15 Best Oil Paint Brushes For Smooth, Professional Finish In 2023
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The best oil paint brushes are the ones that you like using and will use again. Brushes can be expensive, but is it worth paying top dollar if you're not going to enjoy painting with them? It's essential to find what works for your style of painting. Many factors go into choosing the right brush for your needs. Let this article guide you through which oil paintbrush might be right for you.
Our Top Picks
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Best Overall - Winsor & Newton Winton Long Handle Brushes• High-quality hog bristles |
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Best Starter Oil Paint Brushes - Mont Marte Premium Paint Brush Set • Hog bristles and synthetic nylon bristles |
Best Professional Oil Paint Brushes - Bob Ross Landscape Brush Set• Premium quality hog bristles |
1. Winsor & Newton Winton Long Handle Brushes - Best Overall
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What Customers Have to Say
Customers commented that these brushes are the best they have ever used at reasonable prices. They're great to use, even if you're a professional or new to oil painting.
Why We Think It's Great
The Winsor & Newton Winton Long Handle Brushes are the perfect addition to any artist's collection and work in all mediums - oils, alkyds, and acrylics. Made with high-quality hog bristles and rust-resistant ferrules, it is a user-favorite for creating texture without sacrificing shape.
From rough impasto textures to soft detail strokes, these brushes achieve versatility with every stroke of color applied. The fan brush is best for adding texture, the bright brush for adding lines and details, and the round, filbert, and flat brushes for loading up on your pigments.
One tip: get painting fast by loading your long handle brush with much paint, so it stays saturated from top to bottom of the bristles. Then just glide it over your surface of choice for smooth strokes that resonate beautifully on canvas.
Who Should Buy It
If you have the budget to get these brushes, you have good reason to continue painting, even if you're a newbie. Sometimes, only a lousy brush takes to discourage a newbie from trying a new painting style.
2. Princeton Select Artiste Oval Mop Brush
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What Customers Have to Say
Customers love this oval mop brush because they do well for adding details. Clean up is also easy, and although they're a bit more expensive than other brands, they offer good value for your money.
Why We Think It's Great
The Princeton Select Artiste Oval Mop Brush is an excellent brush for folks who want to make life easier on themselves. The short handle allows you more control over your brush, which means less slipping. The soft brushes let you blend your colors to even out your colors and create a professional-looking finish.
You can use it for blending and softening detail work to avoid harsh lines forming between colors on your painting surface. The 1-inch oval mop brush doesn't do well at picking and spreading thick paint because of its soft bristles, but it does well when working with thin imprimatura for your canvases.
Who Should Buy It
If you want to go for the smoky finish (sfumato) on your oil paintings, the Princeton Select Artiste Oval Mop Brush is a perfect choice. You can also use it for adding soft washes to your canvas before you get on with your painting.
3. Transon Artist Oil Paint Brush
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What Customers Have to Say
These are nice brushes, according to many users. The handles are long, the bristles are firm, and they hold up well. They are also very affordable, which is another plus for artists.
Why We Think It's Great
Transon Artist Oil Paint Brushes are the ultimate brush for artists of every medium. You can use this paint brush set on acrylics, oils, watercolors, etc.
Even after multiple uses, the brushes maintain their form. There are also 12 brushes offered, including flat, angle, filbert, round, and rigger brushes. It may be used for various purposes, including general painting, rock painting, canvas painting, and other crafts.
Who Should Buy It
This paint brush set is an excellent choice for beginners trying different paint brushes.
4. Art Advantage Oil and Acrylic Brush Set
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What Customers Have to Say
Customers who don't think of themselves as artists love the work they did using these brushes. They're not the best set of oil paint brushes that professionals love. Shedding is minimal, and it works on other crafts aside from canvas painting.
Why We Think It's Great
The Art Advantage Oil and Acrylic Brush Set comprise 12 artist-quality brushes that will last years. The long handles are comfortable for adding details with smaller canvases. This set also comes with a canvas roll-up case for easy transportation.
The set includes 12 natural hog bristles and 12 synthetic nylon bristles in various shapes and sizes. The brushes are easy to distinguish as the hog brushes have lighter handles while the synthetic brushes are dark handled. The tips are hard when you first use them because of the glue applied to keep the bristles damage-free.
Who Should Buy It
This super-affordable set of natural hog and synthetic brushes is best for acrylic artists who want to work with oils.
5. Artify Hog Hair Oil Paint Brush
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What Customers Have to Say
The Artify oil paint brush set is easy to clean, does not shed much, and is stiff, making them perfect for adding texture to your oil paintings. A buyer said the carry-all case is excellent for preventing damage to the brushes, especially when traveling with them.
Why We Think It's Great
No brush set is complete without an Artify Hog Hair Oil Paint Brush set. The brushes use 100% natural bristles, double-crimped with rust-proof ferrules to keep your brushes intact.
These affordable brushes come in a zippered carrying case, so they are always ready for your next outdoor trip to look for your inspiration. You get different bright, round, filbert, and flat brushes.
Who Should Buy It
Looking for the perfect gift for your artist friends? Here's the ideal set of hog hair brushes in a lovely carrying case.
6. Creative Colors Filbert Brushes
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What Customers Have to Say
This set is an excellent choice for professional artists on a tight budget because they work like more expensive brands. The brushes have a good spring and snap and keep their shape even after multiple uses. Users rave its very responsive customer service.
Why We Think It's Great
Liven up your artwork with these snazzy brushes from Creative Colors. Whether you're a self-taught artist or teaching classes full time, we've got all your needs covered: big and small filberts for your oil paintings. You may also use these brushes for watercolors and acrylics.
Filbert brushes are best for blending to achieve the smoky effect from the sfumato technique and other oil painting techniques. This set of filbert brushes uses a combination of synthetic and natural sable bristles, so they have a good variety of snap and spring - two essential features of any paint brush.
Though you may experience initial shedding, the brushes stay in shape and do not fray. They also pick up a good amount of pigments to blend your colors well. Customer service is very responsive, and you get a 100% money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied with the brushes.
Who Should Buy It
These long-handled brushes are best for professional artists. They also work great for artists who want to take oil painting seriously and start with a good set of brushes.
7. Fuumuui Oil Paint Brushes
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What Customers Have to Say
These brushes are not the best hog bristle brushes, but they work well for beginners. The set has several round, filbert, and flat brushes. They are lightweight, so it does not cause hand fatigue, plus the carrying case makes transport easy and convenient.
Why We Think It's Great
Hog brushes make a brush durable and hardy enough to use in any work setting. The set has 11 long-handles bristles in various sizes and styles. It includes 4 round brushes, 5 filbert brushes, a flat brush, and a small fan brush.
The brushes hold a good amount of pigments, and the stiff bristles move the paint on the canvas well. The best part is that they clean up in minutes compared to other oil painting brush options. Fuumuui also offers a 100% risk-free purchase so that you don't have to worry about getting great value from your expenses.
Who Should Buy It
Fuumuui Oil Paint Brushes are best for beginner artists. They are very affordable and convenient to use.
8. Mont Marte Premium Paint Brush Set - Best Starter Oil Paint Brushes
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What Customers Have to Say
Even newbies to oil painting love the quality of the Mont Marte brushes. Since they can use the brushes for other paint types, artists love them. They're also very affordable, and the various shapes of brushes help get their artwork done.
Why We Think It's Great
Mont Marte Premium Paint Brush Set is best for beginners. They are very affordable and convenient to use. The set comes with 15 different brush sizes and types. The hog bristle brushes have a large flat brush for backgrounds and smaller flat brushes and filbert brushes.
The set also includes 11 synthetic brushes - flat, angle, filbert, round, blender, and rigger brushes. You may use these premium synthetic bristles with watercolors, acrylics, and gouache. It comes with a carrying case with magnetic closures to keep them nice and neat.
Who Should Buy It
Mont Marte Premium Paint Brush Set is a premier choice for novice artists with its generous variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. It is also ideal for any aspiring art student looking to optimize their painting needs.
9. Bob Ross Landscape Brush Set - Best Professional Oil Paint Brushes
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What Customers Have to Say
Artists saw the difference in their paintings using Bob Ross's landscape brushes. They also love the feel of these brushes in their hands, and they're effortless to clean.
Why We Think It's Great
They are very durable, easy to clean after use with water or other mediums, and do not shed bristles when using them. The price is more reasonable than cheap ones. Made by Dixon, a leading producer of quality art supplies and renowned Bob Ross manufacturer. You'll never go wrong with these brushes.
The brushes are thick and are best for adding texture and definition to your paintings. These brushes do not shed, though it frays a lot. After cleaning them, you need to recondition them with linseed oil to return to their shape.
The set has several brushes - blenders, foliage, landscape, background, oval bristles, script liner, filbert, and fan, a blender knife, and a painting knife, each bearing its name on the brush and knife handle.
Who Should Buy It
The Bob Ross Landscape Brush Set is best for oil painters working on landscapes. Whether you're a beginner or a professional, indoor or en Plein air artist, you'll love this brush set.
10. Artify Oil Paint Brush Set - Best Natural Hair Paint Brushes
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What Customers Have to Say
Artists love the long handles on these brushes because they give them more control. However, they don't hold their shape well after several uses, and users have to recondition it before storing it.
Why We Think It's Great
The brushes in this set are large, and if you're planning to paint large canvases or add large washes to your paintings. The set also includes a total of 15 brushes - a #5 flat brush for washes, several rounds, flat, filbert, and rigger brushes for your details, and fan brushes for adding texture and definition.
The set comes with a carrying box for convenience in organizing and storing them. The long wooden handles have printed labels, so no more guessing games when you follow video tutorials, and the art teacher recommends a brush type and size to use for a particular stroke.
The bristles are softer than other hog bristle brushes. It has less snap but more spring, so you can handle it better.
Who Should Buy It
If you're a beginner looking for softer hog bristle brushes with less snap than synthetic oil paint brushes, then this set is for you. Also, if you're not intimidated by long handles, you'll love this set.
11. Falling in Art Oil Paint Brushes
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What Customers Have to Say
Falling In Art paint brushes create crisp edges and bold strokes, an art student's best friend. These natural hog bristles are very affordable, and artists love them! Even the carrying case is an eco-friendly woven bamboo mat.
Why We Think It's Great
If you're looking for a new set of stylish long-handled brushes, then these Falling in Art Oil Paint Brushes will be right up your alley. The thick bristles allow you to pick pigments efficiently and give you the perfect texture every time.
The ergonomic design is easy on your hands, and their nickel-plated ferrule prevents rusting, so they'll look chic for years to come. The long handle has a printed name and size of the brushes, so you won't have to guess what you need.
They're tough enough to work on wood and crafts, aside from the usual canvas. Best of all, these brushes clean up quickly with warm water and soap so you won't have any messes to clean up after yourself.
Who Should Buy It
If you're looking for natural hog hair brushes for your oil paintings, check out Falling in Art professional brushes. Even if you're a newbie, you won't have any issues cleaning and reshaping it.
12. Conda Paint Brushes Set
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What Customers Have to Say
According to some users, this set is perfect for kids learning to paint with oils. The brushes are also easy to clean and durable. The carry-all canvas is heavy-duty and nice to give as an all-occasion gift for your artist friends.
Why We Think It's Great
Does your arts and crafts stash need a paint brush upgrade? Here's the toolkit of brushes you need. Conda Paint Brushes Set is perfect for creating any paint masterpiece. Double-crimped copper ferrules hold the high-density bristles so that they don't fray or shed.
Each brush has the brush type and size laser-printed on the wooden handle. The short, ergonomic brush helps protect your hand from fatigue and stress from prolonged hours of painting. This set includes all the different shapes and sizes of brushes - from applying the wash to adding the main features of the painting to adding details.
It has 2 all-purpose brushes, several angles, round, filbert, rigger, mop, bright brushes, and a fan brush. It also has a canvas roll-up carry case so you can keep your brushes organized and protected even when traveling.
Who Should Buy It
This set is both for professionals and beginners as the bristles used in these brushes are high-density nylon, so it keeps its shape. This feature is one of the things that professionals look for in their brushes.
13. D'Artisan Shoppe Maestro Series XV Set
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What Customers Have to Say
The 100% lifetime warranty impressed most customers, and they believe that if the company is willing to cover their product, then the product is worth it. As a result, artists recommend this set to their fellow artists.
Why We Think It's Great
Shop D'Artisan Shoppe, the ultimate brush set for artists on the move. This durable studio kit has you covered, from detailed strokes to bold color blends. The set has 4 hog bristle brushes and 11 synthetic sable brushes for details and fine lines.
It comes with a faux leather carrying case with snap buttons for easier transport and organization. The handle may come off, but it won't unravel the brush, so you can just glue the handle back into the ferrule. However, it is not a common occurrence, so you don't have to expect the handle to come off when you use it.
Who Should Buy It
The D'Artisan Shoppe Paint Brush Set is an excellent choice for artists who want the best of both worlds - synthetic and natural-bristle brushes.
14. Vikewe Multi-Use Brush Set
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What Customers Have to Say
The brushes come individually wrapped in plastic to prevent damage on the bristles during transit, plus it has extra padding to make sure that the brushes arrive in good condition. The brushes are also durable, do not fray, though the fan brush tends to clump.
Why We Think It's Great
The Vikewe Multi-Use Brush Set is an excellent starter set for beginners because they are versatile, and you may use it for your acrylics and watercolors. We discourage using it across these mediums since acrylics and oils are harsher than watercolors.
The ferrules are strong and hold the brush handle and the bristles in place so it does not wobble or shed. Expect some shedding during the first use, though. The nylon bristles are strong but soft so that you can add details without discernible brush strokes.
The individual brushes have a good capacity and pick up pigments without any issues. The set includes detail and liner brushes, angular, flat, filbert, round, and fan brush, so you don't need to look for another brush to complete your oil painting.
The pop-up case is a bonus because you can rest it on your desk so you can pick up your brushes without any hassle. The set also comes with a free palette knife and a synthetic sponge.
Who Should Buy It
This set of brushes is best for newbies just starting with their oil paintings. It allows you to practice your technique using the different brushes without paying too much. If you're looking for gifts for your artist friends, this set is also a great choice.
15. Princeton Select Round Blender Brush
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What Customers Have to Say
Most customers love this brush, though many also complain about the packaging. It is also very versatile; other artists use it for their acrylic paintings, while others use it for their oil. However, their reaction to this brush remains the same - fantastic at adding details.
Why We Think It's Great
This sleek, lightweight brush has a shorter handle to make blending easier. It features combination bristles. Synthetic fibers keep it in shape, while the natural hairs give the brush a soft tough.
The ergonomic design in the handle ensures you have good control while applying your product with ease. Its jewel blue color will remind you of its decorative function in your collection of oil paint brushes.
Another good thing about this brush is its versatility since you can use it with water-based paints and watercolors. However, once used with a paint type, do not use it with other types. For example, do not use this brush for acrylics and oils. Let the brush stay with the harsher oils if you do it by mistake.
Princeton Select Artiste #12 round blender brush is a perfect addition to your collection to enhance your creativity. If you want more, we also recommend the #6 round blender brush for extra fine blending and the 1" mop brush for adding large swaths of color on your canvas.
Who Should Buy It
Artists who want to add details to their oil paintings will love to add this brush to their arsenal. Artists with arthritic hands will also do well holding this brush because of its ergonomic design and smooth finish.
Oil Painting Brushes Buying Guide
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Brush shapes
Look for the shapes of brush that suit your needs. There are different shapes of brushes, each with its specific functions for your paintings. As their name implies, round brushes have rounded feet with pointed tips and are best for sketching, outlining, and adding detailed work.
Flat brushes have a squared end with medium to long bristles that artists use for adding bold strokes, filling wide spaces, and washes. They also come in different sizes. Bright brushes are similar to filbert brushes in shape. However, they have shorter bristles and are best for adding thick and heavy colors.
Filbert brushes have flat ferrules and oval-shaped bristles for blending and adding petals and other soft round edges to your paintings. Fan brushes are best for adding texture and details to your oil paintings.
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Brush type
You can choose from bristle brushes and sable brushes. Bristle brushes are generally stiffer, and the brush strokes more apparent compared to softer sable brushes. Softer brushes are best for adding fine details and blending.
Bristle brushes are best for adding new pigments and moving the pigments around on the canvas. Because of the stiffer bristles, you can use these brushes for impasto paintings. However, the broad bristles make them hard to smooth the edges of your artwork.
Sable brushes are also more expensive than bristle brushes, but you cannot skip using sable brushes if you want to give a fine finish to your paintings.
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Construction
Check out the construction of your brushes. The ferrule, the part that attached the bristles to the handle, should be sturdy and non-corrosive. Most ferrules are double-crimped to the handle, so it remains stable while keeping the bristles intact and preventing shedding.
The handle should be attached firmly to the brush so it does not wobble when used during the painting process. Choose also the right handle length, and it should be comfortable on the hand, especially since you spend hours painting.
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Brush size
Choose the right brush size for your paintings. Bigger brushes are best for adding background washes, while smaller flat brushes fill large parts of the painting. Round brushes may have the same purpose, but smaller round brushes can add better details than larger ones.
To complete your brush set for your oil paintings, we recommend the medium to large bristle brushes for adding washes and small to medium sable brushes for adding details.
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Clean up
Some brushes are a bear to clean, while others are easy to clean. Some brushes clean well with brush soap and water. You need to wash your brushes in solvents to remove the excess oil paint before washing them with water.
For more in-depth info, visit our article on types of oil paint brushes.
Oil Painting Brush FAQ
1. How do I get better at oil painting?
First and foremost, you have to conquer that unwarranted fear of using oil paints.
Secondly, practice using the techniques that you can learn from various tutorials. We have many articles you can try, including how to use oil paints, canvas painting with oils, and the best oil painting techniques. Check out our website for similar articles to guide you in your artistic journey.
Our team also ensures you get the best supplies from our various reviews - best oil painting sets, best oil paint brushes, best oil painting thinners, etc.
Lastly, develop your style. Different artists have developed their signature styles over the years, and while it is good to have a master you look up to, it is also essential to understand what you want to achieve without settling for the mundane.
2. Should I wet my brush before oil painting?
Unlike watercolors, where you have to wet your brush to hydrate it, oil paint brushes don't need wetting before use. However, you may need to dip your brush into the linseed oil to thin the oil paints for easier mixing and application.
Since linseed oil does not harden your oil paints, you can work on your oil painting without the need to dip your brush into more linseed oil while working on your painting.
3. Can you use oil paint without thinner?
Yes. Thinner is not a requirement for oil painting unless you want to thin it for the background wash for a faster drying time. Instead, you can use mediums such as linseed oil or Gamsol to improve its consistency and applicability. Some water-soluble oil paints may even use water, bringing the VOC levels to nearly zero.
4. What is the purpose of underpainting?
In painting, underpainting is the first layer of paint applied to your canvas. It builds contrast by providing tonal values and contrast to your painting and serves as a base for the subsequent layers on your painting.
Conclusion
We love our paint brushes, and knowing that we have the right set to use when inspiration strikes are exhilarating. We want to give you that kind of assurance, so here are our top picks.
Our best overall paint brushes are Winsor & Newton Winton Long Handle Brushes. These brushes use high-quality bristles with rust-resistant ferrules, so the brushes won't wobble and shed much while painting. You can use these brushes for different oil paints, alkyd-based paints, or acrylics. However, refrain from cross-using them to prevent damage to your work.
For beginners, we recommend the Mont Marte Premium Paint Brush Set. The set includes hog bristle brushes and synthetic nylon brushes in various styles and sizes. It also has a magnetic closure case for carrying your brushes around.
Professionals need a different set of oil paint brushes, and for that, Bob Ross Landscape Brush Set comes into play. Bob Ross designed these brushes for his landscape paintings and had Dixon manufacture them for Bob Ross fans. The brushes use premium-quality hog bristles for a textured landscape painting. It also picks up pigments well and has a good snap and spring for quality output.
i am looking for new oil paint brushes that don’t fall apart or leave brush stroke on the canvas and easy to clean off the brushes .?