By The ARTnews Recommends Editors

Acrylic paints can really destroy natural-hair brushes. For a durable and reliable brush to use with your every acrylic painting need, consider a synthetic brush instead. Acrylic brushes are often more resistant to wear and tear, as well as slightly stronger and springier than natural bristles. That said, not all synthetic fibers are created equal. Ahead, find the best synthetic brushes for acrylic paints, as recommended by ARTnews .

This set of synthetic brushes is a more detail-oriented set, catering to the needs of a more experienced artist who still might be shopping for a selection of brushes all at once. With four brushes in a set, it includes longer tip, shorter tip, wider flat, and sharply angled brushes. While these synthetic brushes are excellent for acrylic paints, they are also highly recommended for oil and watercolor.

This set of synthetic brushes is aimed at the amateur painter, as they are packaged in a set of five with little room for variation, though the grouping of brushes is selected well beyond the initial go-to shapes and sizes. Included are a flat 12, filbert 8, angulars 2 and 8, and round 1. With moderately long handles and a multidiameter synthetic fiber construction, they are suitable for acrylics, oils, and watercolors alike.

This synthetic paintbrush set comes in a pack of five long-handled brushes with a selection of handy tip sizes. You get two rounds and three flats with extra-strong synthetic bristles. Though you’ll eventually want to upgrade, these brushes showcase good spring, hold their shape, and don’t shed. They are also well balanced and feature a slight bulge in the handle above the ferrule to provide a more comfortable grip for first-timers.

This synthetic paintbrush is great for when you’re looking to create sharp edges, due to its squared-off bristle shape. Crafted of synthetic fibers, the specific silhouette itself will never vary, as the brush maintains its original integrity for as long as you choose to use it, even with the constant exposure to heavy and harsh oil and acrylic paints. That said, it also works expertly with water-based paints or watercolors, if you so choose. The short and flat head of this brush allows for utmost control when painting and can do so with the thickest of pigments as well.

Brushes from this line from Grumbacher are best used with thicker oil and acrylic paints. Each is crafted from seven different mixed synthetic filaments, making the bristles stiff enough to be able to handle the heavier pigment yet soft enough to create expansive strokes on your canvas with ease. The long handles allow for a range of painting styles, from the most detailed to the most abstract. Sold one at a time, they are a professional-grade choice for artists who are looking for something very specific that will hold up against years’ worth of acrylic painting.

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