If you are going to paint, you need to have brushes. But, you don’t need just any brushes. You need to use the right brushes.
For instance, did you know that watercolor brushes and acrylic brushes are not the same? There are several differences between the two.
Yes, you can use acrylic brushes for watercolors and vice versa, but you may not be happy with the results. For instance, if you use acrylic paint and a watercolor brush, you could damage the brush because acrylic paint is harder on brushes.
You could end up damaging your brushes by doing this, and then you would have to replace them. Considering the cost of decent-quality brushes, this is not something most people want to have to do.
In this post, we are going to look at both the differences and the similarities between watercolor brushes and acrylic brushes. You will learn how each brush is made to hold paints, how to clean them, and how to make sure they keep their shape so they can be used for many years to come.
If you want to learn more about the differences between watercolor and acrylic brushes, keep reading.
Acrylic Brush and Watercolor Brush Comparison
| Factors | Acrylic Brushes | Watercolor Brushes |
|---|---|---|
| Used for acrylic painting | Yes | Not ideal, but they can be used |
| Used for watercolor painting | Not ideal, but they can be used | Yes |
| Natural bristles | Bristles are usually synthetic, with some exceptions | Yes, but there are synthetic watercolor brushes |
| Size | Longer to accommodate painting in front of an easel | Shorter to accommodate painting closer to your body |
| Cleaning | Should be cleaned with soap and cool water | Should not be cleaned with soap unless it is organic |
The Differences and Similarities Between Watercolor Brushes and Acrylic Brushes
There are three main differences between watercolor brushes and acrylic brushes: the size, the materials they are made from, and how they should be cleaned.
Size
Let’s talk about size first. Yes, in this case, size does matter! Acrylic brushes are longer than watercolor brushes. This has to do with the way that acrylic paintings are created.
In most cases, acrylic artists stand up and work at an easel. Having brushes with longer handles makes it a lot easier to achieve various brush strokes without having to stand too close to the canvas.
On the other hand, watercolor brushes are much shorter. This is because watercolor paint runs, so the painting surface is laying on a flat surface. I often put my watercolor paper on a board and then place the board on my lap.
The shorter brush handles allow artists to have the brushes closer to their bodies. This is going to make it easier to handle the brush and to do certain painting techniques.
#1. Materials
Next, we will take a look at the materials used to create watercolor and acrylic brushes. In the case of acrylic brushes, the bristles are usually made with synthetic hairs.
These synthetic hairs are denser when compared to the hairs on watercolor brushes, which are often made with natural hairs. Acrylic brushes must have heavier, synthetic bristles to be able to hold the acrylic paint, which is much heavier than watercolor paint.
If a brush is not strong enough, it will likely end up falling apart when it is used for acrylic painting. Some acrylic brushes do have natural bristles, but these bristles are made from tough hairs that come from hogs and occasionally ponies.
The materials used to make watercolor brushes are much softer. This is because there is layering going on, and the brushstrokes in watercolor painting are much gentler than those of acrylic painting. The natural hair used for watercolor brushes is usually sable or squirrel hair.
There are also synthetic watercolor brushes available that are not as heavy as acrylic brushes. These brushes are usually made with soft materials that are similar in texture to natural hair brushes.
One advantage to using synthetic watercolor brushes is that they aren’t as sensitive to the chemicals in paint as natural hairs are.
#2. Cleaning the Brushes
When it comes to synthetic brushes, cleaning them involves the same process for both watercolor brushes and acrylic brushes. They need to be properly washed with water and soap.
All of the paint must be removed before the brushes are allowed to dry naturally. In the case of watercolor brushes, the process is a lot easier. I often don’t even use soap, at least not if I am doing plein-air painting.
Cleaning natural hair brushes is a much different process. For starters, soap shouldn’t be used, because it can damage the natural hairs. There are a lot of chemicals in soap, and they can do a lot of damage to natural hair brushes.
You can use organic soaps to clean natural hair brushes, both acrylic and watercolor. Another option is to use a master’s brush cleaner that is made for cleaning brushes but has a natural formulation.
I have learned the hard way that one should never use hot water to clean brushes. This can cause a lot of damage to the bristles and other parts of the brush.
Cool or cold water only should be used for cleaning watercolor and acrylic brushes to maintain their quality.
#3. Using Acrylic Brushes For Watercolor Painting
I am often asked if acrylic brushes can be used for watercolor painting, and vice versa. While they can be used, you might not achieve the results you are looking for.
The thing is, an acrylic brush isn’t going to hold watercolor paint in the same manner as a watercolor brush would. Acrylic brushes are not designed to hold the amount of water that is used in watercolor painting because they are stiff and strong.
Acrylic brushes are specifically designed to be used with acrylic paint. They are made to be able to handle the viscosity of the paint, as well as its thickness.
So, while you can use an acrylic brush for watercolor painting if you don’t have watercolor brushes, I recommend buying a decent set of watercolor brushes. There may be times when you do need a stiffer brush, and it is okay to use an acrylic brush for those moments.
Conclusion
There are no actual hard and fast rules when it comes to interchanging watercolor brushes and acrylic brushes. What I have discussed today are just guidelines.
As I mentioned, I would recommend having two sets of brushes, one for acrylic painting and one for watercolor painting. That way, you will always have the right brushes for both types of painting.
Just keep in mind that these two types of brushes are made differently, and they react to paints differently. If you have specific effects in mind, go ahead and switch them up.
Just make sure that you properly clean your brushes every time you use them, allow them to air dry, and store them flat so they will hold their shape.
Sari Green is a semi-professional artist and professional writer. She has been hosting paint & sip parties for the past couple of years, and truly enjoys helping other people to create their very own masterpieces. She loves to create, and you never know what she’s going to come up with next!