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Oil paint is thick, slow and heavy, and it punishes a weak brush. A good oil brush has to push stiff paint across canvas without splaying, hold its shape through solvent cleaning, and still leave a clean edge where you need one. That is why people look for a Blick oil painting brush review before buying: Blick sells its own oil brushes, and the question is whether a retailer-brand bristle brush is the sensible choice or whether something else gives more for the money.
Blick’s own oil brushes are sold mainly through Blick stores and its website, and none were among the Amazon listings we checked in October 2026. Instead, this page explains the anatomy of a good oil brush, then compares seven sets that are listed on Amazon, from natural hog bristle sets built for oil to synthetic multi-shape kits that cover oil and acrylic.
Quick answer: For classic oil painting, the Falling in Art 15-piece natural hog bristle set is the closest match to a traditional Blick bristle brush assortment, with rounds, flats, filberts, angles, a fan and a chip brush on long handles. The Fuumuui 11-piece Chungking hog bristle set is a denser, smaller hog set with plated brass ferrules. If you paint oil and acrylic and want soft synthetic options too, the Nicpro 30-piece set gives itemized sizes in eight shapes.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- Falling in Art 15-Piece Natural Hog Bristle Set — Best overall alternative for oil painting
- Fuumuui 11-Piece Chungking Hog Bristle Set — Best dense hog bristle for texture
- Nicpro 30-Piece Multi-Shape Set — Best synthetic set for oil and acrylic
- Fuumuui 25-Piece, 9-Shape Set — Best kit with palette knife and roll
- GETHPEN 12-Piece Filbert Set — Best soft filberts for blending and glazing
- Fuumuui 26-Piece Landscape Set — Best specialty shapes for landscapes
- Benicci 12-Piece Set — Best compact all-rounder
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Key Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falling in Art hog 15-pc | Traditional oil painting | Hog bristle; fan, round, flat, angle, filbert, chip | Long handles, itemized sizes | $$ |
| Fuumuui hog 11-pc | Texture and impasto | Chungking hog bristle | Dense heads, brass ferrules | $$ |
| Nicpro 30-pc | Oil and acrylic, mixed shapes | Nylon; 8 shapes, sizes 0–14 | Itemized sizes plus roll | $$ |
| Fuumuui 25-pc | All-in-one kit | 24 synthetic brushes, 9 shapes + knife | Waterproof canvas roll | $$ |
| GETHPEN filbert 12-pc | Blending and glazes | Nylon filberts 1–12 | Full filbert run | $ |
| Fuumuui 26-pc | Landscape textures | Mop, deerfoot, comb, feather and more | Specialty shapes | $$ |
| Benicci 12-pc | Compact starter set | Nylon; flat, round, fan, filbert | Simple, focused selection | $ |
How We Chose
These picks are based on the Amazon listing details and specifications checked in October 2026, how well each set’s fiber, shapes and handle lengths suit oil painting, and how widely each product is reviewed by Amazon buyers. We did not paint with these brushes; descriptions come from the listings and from long-established facts about oil brushes.
- Fiber stiffness — natural hog bristle and firm synthetics for moving oil paint.
- Shape range — flats and filberts first, then rounds, brights, angles and fans.
- Handle length — long handles for easel work at a distance.
- Ferrule quality — plated or double-crimped ferrules that survive solvent cleaning.
- Itemized sizes — sets that list exact sizes ranked higher.
Blick Oil Painting Brush Review: What Makes a Good Oil Brush
Hog bristle
Natural hog bristle is the traditional oil brush fiber. Each hair has naturally split ends, called flags, that hold paint, and the stiff hair can move heavy color around. That combination is why so many oil painters keep a set of bristle flats and filberts.
Firm synthetics
Synthetic fibers have improved greatly. Firm synthetic brushes tolerate solvents, hold a sharp edge and last well, and soft synthetics are good for glazing and blending. Many oil painters now mix the two.
Long handles
Oil painting is often done standing at an easel. Long handles let you work at arm’s length, which helps you see the whole canvas and encourages looser strokes.
Where a retailer-brand brush fits
House-brand bristle brushes from retailers like Blick are usually bought as reliable everyday tools: brushes you do not mind wearing down on rough canvas. The hog bristle sets below fill that role, and the synthetic sets cover the softer end.
Best Oil Painting Brush Alternatives Reviewed
1. Falling in Art 15-Piece Natural Hog Bristle Set — Best for traditional oil painting
This set reads like a traditional oil painter’s assortment. Sizes are itemized: a #1 fan; rounds #4, #8, #10 and #16; flats #2, #6, #10 and #14; angles #8 and #12; filberts #6, #10 and #14; and a 40 mm chip brush for broad toning.
The hard natural hog bristle has split tips that the listing says hold more paint than nylon, with strong spring and shape retention on rough surfaces like canvas and wood. Long birch handles suit easel work, and nickel-plated ferrules are double fastened.
Best suited for: Oil painters who work at an easel and want a full bristle assortment.
Key features:
- 15 brushes in 6 shapes with itemized sizes
- Natural hog bristle with split tips
- Long birch handles
- Nickel-plated, rust-free ferrules
- 40 mm chip brush for toning
Pros:
- Most complete hog set here
- Long handles for easel distance
- Includes angles and a fan
Cons and limitations:
- Bristle leaves visible brushmarks, which not everyone wants
- Not ideal for very smooth glazing
Buying consideration: A strong single purchase for oil. Add a few soft synthetics for glazes and fine detail.
2. Fuumuui 11-Piece Chungking Hog Bristle Set — Best for texture and impasto
Fuumuui’s hog set uses natural Chungking hog bristle, described as very dense and thickly haired, with nicely weighted handles. The listing pitches them for branches, trees, texture, water and grass, which suggests a set aimed at expressive, textured oil painting.
Ferrules are nickel-plated brass and double crimped, and handles are polished birch. Brushes come individually wrapped in a carrying box. Shapes include flats, filberts and rounds.
Best suited for: Landscape and expressive painters who want dense bristle heads.
Key features:
- 11 hog bristle brushes
- Natural Chungking hog bristle
- Nickel-plated brass ferrules
- Flat, filbert and round shapes
- Carrying box
Pros:
- Dense heads carry plenty of paint
- Robust brass ferrules
- Good for texture
Cons and limitations:
- Individual sizes not itemized
- Fewer shapes than the 15-piece set
Buying consideration: Pick this if you prefer fewer, denser bristle brushes over a broad assortment.
3. Nicpro 30-Piece Multi-Shape Set — Best for oil and acrylic with mixed shapes
Nicpro itemizes all thirty pieces: eight flats, six rounds from #14 down to #0, six filberts, three angles, three fans, two daggers, a cat’s tongue, a liner and a paint spatula. The bristles are nylon, described as elastic with good shape retention.
Double-crimped aluminum ferrules and birch handles complete the build, and the set ships in a nylon roll bag that resists oil and water.
Best suited for: Painters who switch between oil and acrylic and want every size spelled out.
Key features:
- 30 pieces in 8 brush shapes plus spatula
- Nylon bristles
- Rounds down to #0 for detail
- Oil and water resistant roll
Pros:
- Clear size breakdown
- Includes a liner and #0 round
- Huge range for the tier
Cons and limitations:
- Nylon is softer than hog for thick impasto
Buying consideration: An efficient way to cover both the soft synthetic and the detail end of oil painting.
4. Fuumuui 25-Piece, 9-Shape Set — Best for an all-in-one kit
This kit pairs 24 synthetic flagged brushes in nine shapes (large wide flat, flat, filbert, fan, dagger, cat tongue, round, angle and rigger) with a palette knife. Double-crimped copper ferrules guard against shedding.
The waterproof canvas roll has a slot for each brush, handy for carrying oil brushes to a class without crushing the heads.
Best suited for: New oil painters who want a kit that includes a knife.
Key features:
- 24 brushes, 9 shapes, palette knife
- Flagged synthetic bristles
- Copper ferrules
- Waterproof roll
Pros:
- Knife included
- Rigger for fine lines
- Organized storage
Cons and limitations:
- Softer synthetic fiber than hog
Buying consideration: Good starting kit; add a couple of hog flats as you progress.
5. GETHPEN 12-Piece Filbert Set — Best for blending and glazing
Twelve nylon filberts, sizes 1 through 12. The filbert is a favorite oil shape because its rounded edge blends without hard marks. These soft synthetic heads suit glazing and smooth transitions rather than heavy paint.
Aluminum crimped ferrules and short white handles complete the set, with a plastic storage container.
Best suited for: Portrait and still-life painters who blend soft edges.
Key features:
- 12 nylon filberts, sizes 1–12
- Aluminum crimped ferrules
- Storage container
Pros:
- Complete filbert run
- Very low tier
Cons and limitations:
- Short handles
- Too soft for thick paint
Buying consideration: Pairs well with a hog bristle set for a soft-and-stiff combination.
6. Fuumuui 26-Piece Landscape Set — Best for landscape textures
Fuumuui’s 26-piece set focuses on unusual shapes: large wide flat, pointed, liner, flat, bright, slant, dagger, filbert, fan, feather, coattail, comb, deerfoot, mop and scraper. These are tools for foliage, grass, clouds and water.
Synthetic bristles sit in double-crimped copper ferrules on birch handles, and the set comes in a waterproof, oil-proof nylon roll.
Best suited for: Landscape painters in oil and acrylic.
Key features:
- 26 pieces, specialty shapes
- Soft synthetic bristles
- Copper ferrules
- Oil-proof roll
Pros:
- Rare shapes like deerfoot and coattail
- Great for texture effects
Cons and limitations:
- Many shapes are niche
Buying consideration: Best as a second set once you have core flats and filberts.
7. Benicci 12-Piece Set — Best for a compact all-rounder
Benicci keeps it simple with essential shapes (flat, round, fan and filbert) in high-grade nylon that holds its shape and does not shed. Ergonomic wooden handles are designed for long sessions.
The listing presents it as a middle option between cheap sets and premium tools, for oil, acrylic and watercolor.
Best suited for: Beginners who want a focused set without extras.
Key features:
- 12 brushes: flat, round, fan, filbert
- Nylon bristles
- Wooden handles
Pros:
- Focused selection
- Low tier
Cons and limitations:
- Sizes not itemized
- Not hog bristle
Buying consideration: A tidy starter set; upgrade to hog flats for thicker oil work.
The Core Oil Brush Shapes and What They Do
Flats
Long hair with a square end. Flats lay broad strokes, cut crisp edges and carry a lot of paint.
Brights
Shorter than flats, so stiffer. Brights push thick paint and leave short, controlled marks.
Filberts
Flat with a rounded tip. The most versatile oil shape, good for blending, petals and figures.
Rounds
For lines, details and small areas. Small rounds handle signatures and highlights.
Fans and angles
Fans soften and texture; angles reach corners and paint tapered strokes.
Hog Bristle vs Synthetic for Oil Painting
The sets above split into two camps, and knowing which camp suits each stage of a painting saves money.
Where hog bristle wins
Hog bristle is stiff and its flagged tips grab paint, so it excels in the early and middle stages of an oil painting: blocking in big shapes, scrubbing in a toned ground, and laying down thick, textured passages. It also copes well with the tooth of rough canvas, which wears soft fibers quickly. The Falling in Art and Fuumuui hog sets are built for this.
Where synthetics win
Soft synthetic fibers lay paint down smoothly with fewer visible ridges. They are better for glazes, smooth skin tones, soft gradients and fine detail in the final layers. Synthetic heads also resist solvents and keep a sharp edge, which helps with lettering, rigging and crisp highlights. The Nicpro, GETHPEN, Benicci and Fuumuui synthetic sets sit here.
Mixing both
Most oil painters end up with a handful of hog flats and filberts for the big work and a few soft synthetics for finishing. That combination costs less than buying one premium set of either kind and covers far more of what a painting needs.
Building a Starter Oil Brush Kit
If you are starting from nothing, this short list covers nearly every early oil painting.
- Two large hog flats (around #10 to #14) for toning, blocking in and backgrounds.
- Two medium hog filberts (around #6 to #10) for forms, edges and general painting.
- One hog round (around #4 to #8) for drawing in the composition with thinned paint.
- Two soft synthetic filberts for blending and glazing in later layers.
- One small synthetic round or liner for details, highlights and signatures.
- A palette knife for mixing and occasional knife painting.
The Falling in Art hog set plus the GETHPEN filberts would cover this list, as would the Fuumuui hog set paired with the Nicpro set for the soft and detail end.
Buying Guide: How to Choose an Oil Painting Brush
Start with bristle flats and filberts
Most oil paintings are built with flats and filberts. Get these in hog bristle first.
Add soft synthetics for finishing
Soft nylon or synthetic sable handles glazes, smooth skin tones and detail.
Prefer long handles at the easel
Long handles keep you back from the canvas and help you judge the whole painting.
Check ferrule material
Plated brass, nickel-plated or double-crimped ferrules resist solvents and wobble.
Buy a range of sizes
Choose larger brushes than you think. Big brushes keep early stages loose and efficient.
Plan for cleaning
Oil brushes need solvent or oil-and-soap cleaning. Sets with rolls or boxes help brushes dry in shape.
Cleaning and Caring for Oil Brushes
Wipe excess paint on a rag, rinse in odorless mineral spirits or a safflower oil, then wash with mild soap and lukewarm water until the lather is clean. Reshape the head and let it dry flat or bristles up. Never let oil paint harden in the ferrule; that is what ruins most bristle brushes.
For detail technique, see our guides on using a liner brush for detail work and choosing brush size for detail work.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using soft watercolor brushes for heavy oil paint.
- Leaving brushes standing in solvent, which bends bristles and loosens glue.
- Buying only small brushes and fiddling too early.
- Skipping soap after solvent, so paint dries deep in the heel.
- Using the same brush for light and dark passages without wiping.
FAQs
Does Blick sell oil painting brushes on Amazon?
Blick’s own brushes are sold mainly through Blick stores and its website. None appeared in our October 2026 Amazon check.
Are hog bristle brushes better for oil painting?
They are traditional and excellent for moving thick paint. Synthetic brushes are better for smooth glazing and detail. Many painters use both.
What size oil brushes should a beginner buy?
A few medium to large flats and filberts, around #6 to #12, plus one small round, will cover most early paintings.
Can I use acrylic brushes for oil?
Yes, many synthetic brushes are listed for both. Clean them thoroughly and keep separate brushes if possible.
How do I clean oil brushes without solvent?
Wipe off paint, work the brush in a vegetable oil such as safflower, then wash with soap and water.
Why do long handles matter?
They let you paint at arm’s length, which encourages looser strokes and better judgment of the whole canvas.
Final Recommendation
For classic oil painting, the Falling in Art 15-piece hog bristle set is the closest alternative to a Blick bristle assortment, with long handles and itemized sizes. The Fuumuui 11-piece hog set suits painters who want fewer, denser bristle heads. Add the Nicpro 30-piece set or GETHPEN filberts for soft synthetic blending, and consider the Fuumuui 26-piece set if landscapes are your focus.
