How To Select A Brush

The ferrule serves to hold and secure the bristle head. As with the handle, it also needs to be in sync with the rest of the brush. When I make a brush, I select components that "fit" together and compliment each other, creating balance.

I typically use 3 different types of ferrules:

• Ceramic (pictured)
• Bamboo
• Birch Bark

Horsehair is commonly used for larger brushes in Asia. There are many different types of horsehair, from very soft to super coarse. This makes it an excellent choice for Sumi-e as well as other brush types.

There are two kinds of horsehair that I use to make brushes; mane and tail. Mane hair tends to be softer and more absorbent. Tail hair is thicker, coarser and can be very wiry. When making a brush, I choose a hair type that matches the performance aspects that I want to achieve.

Another important aspect of brush bristle is whether or not the brush has tipped or cut ends. A natural tipped end is uncut and pointed. This allows the brush to move more smoothly across the painting surface.

• My premium horsehair brushes have natural, tipped ends.

Cut ends are sharp and flat. Over time, they will soften and some of the brush bristles will develop what is referred to as a flag. This is when a cut bristle hair develops a split end. A flagged end responds in a similar way as a tipped end by moving across the painting surface more easily and smoothly. 

Goat hair is flexible, durable, yet super soft and absorbent.  Soft brushes are a bit more challenging to master, but if used skillfully they deliver very interesting, and sometimes unpredictable lines.

Goat hair is commonly used for traditional sumi-e style brushes. If you are looking for a very soft and super absorbent brush, then goat hair is one to consider. As mentioned above, it takes a bit more time to really figure out how work with it, but once mastered, they make excellent brushes.

Fiber is a fantastic material for non-traditional mark-making. The fiber I use is very flexible and strong. In addition to having great versatility, fiber works well with a wide spectrum of media. It is also terrific for creating texture and lines.

I offer a wide variety of fiber brushes. Each provides the artist the opportunity to create unique and interesting marks. 

My Short Blunt brush has a bristle head ranging from approximately .5" to 2". The hair is very coarse and stiff. This brush type is a great choice for glazing surfaces and making "scrubby" marks. They are also fantastic brushes for making texture and fine lines in thicker media if desired. This brush type is a real workhorse and very versatile.

Short Blunt brushes work well with ink, acrylics, watercolors and oils. In addition, they also are perfect for gel and cold wax media.

My Contemporary Sumi-e style brushes have a longer bristle (@ 3" or longer) and have a slightly curved edge. The curved edge allows the brush to move more smoothly across the surface of the canvas, panel or paper surface. This type of brush can be made with really soft hair or something more stiff. I tend to make these larger brushes with my premium super soft horsehair, but at times I will select a coarser hair for brushes with a very long bristle (up to 10" in length).

Contemporary Sumi-e brushes work well with ink, acrylics, watercolors and oils. 

The way the deer tail hair lies creates a beautifully pointed tip, which is a super nice brush shape. With this brush you can create either really fine detailed single lines, or wider marks. The hair is very soft, absorbent and flexible. This shape is similar to traditional Asian style calligraphy brushes. 

Pointed Tip Deer Tail brushes will work best with water-based media.

I also offer goat hair brushes with a full, round bristle head. This type of brush head can create wide lines and soft patterns. Because goat hair is very soft and absorbent, it will hold a lot of paint if desired and has some unpredictability in the mark. The rounded shape allows for a nice easy splay of the brush head.

Short Round Goat hair brushes work well with ink, acrylics, watercolors and oils. 

My horsehair short round brush heads use a medium stiff hair, which allows the brush to move thicker media in addition to something thinner such as ink. The medium coarseness also promotes nice fine lines and some soft textures if desired. This brush is a more traditional size, from .5" to 1.5" in length.

Short Round brushes work well with ink, acrylics, watercolors and oils.  

Tail hair brushes have very coarse, wiry bristle heads. They can create very interesting marks with lots of texture and dynamic lines. They maintain their shape while at the same time creating unexpected results. If you are looking for a brush that will disrupt your routine, this one is a good choice. 

Coarse Tail Hair brushes work well with, ink, acrylics, watercolors and oils.  

A Slant brush heads can be made with a variety of materials including horsehair, goat and fiber. The slant creates an easier, smoother application of media (or in the case of fiber, creating texture and lines in thicker media). If made with horsehair or goat hair, it will also allow for a wide splay.  The tip of the brush can come to more of a point allowing for thinner line work. 

Slant brushes also work well with acrylics, watercolors and oils.  My fiber slanted brushes can also handle gel and cold wax media.

This type of brush is perfect for softening and blending value transitions. Ultra-soft goat hair bristles are ideal for oil and acrylic paint but can also be used to create sky washes with watercolor.

Mop brushes work well with acrylics, watercolors, and oils.