Artist Brushes Construction

An artist brush is comprised of three main parts, the handle, bristles and a ferrule. The bristles carry and apply liquid to a surface and the ferrule is a metal band that attaches the bristle to the handle. It is important to consider how the brush feels in your hand, to make sure that you are comfortable holding the brush, as this may be the most important determination of brush characteristics.

The handle of the brush is often made from wood that can be provided unfinished or finished with an applied paint or lacquer. The length of the handle can vary from extremely short to very long and ideal length depends on the brush use. If the brush is going to be used for detailed work, a short handle is recommended, but if the brush is used for larger coverage areas, a long handle may be more effective.

There are many different types of bristles, each having different characteristics that will affect the durability of the brush and how the liquid is applied. If you should have a question about which bristle type is right for your application, a Tanis technical salesperson will be available to assist you. What is important about the bristles is that they are firmly secured by the ferrule, as to not shed during use. A high-quality ferrule should not come loose or rust throughout the life of the brush.

Shapes and Styles

Our artist brush product offering includes the three brush styles which are classified by the shape of the bristles:

• Flat brushes have bristles inserted into the ferrule so that they lay flat and wide, but not very thick. The bristle tips are cut to produce a blunt edge. Lacquering brushes are a type of flat brushes.
• Marking brushes have a traditional round brush shape that may come to a finer point, depending on the size and bristle type.
• Stroke brushes are generally a denser and wider round brush for applying liquid in heavier strokes.