Selecting The Right Brush

We work with a wide array of brushes, tools, paints, stains and topcoats on our painting projects to create a variety of finishes – shabby chic, modern, wash, textured, crackle, and so much more.

Considering the endless possibilities, it can be tricky to choose the right brush for your project! The following list provides a brief description of all our essential brushes for your consideration.

Annie Sloan Oval Paint Brushes; Large, Medium & Small

 
“Made of pure bristle, this is a great brush for painting, particularly to achieve texture. It is oval, with a metal ferule and wooden handle. These type of brushes have always been my favourite as they allow you paint expressively as the bristle is strong and firm but pliable. They can also be used for applying wax.” – Annie Sloan.These oval-shaped natural bristle brushes come in three sizes; small, medium and large. The large brush holds plenty of paint and will help you get your piece painted efficiently. It is especially useful for large projects such as dressers and cabinets The small brush is great for easily painting those smaller, tricky to reach areas of your project, while the medium brush is an all-around functional brush for any paint project.

These brushes can be used for creating texture on the surface of a piece, or may be used in a linear fashion to achieve a smooth finish. They hold a lot of paint, which means less dipping and more efficient painting! They can also be used for applying Annie Sloan Soft Wax. These versatile brushes should be a staple in your tool kit!

Our Chalk Paint™ Starter Kit comes with the medium brush, as it is the most resourceful of all our brushes. The wooden handle allows for an easy-grip, reducing hand fatigue and, this natural bristle brush should last a lifetime with gentle care. Remember these are made from hair, so treat them like real hair! Excessive pressure and friction will cause the hair to break off. Also, excessive washing with harsh soaps will dry out the hair. Simply rinse in between uses and use only mild soap, such as Lye soap to clean. Hang to dry.

Annie Sloan Flat Brushes; Large & Small

The Flat Brushes come in two sizes; small and large, and feature synthetic fibers for a silky finish. They are designed to work specifically with Chalk Paint™ to achieve a smooth, modern finish. These brushes are shaped to hold a lot of paint and apply the paint evenly, eliminating brush marks. They also work great for applying Annie Sloan Lacquer.

The comfortable handles are pre-drilled so the paint brushes can be hung to dry. Both are light weight; the small brush weighing under 2 ounces and the large brush weighing just over 3 ounces helping to avoid hand fatigue while you paint.

Madeline Natural Bristle Brushes

Hand-made with care in Canada, Madeline's natural bristle paint brushes help you get in and around any surface, corner or detail. A completely unique paint brush, designed with the female hand in mind, this brush is perfect for painting furniture and accessories. These long-stem brushes were created for maximum comfort, are light and easy to hold, great for projects big and small, are made from the highest quality natural materials and feature long and flexible bristles.

Artisan Enhancements Small Round Brush

This great little brush works well for painting and/or waxing in tight spaces or on small projects. It features natural bristles a round shape and an extra long handle, making it easy for getting into those corners and hard-to-reach spots. Clean up is simple with a mild soap and water.

Annie Sloan Wax Brushes

Annie Sloan's bespoke Chalk Paint™ Wax Brushes are made of predominately pure bristle with natural split ends. They feature ergonomically shaped handles for the effortless application of finishing coats of wax onto painted surfaces. They are shaped to a point to assist with working wax into intricate, detailed areas and tight corners. Available in small (16cm x 3.5cm) and large (23cm x 4.5cm). 

Artisan Enhancements Topcoat/Varnish Brush

Handmade in Sweden, this high-quality brush is very lightweight and made with a blend of natural and synthetic bristles to lessen the opportunities for visible brush strokes. It also assists in ensuring an even application of the Artisan Enhancements topcoats or Annie Sloan Lacquer as well as with other oil or water-based products or stains. It is easy to clean up with soap and water.  

Artisan Enhancements European Wax Brush

The Artisan Enhancements European Wax Brush is handmade in Sweden and is a very high quality natural bristle brush. What makes this brush different from other wax brushes? This brush has a hole in the middle to help fan out the bristles for better coverage and quicker waxing (think street sweeper).

The weight of this tool is lighter than most brushes because it has a cork in the middle. If you have arthritis or wrist problems you will love this brush because it doesn’t require a lot of pressure to work well. You can hold it by the handle or by the base.

Clean up is easy with a little cooking oil to remove wax and then soap and water to clean the bristles. Do not soak in water for a lengthy period as the cork can expand and loosen the bristles.

Madeline Wax Brushes; Large and Medium

Hand-made in Canada, Madeline wax brushes easily push soft wax into Chalk Paint™ and allow you to apply the wax in an even, consistent fashion. They are perfect tools for achieving a beautiful wax finish on your painted furniture. The handle is comfortably and ergonomically designed, tapered and lacquered for long-term comfort. We suggest using the large brush for clear wax and the small and mini for dark wax.

There is no need to clean your brush every time. Simply wrap it in plastic when not it use. If the bristles are stiff when you come back to it, swirl it in a bit of wax to soften. When you do clean your brush, we recommend cleaning with natural soap such as Lye Brush Cleaning Soap and occasionally deep cleaning it with low-odor mineral spirits, if needed. With proper care, this brush will take you through countless projects and many years of uses. Do not wash with water as this can damage your brush. 

Annie Sloan Stencil Brush

Annie Sloan’s pure bristle stencil brush is made in Italy and finished with a wooden handle. It’s ideal for stippling and the perfect complement to any stencil.

Chip Brush

These inexpensive brushes are great for small projects that don’t require a heavy paint finish. They come in 3″, 2″ and 1″. They are a great option for the dry brushing technique or glaze washes. Use soap and water for clean up.    

Natural Wool Sea Sponge 

Use the natural wool sea sponge to create soft textures with paint, glaze or pearl plaster. They are ideal for manipulating, blending, and softening glazes. They can be used for adding texture to glazed finishes by either sponging “on” additional colors or sponging “off” by dabbing the wet glaze with a clean, damp sponge.

Always wet the sponge and wring it out well before using! Rinse often. Use soap and water for clean up.

Colour Shaper Tool

Foam Brush

These inexpensive, disposable brushes leave a smooth, brush-stroke-free finish and are perfect for applying glaze, decoupage, crackle medium, gel stain and varnish topcoats. They are not recommended for painting large pieces as they are not resilient enough to take intense brushing. They are also not recommended for applying shellac.

So there you have it! If you're in Calgary, stop by our studio to chat with one of our artists or email us at info@interiorstoinspire.com if you have any questions at all. Feel free to tell us about your project and we can recommend the best brush for the job!

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