Brushes
Oil and Acrylic
Degas
Degas brushes are stiff enough to push heavy-body acrylics and oil, yet supple enough for the most delicate glazes. Made from seven different professional-grade mixed synthetic filaments, these brushes are both versatile and durable.
Academy Synthetic (Oil & Acrylic)
One of the best student grade brushes on the market today, this white taklon brush brings quality and value to emerging artists. Easy to clean, and less prone to breakage than natural hair brushes, this line offers the artist many of the sought after qualities of a sable brush such as spring and snap, but is far more durable and economical. Like our professional synthetics, several sizes of nylon filaments are used in the production of these brushes.
Academy Hog
Springy, tough and stiff, this line of student hog bristle is a workhorse in the classroom. Academy hog bristle brushes spread medium to thick paint smoothly and evenly, and are ideal for creating textural effects.
Goldenedge (Oil & Acrylic)
Characteristics of a traditional sable hair brush are preserved in this professional synthetic variant. Made with several sizes of toray filaments, these brushes hold a large capacity of paint, lay down color in fluid strokes and have unsurpassed spring. Goldenedge® brushes are less likely to shed or lose their handles after repeated use than many other artists brushes on the market. Exceptionally durable, they maintain a perfect shape and extremely fine point even with repeated use.
Bristlette
An intermediate studio brush, the Bristlette holds up well to the inherently caustic qualities of solvents and acrylic paint. Made with white taklon filaments, they are slightly firm, making them ideal for acrylic work. Even with the most vigorous painting methods, these brushes maintain their ability to hold a point and crisp edge. Bristlette brushes resist wear and tear far better than the more fragile sable brushes without sacrificing many of the favored characteristics of sable, such as texture and responsiveness. Bristlette brushes are excellent for massing color, and for detail work.
Black Diamond
A unique brush for oil color, the Black Diamond series feature an unbleached, undyed, natural black hog bristle which is slightly more flexible than a traditional Chungking hog bristle. These bristles are interlocked with natural flags for sharper edges and better color lay down. They also offer a non-slip, soft black handle for better brush control and reduced hand fatigue. A black nickel-plated brass ferrule utilizes a special gluing and crimping combination that virtually eliminates bristle shedding.
Gainsborough
Regarded as one of the best hog bristle brushes for generations, they are ideal for laying down thick paint where brush strokes are required. Their natural flags and interlocked construction preserve the natural curve of the bristle. Made with a seamless nickel-plated brass ferrule and superior quality Chungking hog bristle, these brushes are known for their quality and durability, and are considered a staple for professional oil painters.
Degas - Bright
Bright: Length and width of brush is generally squared. Similar to flats, but shorter hairs make a stiffer brush. Good for laying down thicker paint and for short, controlled strokes. When worked with increased pressure, they can be used to remove paint. Bright brushes can create crisp, clean lines and can be used for blending.
Sizes
Degas - Fan
Fan: Brush fibers are spread out making it useful for subtle blending and for textural effects. A dry brush is often used to create hair, foliage on trees and shrubs, grass and in stiffer brushes is used for scrubbing out color. Fans can also be used to blend out strokes of other brushes.
Sizes
Degas - Filbert
Filbert: Also called a cat's tongue due to the flat, oval edge. Creates a softer edge than a flat or bright, and is used for blending particularly because the bristles stick together well when wet.
Sizes
Degas - Flat
Flat: Longer hairs than a bright, this brush has more flex and a large color carrying capability. Often used on its edge to create crisp lines or on the broad side to cover large areas with paint quickly. Often used as a primary blending brush.
Sizes
Degas - Round
Round: Shorter hair than a liner, rounds come in a wider variety of sizes from very fine to extra large. Smaller sizes are typically used for detail work and larger sizes tend to be used for washes and filling in color. A round brush stroke is tapered and can create lines that are fine to thick. The round has less versatility than the flatter brushes.
Sizes
Academy Synthetic (Oil & Acrylic) - Bright
Bright: Length and width of brush is generally squared. Similar to flats, but shorter hairs make a stiffer brush. Good for laying down thicker paint and for short, controlled strokes. When worked with increased pressure, they can be used to remove paint. Bright brushes can create crisp, clean lines and can be used for blending.
Sizes
Academy Synthetic (Oil & Acrylic) - Fan
Fan: Brush fibers are spread out making it useful for subtle blending and for textural effects. A dry brush is often used to create hair, foliage on trees and shrubs, grass and in stiffer brushes is used for scrubbing out color. Fans can also be used to blend out strokes of other brushes.
Sizes
Academy Synthetic (Oil & Acrylic) - Filbert
Filbert: Also called a cat's tongue due to the flat, oval edge. Creates a softer edge than a flat or bright, and is used for blending particularly because the bristles stick together well when wet.
Sizes
Academy Synthetic (Oil & Acrylic) - Flat
Flat: Longer hairs than a bright, this brush has more flex and a large color carrying capability. Often used on its edge to create crisp lines or on the broad side to cover large areas with paint quickly. Often used as a primary blending brush.
Sizes
Academy Synthetic (Oil & Acrylic) - Round
Round: Shorter hair than a liner, rounds come in a wider variety of sizes from very fine to extra large. Smaller sizes are typically used for detail work and larger sizes tend to be used for washes and filling in color. A round brush stroke is tapered and can create lines that are fine to thick. The round has less versatility than the flatter brushes.
Sizes
Academy Hog - Bright
Bright: Length and width of brush is generally squared. Similar to flats, but shorter hairs make a stiffer brush. Good for laying down thicker paint and for short, controlled strokes. When worked with increased pressure, they can be used to remove paint. Bright brushes can create crisp, clean lines and can be used for blending.
Sizes
Academy Hog - Fan
Fan: Brush fibers are spread out making it useful for subtle blending and for textural effects. A dry brush is often used to create hair, foliage on trees and shrubs, grass and in stiffer brushes is used for scrubbing out color. Fans can also be used to blend out strokes of other brushes.
Sizes
Academy Hog - Filbert
Filbert: Also called a cat?s tongue due to the flat, oval edge. Creates a softer edge than a flat or bright, and is used for blending particularly because the brushes stick together well when wet.
Sizes
Academy Hog - Flat
Flat: Longer hairs than a bright, this brush has more flex and a large color carrying capability. Often used on its edge to create crisp lines or on the broad side to cover large areas with paint quickly. Often used as a primary blending brush.
Sizes
Academy Hog - Round
Round: Shorter hair than a liner, rounds come in a wider variety of sizes from very fine to extra large. Smaller sizes are typically used for detail work and larger sizes tend to be used for washes and filling in color. A round brush stroke is tapered and can create lines that are fine to thick. The round has less versatility than the flatter brushes.
Sizes
Goldenedge (Oil & Acrylic) - Bright
Bright: Length and width of brush is generally squared. Similar to flats, but shorter hairs make a stiffer brush. Good for laying down thicker paint and for short, controlled strokes. When worked with increased pressure, they can be used to remove paint. Bright brushes can create crisp, clean lines and can be used for blending.
Sizes
Goldenedge (Oil & Acrylic) - Fan
Fan: Brush fibers are spread out making it useful for subtle blending and for textural effects. A dry brush is often used to create hair, foliage on trees and shrubs, grass and in stiffer brushes is used for scrubbing out color. Fans can also be used to blend out strokes of other brushes.
Sizes
Goldenedge (Oil & Acrylic) - Filbert
Filbert: Also called a cat's tongue due to the flat, oval edge. Creates a softer edge than a flat or bright, and is used for blending particularly because the bristles stick together well when wet.
Sizes
Goldenedge (Oil & Acrylic) - Flat
Flat: Longer hairs than a bright, this brush has more flex and a large color carrying capability. Often used on its edge to create crisp lines or on the broad side to cover large areas with paint quickly. Often used as a primary blending brush.
Sizes
Goldenedge (Oil & Acrylic) - Round
Round: Shorter hair than a liner, rounds come in a wider variety of sizes from very fine to extra large. Smaller sizes are typically used for detail work and larger sizes tend to be used for washes and filling in color. A round brush stroke is tapered and can create lines that are fine to thick. The round has less versatility than the flatter brushes.
Sizes
Bristlette - Bright
Bright: Length and width of brush is generally squared. Similar to flats, but shorter hairs make a stiffer brush. Good for laying down thicker paint and for short, controlled strokes. When worked with increased pressure, they can be used to remove paint. Bright brushes can create crisp, clean lines and can be used for blending.
Sizes
Bristlette - Fan
Fan: Brush fibers are spread out making it useful for subtle blending and for textural effects. A dry brush is often used to create hair, foliage on trees and shrubs, grass and in stiffer brushes is used for scrubbing out color. Fans can also be used to blend out strokes of other brushes.
Sizes
Bristlette - Filbert
Filbert: Also called a cat's tongue due to the flat, oval edge. Creates a softer edge than a flat or bright, and is used for blending particularly because the bristles stick together well when wet.
Sizes
Bristlette - Flat
Flat: Longer hairs than a bright, this brush has more flex and a large color carrying capability. Often used on its edge to create crisp lines or on the broad side to cover large areas with paint quickly. Often used as a primary blending brush.
Sizes
Bristlette - Round
Round: Shorter hair than a liner, rounds come in a wider variety of sizes from very fine to extra large. Smaller sizes are typically used for detail work and larger sizes tend to be used for washes and filling in color. A round brush stroke is tapered and can create lines that are fine to thick. The round has less versatility than the flatter brushes.
Sizes
Black Diamond - Bright
Bright: Length and width of brush is generally squared. Similar to flats, but shorter hairs make a stiffer brush. Good for laying down thicker paint and for short, controlled strokes. When worked with increased pressure, they can be used to remove paint. Bright brushes can create crisp, clean lines and can be used for blending.
Sizes
Black Diamond - Fan
Fan: Brush fibers are spread out making it useful for subtle blending and for textural effects. A dry brush is often used to create hair, foliage on trees and shrubs, grass and in stiffer brushes is used for scrubbing out color. Fans can also be used to blend out strokes of other brushes.
Sizes
Black Diamond - Filbert
Filbert: Also called a cat's tongue due to the flat, oval edge. Creates a softer edge than a flat or bright, and is used for blending particularly because the bristles stick together well when wet.
Sizes
Black Diamond - Flat
Flat: Longer hairs than a bright, this brush has more flex and a large color carrying capability. Often used on its edge to create crisp lines or on the broad side to cover large areas with paint quickly. Often used as a primary blending brush.
Sizes
Black Diamond - Round
Round: Shorter hair than a liner, rounds come in a wider variety of sizes from very fine to extra large. Smaller sizes are typically used for detail work and larger sizes tend to be used for washes and filling in color. A round brush stroke is tapered and can create lines that are fine to thick. The round has less versatility than the flatter brushes.
Sizes
Gainsborough - Bright
Bright: Length and width of brush is generally squared. Similar to flats, but shorter hairs make a stiffer brush. Good for laying down thicker paint and for short, controlled strokes. When worked with increased pressure, they can be used to remove paint. Bright brushes can create crisp, clean lines and can be used for blending.
Sizes
Gainsborough - Fan
Fan: Brush fibers are spread out making it useful for subtle blending and for textural effects. A dry brush is often used to create hair, foliage on trees and shrubs, grass and in stiffer brushes is used for scrubbing out color. Fans can also be used to blend out strokes of other brushes.
Sizes
Gainsborough - Filbert
Filbert: Also called a cat's tongue due to the flat, oval edge. Creates a softer edge than a flat or bright, and is used for blending particularly because the bristles stick together well when wet.
Sizes
Gainsborough - Flat
Flat: Longer hairs than a bright, this brush has more flex and a large color carrying capability. Often used on its edge to create crisp lines or on the broad side to cover large areas with paint quickly. Often used as a primary blending brush.
Sizes
Gainsborough - Round
Round: Shorter hair than a liner, rounds come in a wider variety of sizes from very fine to extra large. Smaller sizes are typically used for detail work and larger sizes tend to be used for washes and filling in color. A round brush stroke is tapered and can create lines that are fine to thick. The round has less versatility than the flatter brushes.
Sizes
Watercolor
Academy Synthetic (Watercolor)
Several sizes of white taklon filaments are encased within a seamless brass plated nickel ferrule, making our brushes less likely to shed or lose their handles after repeated use. Varied filament sizes allow for an amazing capacity to hold liquid, and for laying down color in smooth, fluid strokes. An Academy brush is exceptionally durable and maintains a perfect shape even with repeated use. It also cleans up easily and is less prone to breakage than many other watercolor brushes. Academy® watercolor brushes work in tandem with the Academy® line of watercolor paints.
Academy Natural
A student grade brush made from a mix of goat and pony hair, Academy natural hair watercolor brushes offer softness and strength at an affordable price. These brushes carry large amounts of color and are ideal for washes and lettering techniques, as well as blending and touch up work.
Goldenedge (Watercolor)
Professional quality and affordability go hand in hand with this line of brushes. Many characteristics of a traditional sable hair watercolor brush are preserved in this synthetic filament variant without the environmental drawbacks associated with animal based products. These brushes have an amazing capacity to hold liquid, lay down color in smooth, fluid strokes and have unsurpassed spring. A Goldenedge® brush is exceptionally durable and maintains a perfect shape and extremely fine point even with repeated use.
Academy Synthetic (Watercolor) - Flat
Flat: Longer hairs than a bright, this brush has more flex and a large color carrying capability. Often used on its edge to create crisp lines or on the broad side to cover large areas with paint quickly. Often used as a primary blending brush.
Sizes
Academy Synthetic (Watercolor) - Liner
Liner: Similar to rounds, but with longer hairs. Liners have a large color carrying capacity and makes long, fluid strokes. Creates thin lines for detail work such as outlining, lettering, stippling, and highlighting. Often used for creating hair, whiskers, script, branches, vines, and other subjects requiring fine detail.
Sizes
Academy Synthetic (Watercolor) - Oval Wash
Oval Wash: A cross between a mop and a filbert, the oval wash is used primarily in watercolor painting for laying in large amounts of color, blending, and for applying glazes to oils and acrylics.
Sizes
Academy Synthetic (Watercolor) - Mop
Mop: Primarily used in watercolor painting, mops have a large rounded shape that lays in large areas of color with a soft edge, and is often used to absorb excess color or water from a surface. May also be used for blending wet areas in watercolor. For oil painting, mops have been used to apply glazes to dry layers of paint, as well as for blending and shading oil colors.
Sizes
Academy Synthetic (Watercolor) - Round
Round: Shorter hair than a liner, rounds come in a wider variety of sizes from very fine to extra large. Smaller sizes are typically used for detail work and larger sizes tend to be used for washes and filling in color. A round brush stroke is tapered and can create lines that are fine to thick. The round has less versatility than the flatter brushes.
Sizes
Academy Synthetic (Watercolor) - Stroke
Stroke: Strokes have long, rectangular ends that are primarily used for watercolor and ink applications, as well as for sign painting as they have a large color carrying capacity and create long, fluid strokes. May be used to lay-in large areas of color, create detail, and for blending depending on the brush size and fiber make up. Similar to flats, strokes tend to have a slightly more tapered end.
Sizes
Academy Synthetic (Watercolor) - Wash
Wash: A wide, flat brush used primarily in watercolor painting to lay-in large amounts of color, to wet paper, or for blending. For oils and acrylics, soft wash brushes can be used for glazing and varnishing.
Sizes
Academy Natural - Aquarelle
Aquarelle: A watercolor specific brush used for laying down large areas of water or color. The end of the handle is angled and used to scrape and burnish.
Sizes
Academy Natural - Filbert
Filbert: Also called a cat's tongue due to the flat, oval edge. Creates a softer edge than a flat or bright, and is used for blending particularly because the bristles stick together well when wet.
Sizes
Academy Natural - Liner
Liner: Similar to rounds, but with longer hairs. Liners have a large color carrying capacity and makes long, fluid strokes. Creates thin lines for detail work such as outlining, lettering, stippling, and highlighting. Often used for creating hair, whiskers, script, branches, vines, and other subjects requiring fine detail.
Sizes
Academy Natural - Oval Wash
Oval Wash: A cross between a mop and a filbert, the oval wash is used primarily in watercolor painting for laying in large amounts of color, blending, and for applying glazes to oils and acrylics.
Sizes
Academy Natural - Round
Round: Shorter hair than a liner, rounds come in a wider variety of sizes from very fine to extra large. Smaller sizes are typically used for detail work and larger sizes tend to be used for washes and filling in color. A round brush stroke is tapered and can create lines that are fine to thick. The round has less versatility than the flatter brushes.
Sizes
Academy Natural - Stroke
Stroke: Strokes have long, rectangular ends that are primarily used for watercolor and ink applications, as well as for sign painting as they have a large color carrying capacity and create long, fluid strokes. May be used to lay-in large areas of color, create detail, and for blending depending on the brush size and fiber make up. Similar to flats, strokes tend to have a slightly more tapered end.
Sizes
Academy Natural - Wash
Wash: A wide, flat brush used primarily in watercolor painting to lay-in large amounts of color, to wet paper, or for blending. For oils and acrylics, soft wash brushes can be used for glazing and varnishing.
Sizes
Goldenedge (Watercolor) - Aquarelle
Aquarelle: A watercolor specific brush used for laying down large areas of water or color. The end of the handle is angled and used to scrape and burnish.
Sizes
Goldenedge (Watercolor) - Filbert
Filbert: Also called a cat?s tongue due to the flat, oval edge. Creates a softer edge than a flat or bright, and is used for blending particularly because the brushes stick together well when wet.
Sizes
Goldenedge (Watercolor) - Liner
Liner: Similar to rounds, but with longer hairs. Liners have a large color carrying capacity and makes long, fluid strokes. Creates thin lines for detail work such as outlining, lettering, stippling, and highlighting. Often used for creating hair, whiskers, script, branches, vines, and other subjects requiring fine detail.
Sizes
Goldenedge (Watercolor) - Oval Wash
Oval Wash: A cross between a mop and a filbert, the oval wash is used primarily in watercolor painting for laying in large amounts of color, blending, and for applying glazes to oils and acrylics.
Sizes
Goldenedge (Watercolor) - Round
Round: Shorter hair than a liner, rounds come in a wider variety of sizes from very fine to extra large. Smaller sizes are typically used for detail work and larger sizes tend to be used for washes and filling in color. A round brush stroke is tapered and can create lines that are fine to thick. The round has less versatility than the flatter brushes.
Sizes
Goldenedge (Watercolor) - Stroke
Stroke: Strokes have long, rectangular ends that are primarily used for watercolor and ink applications, as well as for sign painting as they have a large color carrying capacity and create long, fluid strokes. May be used to lay-in large areas of color, create detail, and for blending depending on the brush size and fiber make up. Similar to flats, strokes tend to have a slightly more tapered end.
Sizes
Goldenedge (Watercolor) - Wash
Wash: A wide, flat brush used primarily in watercolor painting to lay-in large amounts of color, to wet paper, or for blending. For oils and acrylics, soft wash brushes can be used for glazing and varnishing.
Sizes
Multimedia
Academy Multimedia
A synthetic multimedia brush for acrylic, watercolor, oil and craft paint. Features a short, soft grip handle, and seamless, matte nickel-plated brass ferrule. Various diameter filaments allow for great snap and paint load capacity.
Academy Multimedia - Angled
Angled: Versatile brush for general painting and detail work. Angled edge is ideal for fine line work as well as creating graduated lines when using the narrow edge. The broad edge creates a stroke with a crisp, clean edge on one side and a softer edge on the other, often used to create effects such as wood grain.
Sizes
Academy Multimedia - Aquarelle
Aquarelle: A watercolor specific brush used for laying down large areas of water or color. The end of the handle is angled and used to scrape and burnish.
Sizes
Academy Multimedia - Fan
Fan: Brush fibers are spread out making it useful for subtle blending and for textural effects. A dry brush is often used to create hair, foliage on trees and shrubs, grass and in stiffer brushes is used for scrubbing out color. Fans can also be used to blend out strokes of other brushes.
Sizes
Academy Multimedia - Flat
Flat: Longer hairs than a bright, this brush has more flex and a large color carrying capability. Often used on its edge to create crisp lines or on the broad side to cover large areas with paint quickly. Often used as a primary blending brush.
Sizes
Academy Multimedia - Liner
Liner: Similar to rounds, but with longer hairs. Liners have a large color carrying capacity and makes long, fluid strokes. Creates thin lines for detail work such as outlining, lettering, stippling, and highlighting. Often used for creating hair, whiskers, script, branches, vines, and other subjects requiring fine detail.
Sizes
Academy Multimedia - Oval Wash
Oval Wash: A cross between a mop and a filbert, the oval wash is used primarily in watercolor painting for laying in large amounts of color, blending, and for applying glazes to oils and acrylics.
Sizes
Academy Multimedia - Round
Round: Shorter hair than a liner, rounds come in a wider variety of sizes from very fine to extra large. Smaller sizes are typically used for detail work and larger sizes tend to be used for washes and filling in color. A round brush stroke is tapered and can create lines that are fine to thick. The round has less versatility than the flatter brushes.
Sizes
Academy Multimedia - Stroke
Stroke: Strokes have long, rectangular ends that are primarily used for watercolor and ink applications, as well as for sign painting as they have a large color carrying capacity and create long, fluid strokes. May be used to lay-in large areas of color, create detail, and for blending depending on the brush size and fiber make up. Similar to flats, strokes tend to have a slightly more tapered end.
Sizes
Academy Multimedia - Wash
Wash: A wide, flat brush used primarily in watercolor painting to lay-in large amounts of color, to wet paper, or for blending. For oils and acrylics, soft wash brushes can be used for glazing and varnishing.
Sizes
You may also be interested in:
Grumbacher® Japanese Watercolor Glimmer Set
Grumbacher® Japanese Watercolor Basic Set
Grumbacher® Japanese Watercolor Mixing Set
Academy Watercolor Get a Start in Art Set
Academy Acrylic Get a Start in Art Set
Academy Acrylic 7 Piece Set
Academy Oil 7 Piece Set
Paper Media Compatibility Chart
In & Out Pages™
Watercolor Paper
