Which brush should you use for acrylic paint?

Use synthetic (nylon) brushes for acrylic paint, as they cope well with the medium and rinse clean in water. Natural hair brushes are better suited to oils and can be damaged by acrylic, so keep them separate. For most work, a fine round brush handles detail, a flat brush covers larger areas, and a medium brush sits between the two.

For paint by numbers, very fine tips (00 to 0) help you stay inside the small numbered areas, especially on detailed designs. Load the brush lightly and keep the tip pointed rather than pressing down hard, which splays the bristles. Rinse the brush in water between colours and dry it on a cloth so the paint does not dry in the ferrule.

If you want extra precision on fine detail, a separate 00 or 0 synthetic round brush is a useful addition. Whichever you use, clean acrylic from the bristles promptly with water before it sets, and reshape the tip while damp.