A paintbrush is a tool with bristles attached to a handle, used for applying paint to surfaces. The bristles might be made from animal hair, synthetic fibers, or even plant materials, and they hold the paint while you sweep it across canvas, paper, or walls.

Different paintbrushes do different jobs. A wide, flat brush covers large areas quickly, perfect for painting a bedroom wall. A tiny, pointed brush lets an artist add delicate details to a portrait, like the sparkle in someone's eye. Watercolor brushes are soft and hold lots of water mixed with pigment, while stiff brushes work better for thick acrylic or oil paints.

Artists choose their brushes as carefully as a carpenter chooses tools. A brushstroke (the mark a single sweep of the brush makes) becomes part of the artwork itself. You can see bold, energetic brushstrokes in some paintings and smooth, almost invisible ones in others. Even cleaning a paintbrush matters: dried paint can ruin the bristles, turning a precise tool into a stiff, useless stick. Taking care of your paintbrush means it’ll be ready the next time inspiration strikes.