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how to grip a watercolor brush If you can hold a pen, you can hold a watercolor brush. The difference is you hold a paint brush higher, closer to the top end of the ferrule, not close to the brush end like you might with a writing pen. The first thing you should do with a brush, whether you’ve used it before or not, is to feel the weight and balance of it in your hand. Roll it around in your hand and find the place where it’s most balanced in your grip. Think of it as a fine pen – and your intention as being ready to use your finest penmanship. A great first exercise is to use the brush as you would a pen. Practice writing your name in paint, just as you’ll do when you sign your work. Enjoy yourself as you do this exercise and experiment with different abbreviations of your name, different symbols and varying brush strokes. Take plenty of time to practice and perfect your artist’s signature. Next begin doodling with your brush. Push and pull the colors across the paper and see how the pressure you use changes the moods of the lines. Learn to control your brush by using your arm, wrist and fingers. The best thing you can do to get a solid start as a watercolor artist is to really get to know your brushes. Discover every mark they’ll make with every inch of the bristles, the tip, the side, when pulled, pushed, dragged, and when wet, damp or even dry.
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Know the terms: There are three parts to an artist’s paint brush:
The size of the brush refers to the thickness of the hairs, usually starting from 00 for the finest/smallest brush, then to 0, 1 and on.
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