Artist Brushes

Sets and bundles

Kolibri - Acrylic/Oil Brush Set - PB 8000A Kolibri - Acrylic/Oil Brush Set - PB 8000A $67.32 Shop the set Kolibri - Watercolour Brush Set - FS SKI 4 Kolibri - Watercolour Brush Set - FS SKI 4 $71.00 Shop the set
Artist Brushes

Handmade in Germany since 1898

Artist Brushes

Official Canadian distributor, stocked in Kingston and priced in CAD

Artist Brushes

Shapes for every technique, from broad washes to miniature detail

Quick points on Artist Brushes

  • Synthetic squirrel holds far more water than it looks like it should, so load fully and touch off on the jar rim before committing to a wash
  • Go one size larger than feels natural for washes; a bigger brush holds more paint and lays smoother passages with fewer streaks
  • Use the dagger two ways: the heel for broad sweeps, the tip for fine calligraphic lines, so one brush handles foliage, ribbons, and lettering
  • When painting miniatures, load only the tip third of the brush and keep the paint slightly thinned; a flooded belly is what kills fine control
  • Never rest a brush on its head in the water jar; even a short soak bends the tip, and in natural red sable the set can become permanent
  • With acrylics or inks, rinse before paint creeps into the ferrule; dried acrylic in the belly can't be removed without damaging the fibres
  • After washing, reshape the head with your fingers while damp and dry flat or tip-down so water doesn't pool in the ferrule and loosen the handle
  • Made in Canada since 1994
  • Free shipping on orders over $89
36 products
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Kolibri - Miniature Brushes - Round - 8881
Kolibri Miniature Brushes - Round - 8881
From $9.04 CAD
Kolibri - Pure Natural Red Sable Brush - Round - 0088
Kolibri Pure Natural Red Sable Brush - Round - 0088
From $13.60 CAD
Kolibri - Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Dagger - 526 SQI
Kolibri Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Dagger - 526 SQI
From $18.88 CAD
Kolibri - Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Round - 24 SQI
Kolibri Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Round - 24 SQI
From $5.44 CAD
Paintbrush with red handle and black bristle head on a white background
Kolibri Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Oval Wash - 1028 SQI
From $16.64 CAD
Kolibri - Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Quill - 1220 SQI
Kolibri Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Quill - 1220 SQI
From $26.48 CAD
Kolibri - Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Stroke - 1678 SQI
Kolibri Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Stroke - 1678 SQI
From $13.60 CAD
Kolibri - Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Cat's Tongue - 1679 SQI
Kolibri Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Cat's Tongue - 1679 SQI
From $14.12 CAD
Kolibri - Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Filbert - 1680 SQI
Kolibri Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Filbert - 1680 SQI
From $14.12 CAD
Kolibri - Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Fan - 3028 SQI
Kolibri Synthetic Squirrel Watercolour Brush - Fan - 3028 SQI
From $12.92 CAD
Kolibri - Miniature Brushes - Angle - 1088 SKI
Kolibri Miniature Brushes - Angle - 1088 SKI
From $10.60 CAD
Kolibri - Miniature Brushes - Filbert - 1708 CH
Kolibri Miniature Brushes - Filbert - 1708 CH
From $10.96 CAD
Kolibri - Miniature Brushes - Flat - 7008 CH
Kolibri Miniature Brushes - Flat - 7008 CH
From $10.36 CAD
Kolibri - Watercolour Brush Set - FS SKI 4
Kolibri Watercolour Brush Set - FS SKI 4
$71.00 CAD
Kolibri - Acrylic/Oil Brush Set - PB 8000A
Kolibri Acrylic/Oil Brush Set - PB 8000A
$67.32 CAD
Tri-Art Artist Brushes - Long Handle Natural Bristle - Short Filbert - Tri-Art Mfg.
Tri-Art Artist Brushes Long Handle Natural Bristle - Short Filbert
From $9.79 CAD
Tri-Art Artist Brushes - Long Handle Natural Bristle - Round - Tri-Art Mfg.
Tri-Art Artist Brushes Long Handle Natural Bristle - Round
From $5.94 CAD
Tri-Art Artist Brushes - Long Handle Soft Synthetic - Round - Tri-Art Mfg.
Tri-Art Artist Brushes Long Handle Soft Synthetic - Round
From $5.94 CAD
Tri-Art Artist Brushes - Natural Bristle - Flat Wash - Tri-Art Mfg.
Tri-Art Artist Brushes Natural Bristle - Flat Wash
From $26.55 CAD
Tri-Art Artist Brushes - Long Handle Natural Bristle - Stroke - Tri-Art Mfg.
Tri-Art Artist Brushes Long Handle Natural Bristle - Stroke
From $6.05 CAD
Tri-Art Artist Brushes - Long Handle Soft Synthetic - Stroke - Tri-Art Mfg.
Tri-Art Artist Brushes Long Handle Soft Synthetic - Stroke
From $6.05 CAD
Tri-Art Artist Brushes - Long Handle Natural Bristle - Filbert - Tri-Art Mfg.
Tri-Art Artist Brushes Long Handle Natural Bristle - Filbert
From $6.83 CAD
Tri-Art Artist Brushes - Long Handle Soft Synthetic - Filbert - Tri-Art Mfg.
Tri-Art Artist Brushes Long Handle Soft Synthetic - Filbert
From $6.83 CAD
Tri-Art Artist Brushes - Long Handle Natural Bristle - Fan - Tri-Art Mfg.
Tri-Art Artist Brushes Long Handle Natural Bristle - Fan
From $9.07 CAD
Tri-Art Artist Brushes - Long Handle Natural Bristle - Angle - Tri-Art Mfg.
Tri-Art Artist Brushes Long Handle Natural Bristle - Angle
From $7.39 CAD

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to common questions on Artist Brushes. If you still need help, contact us and we’ll point you to the right option.

Where are Kolibri brushes made?

Kolibri brushes are handmade in Germany, where the company has been producing artist brushes since 1898. The brand is part of a long Franconian brush-making tradition, and each brush is still shaped and finished by hand by trained brushmakers.

What is synthetic squirrel hair?

Synthetic squirrel is a soft synthetic fibre developed to imitate natural squirrel hair, prized in watercolour for its enormous water-holding capacity and gentle, even paint release. Kolibri's SQI line delivers that same soft, absorbent performance in a durable, animal-free fibre at a lower price than natural hair.

Which brush shape should I choose for watercolour?

Rounds and quills are the everyday workhorses, holding lots of water while keeping a fine point. Oval wash and cat's tongue shapes lay in broad, soft washes; daggers and strokes excel at long calligraphic lines, foliage, and ribbons of colour; filberts give soft-edged strokes; and fans are ideal for texture like grass, fur, and clouds. If you're starting out, a round is the most versatile single brush.

What's the difference between red sable and synthetic squirrel?

Pure red sable is the traditional natural hair for watercolour, offering an exceptionally fine point, spring, and controlled release. Synthetic squirrel holds more water and releases it more softly, making it better for washes and wet-in-wet work. Many painters keep both: sable for detail and precision, squirrel for coverage and flow.

What are Kolibri miniature brushes used for?

The miniature line features short, precise heads designed for fine detail: miniature and model painting, illustration, botanical work, and touch-ups. The round, angle, filbert, and flat shapes give you control over tiny areas without sacrificing paint capacity at the tip.

Can I use these brushes with acrylic paint?

Yes. The miniature brushes and the PB 8000A set are well suited to acrylics. The soft SQI watercolour shapes also work beautifully with fluid acrylics and watercolour-consistency media, though we recommend rinsing promptly since acrylic dries quickly and can damage any brush left to harden.

How do I care for my Kolibri brushes?

Rinse thoroughly in cool water after each session, reshape the head with your fingers, and dry flat or hanging tip-down so water doesn't pool in the ferrule. Never leave a brush standing on its head in water. With basic care, a handmade Kolibri brush will last for many years.

Are Kolibri brushes available in Canada?

Yes. Tri-Art Manufacturing is the Canadian distributor for Kolibri, with inventory stocked at our facility in Kingston, Ontario. Orders are priced in Canadian dollars and ship domestically, so there are no surprise duties, exchange fees, or cross-border shipping delays.