Filbert paint brushes

A filbert paint brush has bristles set in a flat ferrule like a flat brush, but its tip is rounded into an oval. Use the flat side for a broad stroke and the edge for a fine line, while the rounded tip leaves a soft edge without sharp corners. Painters choose it for portraits, flowers, leaves and clouds, and for smooth colour transitions in oil and acrylic painting. The range includes series from Princeton and Daler Rowney, along with brushes from Darwi and Kreul, with synthetic bristles, hog bristles or sable hair.

What can you use a filbert paint brush for?

The rounded shape follows forms found in nature and the human face. With a single press, you can paint a petal, a leaf or a small cloud; turn the brush onto its edge to narrow the stroke into a line. In portrait and figure painting, you can soften the transition between light and shade because the stroke has no sharp edge.

Which filbert paint brush should you choose?

• Classic filbert – longer bristles hold more paint, so you can shape a leaf or a rounded area in a single stroke.
• Short filbert – shorter, stiffer bristles give you more control when working with thick paint and short strokes.
• Pointed filbert – the tapered tip gives you greater precision for small shapes and details.
• Filbert grainer – the sparse bristles leave several fine lines at once, for example when painting grass, fur or wood grain.

For thick oil and acrylic paint, choose hog bristles, such as those in the Daler Rowney Georgian series, or the stiff synthetic bristles of the Princeton Catalyst series. Soft synthetic bristles, such as those in the Princeton Velvetouch series, suit thinned paint and smooth transitions. Numbered sizes are not the same across all manufacturers, so stick to one series when adding brushes to your collection.

Filbert, flat or round paint brush?

A filbert sits between a flat and a round brush in shape. Flat paint brushes leave a straight edge and sharp corners, while round paint brushes have a point for fine lines and lines of varying width. A filbert combines a broad stroke with a soft edge, so painters often use it alongside both shapes. You can find other shapes, sets and brushes by painting technique among the painting brushes.