What Is A Mop Brush For Oil Painting?

A mop brush is a type of paintbrush that has a wide, soft head made of loose natural fibers or synthetic filaments (Trekell). The head is shaped like a mop or broom, which allows the brush to hold more paint and water than a regular brush.

In oil painting, mop brushes are commonly used for broad strokes to quickly cover large areas of the canvas. The soft, flexible bristles provide smooth brushwork for washes, glazing, and blending. Mop brushes are able to smoothly distribute thinned paints without leaving visible brush marks. This allows artists to evenly cover backgrounds or large sections of a painting rapidly (Artnebulaph).

Compared to regular bristle brushes, mop brushes have some key advantages for oil painting techniques. The large brush head holds more paint so an artist can cover canvas faster. The soft fibers provide even flow and diffusion of paint. Mop brushes easily create delicate blends and gradations too. Overall, mop brushes facilitate loose, expressive brushstrokes with thinned oil paints over large areas.

Types of Mop Brushes

There are three main types of mop brushes used for oil painting: flat mop brushes, round mop brushes, and filbert mop brushes. Each has a distinct shape and is used for different effects.

Flat Mop Brushes

Flat mop brushes have a wide, rectangular shape. The bristles are arranged in a flat, even line. This allows for broad strokes and smooth blends. Flat mops are ideal for quickly covering large areas of canvas. They can lay down solid blocks of color. The flat edge can also create straight edges if desired.

Round Mop Brushes

Round mop brushes have a round ferrule and bristle head. This allows the mop to taper to a soft point. Round mops make softly diffused strokes. The round heads are excellent for gradual blends. Round mops can be used for anything from fine details to loose, painterly effects.

Filbert Mop Brushes

Filbert mop brushes combine qualities of both flats and rounds. They have a flat ferrule with an oval-shaped bristle head. This creates a brush with a slight rounded point. Filberts make broader strokes than rounds but more diffusion than flats. They are versatile brushes that can be used for many painting techniques.

Sizes of Mop Brushes

Mop brushes come in a range of sizes to suit different needs. Some common sizes include:

Small Mop Brush

A small mop brush may have a head around 1-2 inches wide. Small mop brushes are good for details, small areas, and blending. Their compact size allows for more control.

Medium Mop Brush

A medium mop brush head is approximately 2-4 inches wide. Medium mops are versatile and can cover areas faster than a small brush. They have enough control for blending and detail work.

Large Mop Brush

Large mop brushes have heads around 4-6 inches or larger. Their wide surface area allows large mops to quickly cover big areas of the canvas. They are useful for broad strokes, washes, and background painting.

Artists may use a combination of mop brush sizes while painting to achieve different effects. Smaller mops are better for controlled details, while larger mops excel at broad coverage. Selecting the right mop for each purpose and stage of a painting is an important brush skill.

Mop Brush Materials

Mop brushes can be made with either natural or synthetic bristles. Natural bristles are typically animal hair, such as hog bristle, sable, or squirrel hair. The advantages of natural bristles include good paint pickup and release, as well as a softer feel on the canvas. However, natural bristles can be prone to shedding and are more sensitive to solvents used in oil painting. Common natural materials for mop brushes include:

• Hog bristle – Durable and springy bristles good for impasto techniques.
• Sable – Smooth and soft hair with excellent paint pickup.
• Squirrel – Very soft bristles that hold a lot of paint.

Synthetic bristles are man-made from nylon or polyester filaments. They are less expensive than natural hair but provide stiffness for good control. The springiness of synthetic filaments also aids in releasing thick paint when needed. Other benefits are durability and resistance to solvents. Common synthetics used for artist’s mop brushes include:

• Nylon – Strong, springy bristles with stiffness.
• Polyester – Variety of stiffness levels depending on filament thickness.
• Taklon – Soft, hair-like synthetic with fluid holding capacity.

Many artists recommend natural bristle mop brushes for oil painting needs, citing their ability to hold substantial paint while maintaining a soft, fluid stroke. However, quality synthetic brushes can also serve oil painters well. Personal preference and painting style should guide an artist’s choice between natural or synthetic mop brush materials.

Source: https://www.trekell.com/blogs/experience/natural-brushes-or-synthetic-brushes-what-s-the-difference-and-which-is-right-for-you

Shape of Mop Brush Head

Mop brushes come in a variety of shapes, each with their own unique uses and techniques:

Flat Brush Head – The flat or square shaped brush head has straight edges and a flat top. These provide a nice square stroke that can cover the canvas evenly. Flat mop brushes are good for both applying large areas of color as well as blending.

Round Brush Head – Round mop brushes have a circular brush head. They allow for loose, expressive strokes and are ideal for blending, glazing, and creating softer edges. The round head reaches well into corners.

Filbert Brush Head – Filbert mop brushes have an oval shaped head. The curved top of the filbert allows for a versatile range of thick to thin strokes. Filberts are a good all-purpose mop brush.

Bright Brush Head – Bright mop brushes have a flat head with rounded corners. This combines the control of a flat with soft blending capabilities. Bright mop brushes are commonly used for applying and blending large areas.

The shape of the mop brush head allows artists to achieve different techniques and effects. Selecting the right shaped head is important for accomplishing the desired stroke type and controlling paint application.

Mop Brush Handles

The handle of a mop brush can greatly impact the overall performance and feel of the brush. Mop brush handles are commonly made from either wood or plastic.

Wooden Handles

Wooden handles provide a natural, traditional feel that many oil painters prefer. Wood handles have a good grip and are lightweight. Popular woods used for mop brush handles include maple, birch, beech, and linden. The wood is often sealed to protect against moisture and prevent warping. Wooden handles can be prone to cracking over time, but many artists appreciate the wear as part of the tool’s character.

Plastic Handles

Plastic handles are a more modern option chosen for their durability and lower maintenance. The plastic is molded to fit comfortably in the hand. It resists moisture, cracking, and warping better than wood. However plastic can become brittle and degraded over very long periods of time with exposure to solvents and UV light. Plastic handles are lower cost. The feel is lighter and more artificial than wood grain. Overall plastic is excellent for artists wanting a durable, low maintenance mop brush handle option.

Caring for Mop Brushes

Properly caring for mop brushes is essential for maintaining their condition and extending their lifespan. Mop brushes used for oil painting require special care when cleaning to remove oil paint and when storing between uses.

It’s important to clean mop brushes thoroughly after each use. Allowing oil paint to dry on the bristles will make the brush stiff and unusable. Many artists use odorless mineral spirits to clean oil paint from brushes. The spirits break down the binding agents in oil paint. Gently swish the brush in a jar of mineral spirits until the paint is removed. Rinse with more spirits and repeat until no more paint comes out. Let the brush air dry completely before storing.

Other cleaning solutions like white vinegar can also be effective. The acetic acid in vinegar breaks down dried paint. Soak the bristles in a vinegar bath then gently massage paint out of the brush. Rinse thoroughly before letting air dry.

Proper storage between uses will maintain the shape and suppleness of the bristles. Wrap the bristles in plastic wrap or store brush down in a jar. Storing bristles up can deform the shape. Keep in a cool, dry place away from sunlight which can degrade the bristles.

Mop Brush Techniques

Mop brushes can be used in various ways to create different strokes and effects in oil painting.

Some common mop brush techniques include:

• Blending – Mop brushes are great for softening edges and smoothly blending colors together. Gentle swirling motions work well for blending with mops.
• Glazing – Applying thin layers of paint for translucent effects. A lightly loaded mop can create subtle glazes.
• Scumbling – A broken color technique where a semi-dry brush is dragged lightly over the canvas, creating a fractured look.
• Dry brushing – After most paint is removed from the mop, lightly drag across the surface for textured effects. See this guide for details.
• Soft edges – Mops naturally create softer, feathered edges compared to stiff bristle brushes.
• Washes – Diluting paint to a watercolor-like consistency and laying down broad pools of color.
• Clouds – Light, sweeping strokes of white paint can create the look of clouds. See this video for a demonstration.
• Backgrounds – Mops work well for quickly blocking in soft backgrounds behind a detailed foreground.

With some practice and experimentation, artists can master a range of expressive mop brush techniques for oil painting.

Notable Mop Brush Artists

Mop brushes have been used by many famous oil painters throughout history to achieve unique effects in their artwork. Some notable artists who incorporated mop brushes into their practices include:

Carolyn Mara is a contemporary American painter known for her distinctive mop painting technique. As described on her website (https://www.carolynmara.com/moppaintings), Mara uses housepainting mops rather than traditional artist paintbrushes to apply broad swaths of color to the canvas. This allows her to quickly cover large areas while retaining some control over blending and details.

Andy Warhol was also known to use mop brushes for some of his famous pop art silkscreen prints. The large, soft mops allowed Warhol to apply his acrylic paints smoothly and evenly over the silkscreen to create his iconic images.

Abstract expressionist painters like Helen Frankenthaler, Morris Louis, and Kenneth Noland frequently turned to mop brushes when creating their large-scale “soak stain” paintings. The mops enabled them to stain and soak the unprimed canvas with thinned paints in loose, gestural strokes.

Lucien Smith is a contemporary painter who has used mop brushes and fire extinguishers to create his splatter-style abstract canvases. By employing these unconventional tools instead of paintbrushes, Smith is able to achieve exciting new effects.

Overall, mop brushes have proven versatile for various painting techniques from Pop Art to Abstract Expressionism. Their large size and soft fiber heads allow artists to apply paint in broad, flowing strokes not easily achievable with standard bristle brushes.

Conclusion

In summary, mop brushes are an essential tool for oil painters. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials to provide different painting effects. Proper care and technique is required to get the most out of mop brushes.

Mop brushes enable oil painters to smoothly blend colors and soften edges. They are ideal for laying in large areas of color and for creating soft, diffused effects. The soft, absorbent nature of mop brushes allows them to hold a generous amount of paint while smoothly applying it to the canvas. This allows painters to quickly cover large areas as well as make subtle transitions between colors.

For many oil painting styles and techniques, mop brushes are indispensable. Landscape painters rely on them to quickly fill in skies and distant background elements. Portrait painters use them to softly model the contours of faces. The versatility and blending capabilities of mop brushes make them a vital painting tool for any oil painter’s arsenal.