Maries Flat Bristle Watercolor Paint Brush Set | Sizes 1–12 | 12 Brushes

Maries Flat Bristle Brush Set — Every Size You Need, in One Complete Set

A great painting session starts with the right brush in your hand. The Maries Flat Bristle Brush Set gives you the full spectrum of flat brush sizes — sizes 1 through 12, all 12 brushes in a single set — so you’re never reaching for a brush you don’t have. Whether you’re laying in broad washes of gouache, building up acrylic texture, working wet-on-wet in oil, or pulling clean watercolour edges, this set covers every scale of work from fine detail to full-coverage fills. Maries has been a trusted name in Chinese art supplies for decades — this set delivers that reliability across every brush in the range.

Complete Size Range: 1 Through 12

• 12 flat brushes in sequential sizes (1–12) — from the finest detail work at size 1 to broad coverage strokes at size 12
• No gaps in the range — every intermediate size is included for seamless transitions between scales
• Flat head profile — delivers sharp, clean edges on one axis and broad, even coverage on the other
• A complete toolkit in a single purchase — ideal for students building their first brush collection and working artists who want a dedicated flat brush set

Wolf Hair (Lang Hao) Bristles

• Lang Hao (wolf hair) bristles — a premium synthetic-natural blend prized in Chinese brush-making for its balance of spring, softness, and ink/paint retention
• Holds a generous amount of paint without dripping — fewer reloads, more uninterrupted painting time
• Snaps back to shape after each stroke — consistent performance across the full painting session
• Suitable for both thick impasto applications and thin, fluid washes

Multi-Media Compatibility

• Gouache — flat head delivers the clean, opaque coverage gouache is known for
• Acrylic — bristles handle the viscosity of acrylic paint from fluid to heavy body
• Watercolour — smaller sizes (1–6) work beautifully for controlled watercolour washes and edge work
• Oil paint — larger sizes (7–12) are well-suited for oil painting ground coverage and blending

Specifications

• Brand: Maries
• Set contents: 12 flat brushes, sizes 1–12
• Bristle type: Lang Hao (wolf hair 狼毫)
• Head shape: Flat
• Compatible media: Gouache, acrylic, watercolour, oil paint
• Handle: Wooden handle with lacquer finish
• Use: Studio painting, illustration, fine art, art education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lang Hao (wolf hair) and how does it differ from other brush bristles?

Lang Hao (狼毫) is a traditional Chinese brush bristle material — the name refers to weasel tail hair, which has long been prized in East Asian brush-making for its exceptional combination of spring (snap-back), softness, and paint-holding capacity. It sits between the stiffness of hog bristle and the softness of squirrel hair, making it highly versatile across media. Modern “Lang Hao” brushes may use premium synthetic fibres engineered to replicate these properties. Either way, the result is a brush that responds precisely to pressure and holds its shape reliably through extended use.

Which brush sizes are best for which tasks?

As a general guide for flat brushes in this set:

• Sizes 1–3 — fine detail work, thin lines, small area fills, and precise edge control
• Sizes 4–6 — medium-scale work, portrait details, controlled washes, and mid-size coverage
• Sizes 7–9 — broader coverage, background fills, blending, and larger compositional elements
• Sizes 10–12 — large-scale coverage, ground laying, wide washes, and full-canvas fills

Having all 12 sizes means you can move fluidly between scales within a single painting session without switching brush sets.

Can I use these brushes with both water-based and oil-based media?

Yes — the Maries flat bristle set is compatible with gouache, acrylic, watercolour (water-based) and oil paint (oil-based). However, we recommend dedicating brushes to either water-based or oil-based media where possible, as residual oil paint can be difficult to remove fully from bristles and may affect water-based paint performance over time. Clean brushes thoroughly after each session with the appropriate solvent (water for water-based media, mineral spirits or brush cleaner for oils).

How should I clean and care for these brushes?

For water-based media (gouache, acrylic, watercolour): rinse thoroughly in clean water immediately after use. For acrylic, do not allow paint to dry in the bristles — dried acrylic is very difficult to remove. For oil paint: wipe excess paint on a rag, then clean with mineral spirits or a dedicated brush cleaner, followed by a mild soap wash and rinse. After cleaning, reshape the bristles and store flat or bristle-up to maintain the flat head profile. Avoid storing bristle-down, which can permanently bend the hairs.

Is this set suitable for beginners as well as experienced artists?

Yes — the Maries flat bristle set is well-suited to both art students and working artists. The complete 1–12 size range means beginners have every size they need from day one without purchasing individual brushes, while experienced painters benefit from having a dedicated, matched flat brush set for consistent performance across scales. The set is widely used in art schools, illustration courses, and studio practice across multiple media.