Choosing the right brushes can make wet-on-wet oil painting much easier for beginners. The wet-on-wet technique uses liquid clear or medium to help the flow of paint on the canvas. This is usually done with a 2 inch brush. The medium or liquid clear is applied with a thin layer just to wet the canvas. If to much is used the paint will be to thin and will run. Having a few useful brushes matters more than owning a large collection. You do not need expensive brushes or dozens of shapes to get started.
With the right basic brush set, beginners can blend skies, shape mountains, paint trees, and create soft backgrounds without frustration.
Learn more about the wet-on-wet technique.
What Makes a Good Wet-on-Wet Brush?
Brushes for this style should be:
- Firm enough to move paint easily
- Soft enough to blend colors smoothly
- Comfortable to hold for longer sessions
- Durable enough for repeated cleaning
- Large enough to cover space quickly
Natural bristle and quality synthetic brushes can both work well. Natural bristle brushes are the ones I prefer.
The Best Brushes Beginners Should Start With
- Two-Inch Flat Brush
A two-inch flat brush is one of the most useful tools for wet-on-wet painting. It works well for:
- Painting skies
- Blending clouds
- Covering backgrounds
- Softening large areas
- Used in mountain making
This is often one of the first brushes many beginners should buy. You will be using this brush probably more than any other brush in your paintings. I prefer brushes by Bob Ross, with proper care they will last a very long time.
2. One-Inch Flat Brush
A one-inch brush gives more control than a larger brush. It is useful for:
- Smaller skies
- Water reflections
- Mid-size blending
- Edges and transitions
- Some trees
- Brush and bushes
- Grassy areas
Its a strong second brush and highly recommended for beginners.
3. One-Inch Round Brush
A one-inch round brush helps with detail work and natural shapes. Also used for:
- Highlight trees
- Bushes
- Grass
- Background landscape areas
- Fog and mist
- Foam on waves
A medium round brush is a smart starting size.
4. Fan Brush: For beginners doing wet-on-wet oil painting, a fan brush size #4 or #6 is usually the best place to start.
Best Beginner Choice
#6 Fan Brush
Best all-around size because it can handle:
- Trees
- Brushes
- Grass
- Soft Clouds
- Water Highlights
- Blending Edges
- Water Falls
#4 Fan Brush
Good if you paint on smaller canvases like:
- 8×10
- 9×12
- 11×14
Gives a little more control for detail work.
If buying only one get a #6 natural bristle brush. Cheap fan brushes that are too floppy can be frustrating to paint with. A medium-firm bristle fan brush works best for wet-on-wet.
If you are interested in learning more about brushes, be sure to read my main guide. The Only Brushes You Really Need to Start. It explains the basic brushes that can handle most beginner oil painting techniques, including wet-on-wet.
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