The best brushes I've learned to use for applying gesso (a substance that is brushed on a canvas or wood to prepare it for painting) so far will be mentioned here. Keep in mind, everyone will have different preferences and you will decide which brushes work best for your own painting style and for different surfaces. This post is being shared for those who are beginning to paint with acrylics.
For ground paint and gesso applications:
The brushes I found to be useful for applying gesso and the ground colors are plain flat synthetic brushes. These are "Pro Grade - Paint Brushes - 5 Ea - Paint Brush Set." I found these on Amazon.
Why I prefer Pro Grade - Paint Brushes - 5 Ea - Paint Brush Set
Lightweight
Holds the gesso and paint.
Applies smoothly (evenly if desired).
Does not lose the bristles.
Has a wood handle (not plastic)
Value for the money
Easy to clean.
Comfortable to hold.
Lays flat for drying.
Do the brushes leave brush marks?
Yes and No. Sometimes you may prefer to leave the brush marks when you ground the canvas depending on what effects are desired for your work. You may want a looser appearance for an impression of a background. Other times, you may want to blend the background. You can also use if you want a textured appearance or use a palette knife for application. These brushes have been fine for each of these applications. The brushes can handle for light pressure and heavy pressure applications.
Why do I need different size brushes for applying gesso?
Depending on the size of the canvas, or board, you will want to use a brush that can give you good coverage. Using an 8"x10" cotton canvas, I use the 1 1/2-inch angle brush. The gesso I use is Liquitex (Liquitex BASICS Gesso Surface Prep Medium, 473ml (16-oz) Bottle, White). I mix the ground color I prefer (such as an olive color) with the gesso. Add a bit of water to make a milky consistency and apply to the canvas. If I'm using wood, I use just the gesso and no water. Please note that I have not used this on a linen canvas.
When applying varnish to protect the painting, I use the smaller 1-inch brush. If I'm staining the frames, I use a larger brush. It just depends on the area of coverage I need.
Are these synthetic brushes for applying gesso easy to clean?
I've been using these brushes about 3 years. I have ordered twice in 3 years. I was applying a thicker varnish for a project and forgot to clean some of my brushes, so I ordered more.
Overall, cleaning is easy. I use soap and water with lots of paper towels. Because I prefer not putting the paint and gesso down the drain, I clean and then remove excess paint with the paper towels. Once I get most of the paint or varnish out, then I just rinse under running water, remove the excess water, then let dry (lay flat). Based on my usage, the brushes have held up nicely.
Addresses the question "What do I do with the brush rinse water?"
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Post by Laure Locascio 3/16/2024 (c) Lisualart.com