Paintbrushes and brush sets for school and hobby use

Brushes for watercolors, acrylics and crafts

The right brush makes a big difference when painting. Here you'll find school and kids' brushes, soft-hair and bristle brushes and brush sets for watercolors, opaque paints, acrylic paints and craft projects, individually or in sets.

Choosing the right brush shape, hair type and size

Round brushes have a point and work well for lines, details and smaller areas. Flat brushes with a straight edge apply paint evenly to larger areas and create clean edges. Soft-hair brushes hold a lot of water and are good for watercolors and fine work. Bristle brushes are firmer and sturdier, suited to acrylic paints, broad paint application and applying glue and paste.

Brushes are numbered: the higher the number, the thicker the brush, although sizes vary slightly between manufacturers. For the school paint box, a fine and a medium round brush plus a wider flat brush are often enough. Kids' brushes with a short handle and soft hair make getting started easier.

• Round and flat brushes in many sizes
• Soft-hair and bristle brushes
• School and kids' brushes with a short handle
• Specialty brushes for particular techniques
• Brush sets for class and hobby use

Tip: Rinse brushes with water right after painting, and with acrylic paint, always do so before it starts to dry. Let them dry lying flat or with the head pointing up, because the hairs quickly bend if they're left standing in a water cup.