Brush Compendium

louminx:

For those who asked. I say it every time, but you don’t need fancy brushes to make digital art if you don’t want to use them or can’t afford them. To further my point, I’ve included a list of completely free brush packs at the end of this post. 

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Sketches & Linework |

I don’t so much do linework as I do clean sketches, all one layer, à l’ancienne. So, I like my brushes to have a natural, textured look. 

• My go-to are Kyle T Webster’s pencil brushes (free with PS); 
• For something with more bite and less texture, I’ve been using one of Deharme’s sketch brushes from this set; 
• If I want to go all out and do full linework (new layer, broad strokes…), I use this Matt Rhodes imitation brush (free).

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| 🖌 Colour & Painting | 

My painting brushes change all the time, but the sets below have become staples. 

• For a more illustrative style, I use a combination of Marc Brunet’s Advanced Painter’s Brushes and Piotr Jabłoński’s brushes.
• For semi-realistic work, I use Istebrak’s Dry Oil Brushes and Deharme’s Figure Painting Set (my current favourites).

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Free Packs & Recommendations |

Below are four free brush packs that I’ve used in the past and can highly recommend, all of which are similar to those I currently work with (squared or angled blendable brushes). They also come with special effect brushes (splatters, foliage, smoke…).

From left to right, top to bottom, least to most complex: 

• Ahmed Aldoori’s Brushes;
• Noah Bradley’s tool presets (which can be set to brushes); 
• Charlie Bowater’s brush pack;
• Greg Rutkowski’s brushes

For sets I haven’t used extensively but have heard good things about:

• Deharme free brush pack ;
• Brushes by Loish.

As a little bonus, if you don’t feel comfortable using advanced brushes but still want a textured look, you can download these free paper textures to play with, by S3PTIC-SHOCK on Deviant Art. Put them on overlay, multiply or divide over your painting for a little kick of texture. 

Just remember for every person with a trillion custom brushes, there’s another that uses the stock brushes and still creates beautiful art. Fancy brushes are not a necessary, and can actually be a hindrance if you don’t know how to control them.