You can use any brush to paint rocks (and I have many) but I keep returning to the same three brushes - stencil, script liner and flat - for most of my painted rocks.
For me, it's the shape which makes these brushes my favorites and not the brand or material. (You're better off not spending a lot of money on rock painting brushes because the rough surface of the rocks wears away the bristles.)
Script Liner Brush
Good for:
- Outlining
- Detailing
- Fur strokes
For many years, I used short-bristled liner brushes. Brushes with the longer bristles (script liners) just didn't make sense to me...until I used one. The longer bristles of this script liner brush enable me to pull the paint stroke further for better outlining, detailing and fur strokes.
Flat Brush
Works well for:
- Filling in large areas
- Washing/tinting
- Brush-on sealing
I use both small and large flat brushes depending on the area I want to fill or tint and the size of the rock I'm painting or sealing. The flat shape allows me to work around my sketch lines as well as fill large areas.
Stencil Brush
Used for:
- Dry brushing
- Blending
- Shading
- Dappling/stippling
I use both small and large stencil brushes depending on the area I want to shade or dapple and the size of the rock I'm painting.
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Here's how I used a flat, stencil, and script liner brush to paint rockin' rolls.
Helpful Resources
Brushes Tutorial
Before You Purchase a Brush
Paintbrush Guide
How to Care for Paintbrushes
How to Clean Paintbrushes
© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks
