How to choose your artist brushes shape for watercolor painting

Brush Tip Shape: The "commander" of different strokes \ The shape of the brush tip determines the thickness, strength, and expression style of the lines. 

Common types include:

Round Shape:

Function: All-purpose brush shape. By lifting and pressing, it can draw fine lines to wide surfaces, suitable for outlining contours and coloring details.

Recommended sizes: 
Size 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 (for medium and small-sized works), 
Size 5, 6, 7, 8 (for general use).

Flat Shape:

Function: Neat edges, suitable for color application, hard edges of construction, and texture creation with a dry brush. 
Advanced usage: Use the side tip to draw branches and the vertical tip to draw window lines.

Filbert Shape:

Features: Filbert head, integrating the characteristics of both round and flat heads, suitable for softening edges or wet bonding colors.

Liner Shape:

Specialized field: With extremely slender brushstrokes, it can easily draw long lines such as smooth hair, wires, and branches. 

Practical tips: Prepare at least round ends, flat ends and line brushes for one painting to meet different needs. 
Try to use a flat-tipped pen to "cut corners" and draw irregular textures to increase the vividness of the picture. Anyway, the thinner it is, the better!
Maintenance Tips: 
The secret to extending the lifespan of your painting brush 

1. Prepare normal-temperature water in the brush washing bin, but do not fill it too full. 
2. Place the brushes with its tip facing down and vertically immersed in water. Keep the water level slightly below the boundary between the hair and the ferrule. 
3. After determining the position, fix the brush handle to the inner wall of the washing bin with paper tape. Do not let the brush touch the bottom during the soaking process. If it stays at the bottom for a long time, it will cause the hair to deform, especially the tip. 
4. Soak until the glue on the brush tip melts. The exact time depends on brush size . You can gently pinch the brush tip until it feels like there is no hard core left. Do not soak for too long. 
5. Take the brush under the faucet with the tip facing down and rinse off the remaining glue. 
6. Absorb the excess water from the tip of the brush, then hang it up to dry naturally with the tip facing down. 

Note: Do not immerse the entire brush in water. The brush head and handle of most brushes are bonded together by glue. 
Long-term soaking in water can cause the glue to come apart. 
Excessive soaking in water can cause the paint to peel off or the stems to crack.