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What You Need to Know AboutBasic Brushes for Watercolor
There are many different types of watercolor brushes, but you will only need a few basic brushes to start. Brushes come in various sizes – the bigger the number, the bigger the brush. Choose a larger brush if you will be doing larger paintings. The best watercolor brushes are made of natural fibers, the finest being the Kolinsky red sable. These are actually not made from a sable at all, but from a type of mink native to Siberia. The hairs of these brushes are soft, spring back into shape, and form a beautiful pointed tip for easy control. Sable brushes can range from $8.00 into the hundreds for just one depending on its size. Other natural hairs include weasel, ox, pony, and squirrel hair, which range in retail price from $8.00 to around $100.00. There are many discount art supply stores, however, where you can find them for sometimes as much as forty percent off. And don’t worry! Less-expensive, synthetic brushes are also available (some brushes are a combination of both natural and synthetic fibers), and synthetic brushes can be used with other types of paint. They range from artist-quality brushes to children’s school-type brushes. If you decide on using the synthetic for your basic brushes, again, get the best you can afford. You’ll get better results with less frustration from a high-quality synthetic brush than you will from a brush that came in a package of ten for $1.00.
1. Round Brush: Unless you are planning to do large watercolor paintings, you can start with a size 6 or 8. Winsor Newton Sceptre Series 101 offers brushes that are a blend of natural sable and synthetic hair and range in price from $7.00 - $100.00 for a round brush. You can get them at a discount art supplier such as DickBlick.com for about $3.00 - $50.00. Size 8 at Dick Blick costs about $9.00.
2. Flat Wash Brush, ½” or larger. Price is about $20, or $10 with a discount. 
3. Mop Wash (LEFT), Oval Wash (CENTER), or Hake Brush (RIGHT): Because these are used for filling in large areas with paint or water, if you are painting on small sheets of paper, you can skip this brush. Some people like the inexpensive hake brush over the mop brush, but sometimes they shed while you are painting. At some point, you should give them both a try – it’s the only way you will know which one you prefer. Mop Brushes (size 3) range from $25.00 on sale to about $45.00; hake brushes anywhere from $2.00 to $15.00.
4. Liner: for fine details. Prices range from $5.00 - $9.00 before discount.
Speaking of caring for brushes, the brushes will last longer if your child cleans them properly. When he's finished his watercolor painting, have him wash them with a mild soap and warm water, being sure to rinse them completely. He can use his fingers to gently reshape the hairs back into a point if he needs to, then lay the brush on a flat surface to dry. If he stands it resting point up to dry, the water in the hairs will run into the wooden handle, which can eventually loosen the ferrule (the metal tube that holds the hairs). Once this happens, the brush hairs will begin falling out as he paints. If he stands the brush resting point down to dry, the bristles will bend and lose their shape, and the brush will be ruined. When the brushes are completely dry, store them resting with the point up and handle down in a container or keep them in a brush holder, laying flat. You can purchase these brush holders or make one of your own from canvas or fabric.
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