Large Round Brushes and Pony Hair Brushes for Big Washes
Small brushes are perfect for detail, but painting a whole sky with a size 4 takes forever and looks patchy. A large round brush or a soft pony hair brush covers big areas in a few smooth strokes. This Haanz Art Guide explains the large brushes we stock and how to use them for washes, backgrounds and school poster work.
Bomeijia Artist Round brushes, sizes 16 to 23
Bomeijia Artist Round brushes have a pointed round tip that gives thin or thick lines depending on pressure. The synthetic hair is durable, keeps its shape and is easy to clean, and suits acrylic, watercolour and poster colour.
We stock these large sizes as single brushes:
A big round is surprisingly versatile. Pressed down, it lays a wide stroke; lifted to the tip, it can still paint a fairly fine line. One large round can do the work of a flat and a medium round together.
Pentel pony hair brushes
Pony hair is soft and absorbent, which makes it a practical choice for watercolour and poster colour.
- Pentel Pony Hair Brush Round (ZBS5): a pointed round tip, available in sizes from 0 to 10.
- Pentel Pony Hair Brush Flat (ZBS6): a square, flat tip for bold strokes, crisp edges and even coverage, available in sizes from 0 to 14.
These are popular for school art, where students fill large areas with poster colour.
See all brushes in Brushes for Watercolours and Acrylics. Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price.
Which size for which job?
- Size 16 to 18 round: skies and backgrounds on A4 and A3 paper, large leaves, water.
- Size 20 to 23 round: very large washes on A3 and larger sheets, murals and canvas backgrounds.
- Pony hair flat: even areas of poster colour, clean edges and borders.
- Pony hair round: filling shapes and medium strokes in poster and watercolour work.
As a rule, use the biggest brush you can for each area. Switch to smaller brushes only for details.
How to paint an even wash
- Mix more paint than you think you need, in a dish or palette well.
- Tilt the paper slightly so the paint flows down.
- Load the large brush fully and paint a stroke across the top.
- Reload and paint the next stroke so it just overlaps the bottom of the first, picking up the bead of paint.
- Continue down the page without going back over drying areas.
- Soak up the last bead with a squeezed-out brush.
For more wet techniques, see Watercolour Techniques for Beginners.
Poster colour tips with large brushes
- Stir poster colour to a creamy consistency, like yoghurt. Too thick and it streaks; too thin and it looks patchy.
- Paint large areas first with a flat or large round, then add details on top when dry.
- Keep a clean jar of water for light colours and another for dark colours.
Read Poster Paint, Tempera and Gouache for School Art for more.
Caring for large brushes
- Rinse thoroughly. Large brushes hold a lot of paint near the handle (the ferrule), which can dry and spread the hairs.
- Squeeze water out gently with a cloth and reshape the tip.
- Dry flat or tip-up. Large wet heads are heavy and bend if stood on their tips.
Frequently asked questions
Is a size 23 round too big for A4 paper?
For skies and backgrounds on A4 it works well. For the rest of the painting, use smaller sizes.
Pony hair or synthetic?
Pony hair is soft and absorbent, good for watercolour and poster colour. Synthetic is springier and better for acrylic.
Do you deliver islandwide?
Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Not sure what to choose? WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you choose brush sizes.
More Haanz Art Guides
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Acrylic Landscape Painting: Skies, Trees and Water for BeginnersRead the guide →
Craft Materials for Kids: Foam, Felt, Pipe Cleaners and MoreRead the guide →
Acrylic Retarder: How to Slow Down Acrylic Paint DryingRead the guide →