Not all soft synthetic brushes behave the same way. In this Trekell demonstration, Pro Team Artist Eric Johnson explains how brush filament, shape and firmness affect everything from glazing and blending to texture and fine detail.
Soft brushes are often grouped together, but each brush line has its own feel on the canvas. Some are better for laying down smooth passages of paint. Others excel at delicate glazing, softened edges or controlled texture.
In this demonstration, Eric walks through Trekell’s Spectrum, Golden Taklon, Sienna, Legion and Mop brushes, then puts them to work in real time.
Watch the full demonstration below.
What Makes One Soft Brush Different from Another?
It comes down to the individual synthetic filaments, their diameter, taper, surface texture and overall spring. Finer filaments generally create a softer feel, while thicker filaments have more strength to move paint. Tapered tips also help a brush come to a cleaner point and create more controlled marks.
As Eric explains, “The brush is simply the vehicle that delivers the paint from the palette to the painting.” The right vehicle depends on the kind of mark you want to make.
A Quick Guide to Trekell’s Soft Synthetic Brushes
Golden Taklon: For Delicate Glazes and Soft Transitions
Golden Taklon brushes have smooth filaments and a responsive feel that makes them especially useful for subtle, delicate passages. Eric often reaches for them when manipulating thin, oily glazes or when he wants to gently diffuse paint without losing control.
Spectrum: For Smooth, Even Paint Application
Spectrum brushes are soft, but they have enough structure to lay down flatter, more solid passages of paint. Eric favors them for refined painting where he wants even coverage and controlled edges without excessive blending.
Sienna: For Smooth Painting with More Presence
Sienna brushes are synthetic Kolinsky sable brushes with textured filaments designed to mimic the feel of natural hair. They offer a slightly more assertive application than very soft, smooth-filament brushes while still working beautifully for controlled and refined painting.
Legion: For Texture, Brushwork and Highlights
Legion synthetic mongoose brushes have thicker, more resilient filaments. They are a strong choice when you want to move paint more decisively, preserve visible brushwork or create highlights with a little more texture and character.
“I use the softer brushes when I’m wanting that more polished, smoother sort of application,” Eric says. For painterly passages and broken marks, he often chooses a brush with more authority instead.
Mop Brushes: For Blending and Softening
Mop brushes are ideal for feathering transitions, softening an edge and reducing unintended paint ridges. Used with a light touch, they can blend without aggressively scrubbing into the painting or flattening every bit of brushwork.
They are especially helpful near the finishing stages of a painting, when a subtle transition can make a form feel more dimensional.
Match the Brush to the Job
- For glazing: Try Golden Taklon rounds, liners or cat’s tongues for thin, controlled layers of paint.
- For smooth passages: Use Spectrum or Sienna brushes to create even coverage while maintaining control.
- For softened edges: Use a Mop brush with minimal pressure to gently diffuse a transition or reduce paint texture.
- For fine lines: Choose a liner or rigger. Their longer hairs are designed to hold paint and create fine, continuous marks.
- For textured highlights: Reach for Legion when you want paint to retain a more visible, painterly character.
Brush Shape Matters, Too
Brush line is only part of the decision. Shape changes the kind of mark a brush can make. Rounds are versatile tools that can handle both small forms and finer linear details. Liners and riggers are better suited to long, precise lines, while cat’s tongue brushes combine the broad application of a filbert with a more pointed tip.
Eric also notes that surface matters. A smoother panel or finely prepared oil ground is well suited to softer brushes and polished detail. On rougher linen, artists may prefer a brush with more firmness until the surface texture has been filled.
Technique and Care Tips
- Load paint onto the brush without pushing it deep into the ferrule.
- Avoid aggressive scrubbing motions, which can splay soft brush hairs over time.
- Use light pressure for blending and final details. A mahl stick can help steady your hand.
- After cleaning paint out with oil, follow up with brush soap so oil does not dry near the ferrule.
The Takeaway
There is no single best soft brush. The best choice depends on whether you need a smooth glaze, a softened edge, precise linework or a more textured brushstroke.
Experimenting with different brush lines helps you make those choices intentionally. Watch Eric’s full demonstration to see each brush in action, then try introducing one unfamiliar shape or filament type into your next painting.
