In the art room today children busily work on pages for an original hardbound book. The pages feature their own imaginations or observations using watercolor paints of various sorts and a brush. A brush is a simple tool, but when faced with purchasing one at an art supply store or catalog, the task can be a overwhelming. So how do you put a good brush in your child's hands?

First, find the brushes that are made for the painting medium you'll be using. This should be marked at the store or inside the pages of the catalog. We want a watercolor brush so we look for the word "watercolor" on the bins or pages and avoid the brushes that are made for oils or acrylics. Now that you've found the right section, you'll notice that there are still many choices. Shapes, sizes, type of hair or bristles, and price are some of the choices you'll be making.

Brush shapes can be simplified by either a round or flat shape. The flat brushes come in many nuances such as angled and fanned, but those are for special painting techniques and are unnecessary to the student. A round brush is the most versatile brush. If you can only choose one brush, I suggest a round.

The round brush should have three qualities. It should come to a point when wet. This allows your child to make fine lines and details. It should have spring. That means that it should not be limp when wet, spreading out flat against the paper. When a brush has spring, your child can add pressure to make thick lines and then lift up to make thin lines and details again. It gives the child more control over the kinds of marks made. The third quality is that the brush should hold a good amount of water so that your child can work a long time before dipping the brush into the water or paint again.

Another consideration is size. Round brushes usually range from size 0, which is very tiny, to size 12, which is the circumference of a fat Sharpie marker. I always suggest a size #8, which gives the child both a point and holds enough water to allow him to fill in large spaces on the page.

Prices vary greatly depending on the type of hairs within the brush and how well the handle, furrel (metal part) and hairs are constructed. If you are shopping at Walmart, or a similar store, in the children's art department you won't find a brush that has the qualities described above. Horsehair brushes are limp while camel hair brushes are too stiff. Even when shopping in Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Blick Art Materials, or other art stores, avoid the children's art section and go directly to the real art supplies. The most expensive brushes are the ones made of real hair. These are unnecessary for anyone other than a professional with specific needs. You can find very well made synthetic hair brushes for a reasonable price, about $3 - $5. I use these for my own work when working with watercolors. These brushes handle well and give good results. You'll find that with proper instruction on how to handle a brush, your child's brush will last for many years.