Illumination: Brushes

You can get round or flat brushes - this is a matter of taste, but for really fine details a small round brush is the best. The hairs on the brush can be synthetic or real animal hairs - the latter cost more but last longer. I prefer quality synthetic brushes because they are often a bit stiffer, which can be an advantage. Try out what you like. There is a system of sizes. If you look at the shaft of the brush, you should find a number from 00 and up. Sizes 00, 0, 1 and 2 are usable for illumination, anything else is too big. A bigger size not only gives a broader line, but also tends to yield more paint per square inch. This can be a problem since paper that absorbs too much paint will warp. When buying a brush, look at it. Every single brush is different, especially the more expensive types with real animal hair. Choose one that looks nice, i.e. the hairs should all point the same way.

Clean your brush with warm water and some washing-up liquid before the paint dries. Never leave a brush standing with the hair end down in a glass of paint or water, because that will bend the hairs and make the brush useless.