver. The ferrules are seamless and highly durable too.
With the Royal & Langnickel Zen Series 33, you’ll get everything you need for oil painting. This can be anything from blending and base coating to making edges and creating texture. The set includes flat, angular, filbert, bright, and fan brushes.
Best Sable Brushes for Oil Painting: Golden Maple
Although natural hair brushes aren’t always the perfect tool for oil painting, sable hair is a different story. Sable brushes can deliver subtle and soft strokes plus an amazing absorption capability. When you do use sable brushes, make sure to stick with fine-grained canvases. It’s also not advisable to use the same sable brush on different media, like switching between oil and watercolor.
Golden Maple’s Sable Brushes are made of weasel hair and birch. The handles have a unique shape so it’ll be easier to handle as opposed to the usual circular one. Protective tubes are included for each brush to help maintain the shape of the bristles after using and cleaning.
Best Oil Painting Set: Rembrandt by Royal Talens
Royal Talens has been in the painting industry as early as 1899. From the Dutch brand came the Rembrandt line, which offers high-quality artist paints. In this set, you’ll be able to get 24 tubes of highly-concentrated, finely-ground pigments that have a lightfast of 100 years.
With the Rembrandt Oils also comes the brushes. You’ll be getting hog hair brushes as well as polyester brushes. Apart from these, you’ll be getting a wooden palette, a painting knife, spirit, retouching varnis, charcoal sticks, and a double palette cup. Everything is inside a handsome wooden chest with gold details.
Caring for Paintbrushes
It’s no secret that paint brushes for oil painting can cost a lot. So, it’s only important that you know how to take care of them. Here are some tips for prolonging the life of your paintbrush. And also to ensure that they remain the same shape to give you the best performance for oil painting.
- Always read and follow the guide from the manufacturer.
Caring for your paintbrushes will depend on what it is made of. For example, wooden brushes should not be left in water, however, some manufacturers coat wooden brushes. If that is the case and the guide says you can leave the brushes in water, do so.
2. Check the compatibility of the brush with other media.
You may already know that the brush you got is for oil paints. But what about the canvas? What types of surfaces can you paint on with the brush? Some brush hair is too delicate for rough surfaces or canvases.
3. Choose the right brush for the right technique.
Chiaroscuro, Impasto, Scumbling, Grisaille—these are just some of a few oil painting techniques you need to learn. Aside from actually learning how to do it, you also need to know what to do it with. If you use the wrong brush, you won’t get the desired effect. Worse, you might end up damaging your precious oil painting brush in the process.
4. Use the right cleaner.
Don’t just use soap, it’s best to stick with real paintbrush cleaner. This may come in the form of a solid or liquid. What’s important is that the cleaner is specifically for cleaning and restoring oil painting brushes.
Also, remember that it’s better to wipe or swipe at brushes but never scrub. if you need a little help with the gunk, you can use a specially-made coil for cleaning brushes.
If you want to try other painting tools, check out the best paintbrushes for acrylic paint
Final Thoughts
You don’t necessarily need the best Rosemary brushes for oil painting to be good at your craft. It is of course an important factor to have the right tool. But when it comes to painting, it’s also about patience, trying out new things, and also your passion for art.