🎨 Watercolor Basics for Beginners #2 — How to Choose the Right Watercolor Brush

Everything a beginner needs to know — without the overwhelm.

Welcome to my ongoing Watercolor Basics for Beginners series! In this post, we'll explore how to choose the right watercolor brush when you're just starting out.

Don’t worry — you don’t need a giant collection or expensive supplies to get started. In this post, I’ll walk you through the basics, from brush types to care tips and budget-friendly starter options. Okay? Let’s keep it simple and fun!

✨ What does a watercolor brush need to do?

A good watercolor brush needs to do a few key things:

• Hold plenty of water and pigment

• Deliver smooth brushstrokes

• Bounce back to its shape after each stroke

• Allow for control and precision when needed

You don't need a huge brush collection to get started. In fact, just 2-3 brushes can take you surprisingly far as a beginner. The key is picking the right ones :)

🖌️ Which watercolor brushes are most useful for beginners?

Here are three brush types I recommend starting with:

1. Round Brush (#6) – the MVP

If you’re only getting one brush, make it a #6 round. It’s incredibly versatile — great for shapes, washes, and detail work.

When I first started watercolor, #6 and #8 round brushes were the most recommended for beginners — and they still are. But if you’re limiting yourself to just 2 or 3 brushes, I’d go with the #6. It handles small and medium areas beautifully. My poor #8 mostly collects dust!

(Photo of my #6 round and my #1 round detail brushes, next to a ruler for comparison)

2. Detail Brush (#0-#2) – for Finer Lines

A small round or liner brush is great for detail work like thin lines, tiny dots, lettering or adding accents.

I’ll admit it — I was intimidated by the detail brush at first. It looked so delicate, and I just didn’t feel confident trying fine lines as a beginner. I would use my #6 round brush for stems and tiny dots, but it really was not the right brush for the job and the stems weren't thin enough and the dots weren't tiny. I was disappointed with the outcome. Don't be me! Don't be intimidated! Using the right brush for a stroke actually builds your brush control skills.

3. Flat Brush (1/2") - Great for Washes

A flat brush is perfect for covering larger areas with smooth color. It’s especially helpful for backgrounds or flat washes.

Flat brushes can also be used on their edge for crisp lines or geometric shapes. You might not reach for this one every day, but when you need it, you’ll be glad to have it.

(Photo of my 3/4" angled shape flat brush and my 1" flat brush)

🖌️ Brush Bristles: Natural vs. Synthetic

Brushes can be made from:

• Natural hairs (like Kolinsky (Siberian weasel fur), sable (red-haired weasel fur), squirrel or goat)

• Synthetic fibers (made from man-made fibers, often nylon)

• A blend of both

High-end natural hair brushes (like sable) are amazing — they hold water beautifully and keep their shape — but they can be pricey.

Synthetic brushes have come a long way and can work great for beginners. Many are now designed to mimic natural hair. They’re more affordable, easier to find, and animal-friendly.

Blended brushes (a mix of natural and synthetic hairs) offer a nice balance of control and softness at a mid-range price.

My current go-to brush is a Princeton Lauren #6 round, which is synthetic but performs beautifully.

💧Prepping a New Brush

A new brush is usually stiff because the hair have been dipped into a gum arabic solution to bind the hairs together and protect them during shipping. This coating must be removed before use! Here’s how:

• To remove the gum arabic coating on a new brush, rinse with clean water — do not bend the bristles (you may damage your new brush!) — and lay flat on a paper towel for a few minutes

• Repeat rinsing the brush in clean water and letting it sit on the paper towel, until the brush is soft

• It may take several rinses depending on coating thickness and size of brush

• Remember: do not bend the bristles during this process!

• Once the brush is soft, it is ready to use :)

🧼 Taking Care of Your Brushes

Even budget-friendly brushes can last a long time if you treat them well! Here’s how:

• Rinse well with clean water after each use

• Gently reshape the tip and lay it flat or bristles-up to dry

• Never leave brushes sitting in water

• Avoid soap unless necessary (mild brush soap only if used)

• Store flat or upright in a dry place once clean

🖌️ Watercolor Brush Terms

It's super helpful for beginners to be familiar with the parts of a watercolor brush.

(Brush Anatomy image courtesy of Princeton Artist Brush Company website)

If you have the brush in hand, take a look at the handle — brushes are labeled by size on the handle.

Round brushes are given a number between 000 (very small) and 24 (very large). Sizing is inconsistent between brands, but smaller size brushes (below size 4) are usually for detail work, medium sizes (4 to 6) are for small areas, and large size brushes (above 6) are for broad spaces.

Flat brushes are measured by width in inches or millimeters.

The metal ferrule connects the brush head with the handle. Look for nickel-plated ferrules to reduce corrosion and splitting issues.

The crimp secures the ferrule to the handle. Look for a double or triple crimp, to ensure the ferrule fits properly and the bristles do not fall out.

The handle is made of wood or plastic, and vary in length based on the intended medium:

Short-handled brushes (5-6" long) are used with watercolor and other fluid media that call for a flat or slightly tilted working surface.

Long-handled brushes are designed for oil or acrylic paints and for easel-work.

💸 Budget-Friendly Starter Brush Set I Use and Recommend

This post contains affiliate links, which means as an Amazon Affiliate I may earn a commission (at no cost to you) if you make a purchase. Be assured I only recommend products I genuinely use and love :)

Here is the watercolor brush set I’ve happily used since 2020 that is perfect for beginners:

🖌️  Princeton Snap! White Synthetic 4-Brush Set

• This Princeton 4-Brush Set is well worth the current less-than-$10-price!

• The set includes a #6 round, #0 & #2 detail brushes, and a 3/4" angled flat brush

• These are solid-quality brushes that keep a point, hold water and pigment well, spring back to form after each stroke, and feel good in your hand

• And they're long-lasting with normal care — mine are still going strong 5 years later   

🎨 OR ... Just Start with Two Round Brushes

I use these Princeton brushes almost daily, and highly recommend them to beginners and more experienced watercolor artists:

🖌️  Princeton Lauren #6 round brush

🖌️  Princeton Velvetouch #2 round detail brush

Fyi, I don't own or use a 1/2" flat brush.

I actually very rarely use a flat brush but if need be, I have the 3/4" angle shape flat brush from my own Princeton 4-Brush Set and a large 1" Princeton Select flat brush. 

✨ Final Thoughts

As a beginner, you don’t need a big brush collection. Start with:

• Princeton Snap! White Synthetic 4-Brush Set

  OR

•  #6 round, such as the Princeton Lauren #6 round brush 
•  small detail brush, like the Princeton Velvetouch #2 round detail brush

•  Optional ½" flat brush

   

These will give you a solid start without overwhelm.

Once you know your painting style and preferences, you can invest in higher-quality brushes one at a time.

Keep your focus on painting regularly, exploring techniques, and having fun. The right brush is the one that supports your creative flow :)

🎨 References

• Princeton Artist Brush Company, "Anatomy of a Brush," accessed April 19, 2025  https://princetonbrush.com/about/brush-anatomy/ .

• Artist's Manual: A Complete Guide to Painting and Drawing Materials and Techniques, edited by Angela Gair (1995 HarperCollins Publishers).

• Hello Watercolor! Creative Techniques and Inspiring Projects for the Beginning Artist, by Jeannie Dickson (2020 Get Creative 6).

• Painting Tools & Materials, A Practical Guide to Paints, Brushes, Palettes and more, by Walter Foster Creative Team (2017 Quarto Publishing)

• The Joy of Watercolor, 40 Happy Lessons for Painting the World Around You, by Emma Block (2018 Running Press).

• Watercolor Secrets: Over 200 Tips and Techniques for Painting the Easy Way, by Robin Berry (2012 Quarto Publishing).

💬 What About You?

What watercolor brush types and brands are you currently working with? Are you happy with the quality? Please share in the comments — I'd love to hear about your experiences and any recommendations you may have!

🔗 Related Posts

• Watercolor Basics #1 – How to Choose the Right Watercolor Paper

• Watercolor Basics #3 – How to Choose the Right Watercolor Paints

• Watercolor Basics #4 – Easy Color Mixing & Pigment Guide

✨ About the Author

Written by Mary Moreno of Mary Moreno Studio, self-taught watercolor enthusiast since 2020 and creative blogger sharing practical, beginner-friendly tips and tutorials.