Getting Started: Throw Away Your Small Brushes


Start with a broom and end with a needle.

It’s an exaggerated way of saying start with big brushes then end with a small one.

When starting painting, choosing brushes in this way can really help because it stops you focusing on the ‘interesting detail’.

Using large brushes to lay down bold and decisive strokes, helps to alleviate self-inflicted pressure to make the painting look finished too early on, in reality this never happens it’s like trying to re-landscape your garden without digging up the soil, you have to make the mess first to finish with the flowers.

How big is big?

If you use large brushes to begin your painting, you’ll develop brush handling skills, techniques and a huge variety of marks that can be achieved with one brush rather than relying on another specialist brush to fix the problem.
For example, if I was painting a 30 x 40cm canvas, I would start with a brush 2-4 cm wide.

What type of brush should I use?

One of the biggest stumbling blocks is indecision, if you only have one brush and two colours you’ve got no option, you just have to start.

I love filbert brushes, they are so flexible to use the hairs are quite long, arranged as a flat head and tapered to a rounded tip see: A quick way to understand brushes.

It’s always better to start with fewer brushes than to amass a whole drawer full and not start at all! 

This Post Has 49 Comments

  1. Rebecca

    To start acryllic painting what brushes would you get and what sizes. How many and what is the best brand?

    1. Will Kemp

      Hi Rebecca,

      To start acrylic painting you only need a couple of brushes, a size 10 or eight Filbert or Flathead brush and a small size Round is a great start. I like Rosemary & co brushes, Isabey brushes are also nice for acrylics.

      Have a look at this article on brush sizes, as can be a bit confusing.
      Hope this helps,

      Cheers,

      Will

  2. Yulia

    “You have to make the mess first to finish with the flowers.” thank you, you’ve just made my day and encouraged me! I’m really laughing…
    I didn’t do any brushstroke the last two years, it had taken me too long time to create a “masterpiece”. I really felt lost: I wanted to paint but I was so insecure and got so scared…and so on. But, the point is: I was stuck and now I’m ready to carry on moving. Thank you for that magic phrase for me, an ignition key to begin again. Thank you a lot!
    Have a good day, Yulia.

    1. Will Kemp

      Great to hear it Yulia.

      Cheers,
      Will

    2. George

      This is the problem I having. I have paints, brushes, palette knives, surfaces to paint on, and a whole bunch of photos that I’ve taken when out walking, to paint from. All that stuff is in one room in my house. I’m about 15 feet away, in another room, fretting over my indecision and anxiety over the matter. I don’t know where to start!

      1. Will Kemp

        Hi George, you need to feel the fear…and paint it anyway! try working from one of these free tutorials, just download the reference image and follow the lessons, even if its not a subject matter you would normally choose it will get you painting.

        Cheers,
        Will

  3. Kate

    Hi, I painted this lovely picture of a beach scene with sunset and a lighthouse in a A4 water colour pad, I now want to paint it again on a canvas with arcrylics. But I’m so apprehensive of painting it on a bigger scale and also I painted the original in portrait maybe I should of painted it landscape way in the first place! Any tips would be very appreciated! Thanks Kate

    1. Will Kemp

      Hi Kate,

      If you’ve painted in once with watercolours you’ll be fine, just take the painting a step at a time, paint the canvas with a coloured ground and you’ll be away.

      Cheers,
      Will

      1. Kate

        Thank you very much! :)

  4. Kathleen

    Ok, I am on the spot to paint a portrait for a big opening of a complex where thousands of people will walk by and view. Iam not sure how they decided to have me paint this but I am taking on the challenge. Black and white acrylics is my medium and my subject is an old photograph in a black & white. I paint for murals on walls using acrylics and house paint but to paint either on wood or canvas has been awhile. So, Iam brushing up on my homework and I’d come across your website. I have painted under pressure before but not quite like this and so I want it to “feel” like an oil painting (though I don’t work with oils). I will be reading and working very quickly to complete this task. Thanks for providing techniques to “brush” up my artistic skills. Kathleen

    1. Will Kemp

      Good luck with the live demo Kathleen, as long have you have a ‘two palette’ system. One palette with a premixed string of tonal mixes, and the other a tear-off palette, it will work fine. Keep the light and the darks mixes separate and the forms will work well.

      Cheers,

      Will

      1. Kathleen

        Thank you for that advance. I will be paying close attention to your website and classes, its a boost of confidence for all artist beginning or rusty like me.
        Kathleen

        1. Will Kemp

          You’re welcome Kathleen, pleased it helped.

          Cheers,
          Will

  5. Amanda

    Will, you are wonderful. it is super to see a professional artist willing to be generous with his tips and guidance. :) Well done.
    The art world is rather pretentious so when I find a person like you, I am thankful!
    Amanda

    1. Will Kemp

      Thanks Amanda, pleased you’re finding the articles helpful.

      Cheers,
      Will

      1. Kathleen

        A great compliment, well said Amanda.

  6. Faye

    I want to paint a white canvas with black gesso but how do I do this with out getting lines in it? please. My main feature will be a water fall.

    1. Will Kemp

      Hi Faye,

      To get a solid black gesso you need to apply a couple of coats.

      Cheers,

      Will

      1. Faye

        Tried two coats of the black gesso like you suggested, good result thank you.

        1. Will Kemp

          Good one Faye, pleased it worked.
          Cheers,
          Will

          1. George

            I’ve only ever seen white gesso sold, in Michael’s (artsy store here in the USA). Where on-line can I purchase different colored gessos? I’d like to paint night scenes and scenes with flowers and single objects (like artist Abbey Ryan does!).

  7. Christine

    I just used your YouTube video on painting an apple study in acrylic last night (I’m a beginner) and it was amazing! You’re a great teacher!

    1. Will Kemp

      Thanks Christine, really pleased your Apple study turned out well.
      Cheers,
      Will

  8. Chris Higgins

    Hi there..where can I buy the material that’s used for plaster casts? ( when you break an arm or leg)
    I want to use it to develop texture on canvases
    Thanks

    1. Will Kemp

      Hi Chris, have a google for ‘plaster of paris.’
      Cheers,
      Will

  9. Leslie

    Hi Will. Your site is like the missing link! I just love it’s practical applications and the way your encouraging personality shines through! I have a question somewhat like Kathleen’s: I am commissioned to do a large canvas in acrylics of an abstract beach scene. My challenge is that my client insists on warm colours: mostly sand, little water. The piece will hang in a north-facing family room and she doesn’t want it to appear cold. What colour would you suggest I use as the tonal ground? And is there a blue that reads as “warm”? Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

    Leslie

    1. Will Kemp

      Great to hear it Leslie, a warm naples yellow ground can always work well for a tranquil beach scene, ultramarine blue will give you a warmer blue compared with a phthalo blue green (see this video)

      Good luck with your commission.

      Cheers,
      Will

      1. Leslie

        Good morning, Will. Thanks so much for your suggestions! Extremely helpful!

        Leslie

  10. Kelly Ford

    I noticed when viewing your cherry photo painting that the titanium white and the dark color next to it appeared to be a very thick paste. So, should we use thicker acrylics to begin painting with?

    1. Will Kemp

      Hi Kelly, it’s is often best to start with thin layers of paint to establish the form and shapes and then come in with thicker impasto areas of paint as the painting progresses. Unless of course you’re painting and more impressionistic Impasto style from the off.
      Hope this helps,

      Cheers,
      Will

      1. Kelly Ford

        I saw where “satin acrylic glazing medium” was used to help soften both water reflections in the foreground as well as distant mountain peaks in the background. My question is can “matte acrylic floating medium” be used in the same way with the same effect? It is a lot cheaper to buy.

        1. Will Kemp

          Hi Kelly, yes matte medium can be used in exactly the same way, can be sometimes harder to judge the colour as matte will be whiter when wet and dry clear, I use a gloss glazing medium.
          Hope this helps,

          Cheers,
          Will

          1. Kelly Ford

            One last question before I easel up. I have a typical and nice desktop easel. I have a large floor standing easel with drawers but it leans too far away. Anyway, any easel has the same problem, it contacts the canvas material along the bottom edge and at the top near center. As I paint and do various strokes at the bottom and top center the easel “hold points” look a mess and makes the entire canvas give an unfinished, unprofessional appearance. What can be done to float the canvas so that top and bottom edges can be properly attended, or is this the best an artist can hope for? Of course if it’s going to be framed the frame will hide those edges.

          2. Will Kemp

            Hi Kelly, you just need to take it off the Easel and then paint in those areas of the canvas.
            Cheers,
            Will

  11. Derek

    Will I have only just come across your site and initally the “like Monet” tuition vidoes. I have decided to try the impressionist style due to the lack of control motor movements in my painting hand following a major accident and now a stroke. I just can’t hit tiny details with small brushes any more, so hence my search for something new and suitable. I am 75 yrd old and have worked in all mediums.
    I have gear for all types of painting including oil, acrylic and watercolour but the question I have is based on watching you paint the Monet lanscape. What is the palette you are mixing on with the paints across the top and also how are you keeping the paint so fluid.?

    1. Will Kemp

      Hi Derek, nice to hear from you, the palette I’m using is a ‘A3 tear-off palette‘ The paints are kept wet from the volume of paint I use on the palette.
      Hope this helps,

      Cheers,
      Will

  12. KathyJo

    Hello Will, a huge thank you for this website that is chocked full of valuable information. Started painting with acrylics approx. 6 months ago and have been tooling along with so-so outcomes. Mostly have been shadowing artists with their free online tutorials. Just not getting that “aha” moment. After soaking up your website I got busy with the cherry study…success!! Next up, the jug…again, so proud!! Next up either the landscape or the apple. I can’t thank you enough. Your painting style amazes me and your teaching skills match perfectly with my learning style. I expect you’ll be seeing my name down the road on your student roster. Thanks again! Cheers~

    1. Will Kemp

      Hi Kathy, great to hear from you and so pleased you’ve been finding success with the painting tutorials. Good luck with the landscape paintings.
      Cheers,
      Will

  13. Julian

    Aloha Will,
    Thank you for all the great information on your site and videos. I have one problem that must be technique related, and can’t find a solution online. This is probably a good section to ask it. I paint in acrylics, usually WN Professional because I need the extra open time in a hot climate. I have no problems with applying acrylic on acrylic when I use a painting knife or heavier brush. But when I do detail work (brush size 2 or less), then I get the problem of ”doesn’t pull off the brush” or ”paint gets slippy”. I’ve tried wiping the brush between strokes and keeping it moist, using flow improver and mediums, etc, but get a lumpy result from the railway lines off the edges of the brush.
    Please help!
    Cheers and mahalo,
    Julian

    1. Will Kemp

      Hi Julian, pleased you’ve been enjoying the site, with your fine brush work, what surface are you painting onto? as this can play a factor in the smoothness of application you’re after.
      Will

  14. Sue

    Hi Will
    Thanks for the article (and all the work you generously share).
    I have no small brushes for painting – but am just getting around to thinking about signing my work. I realise even my smallest brush is too big (thick) for this task.
    Are you able to recommend a brush, and size for signing paintings please? My work tends to be on smaller canvases at the moment ie 10 x 8, 12 x 10.
    Many thanks
    Sue

    1. Will Kemp

      Hi Sue, personally, I sign my work with an acrylic marker pen, the Montana 2mm markers give a nice fine line.
      Cheers,
      Will

      1. Sue Day

        Great, thanks Will – I’ll take a look.
        Cheers
        Sue

  15. Rose arnold

    Enjoyed reading all the problems and replies. Have been using water colours but don’t fancy mess of oils so thought I would try acrylics. I have got some very good advice. Thank you.

    1. Will Kemp

      Really hope it helps with your paintings Rose.
      Cheers,
      Will

  16. Sue

    Love your tutorials….I am trying to get back to painting as this year has been hard to motivate myself and get back to it. Came across your website while looking up background colours and you provide so much valuable information here. Thanks!

    1. Will Kemp

      That’s great to hear Sue, really hope you enjoy the lessons and find them a good starting point for your paintings.
      Will

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