Today’s article is a little different—it’s more like a video workshop! I recommend bookmarking it so you can go through each section at your own pace and really get the hang of using the triangular brush.
A triangular brush (sometimes called a wedge brush or dagger brush) is an incredibly versatile tool in watercolor painting. It has a flat base that tapers to a fine point, allowing for both broad washes and sharp details. Once you get the basics down, painting with it feels intuitive and soothing. Today, my goal is to walk you through how to paint everything from foundational strokes to abundant floral wreaths.
If you don’t have a triangular paintbrush, now is a great time to get one (affiliate link). I recommend getting both sizes—the MD and the XSM—if possible. Once you receive your paintbrush, take a good look at it to begin understanding how it works.
You’ll notice that your brush has the following:
As soon as you’ve got your triangular brush in hand, take a little time to play around with the five basic strokes. The quick 4-minute demo video below walks you through everything, and there’s a written breakdown and visual to go with it as well.
1. Broad Stroke – This foundational stroke is great for leaves and petals. To make it, load your brush with watercolor and lay it flat on the paper. Then, use a gentle sweeping motion to create thick, even washes.
2. Fine Lines – Fine lines are perfect for making stems, branches, and filling in details. To create one, hold your brush at a 45-degree angle and use just the tip to create thin, delicate lines.
3. Tapered Strokes – Like broad strokes, tapered strokes are great for leaves and petals. To make a tapered stroke, begin by pressing the flat side of the brush down to make a thick base. Then, slowly lift toward the tip to create a clean, pointed end.
4. Triangle Strokes – Triangle strokes make fabulous flower petal shapes. To make one, press the flat side of the brush down to create a thick start. Then, keep the tip in place while gently dabbing the belly of the brush to one side, forming a soft triangle.5. “C“ Strokes – Good for rosebuds, curled petals, or leaves that fold inward.
5. “C“ Strokes – “C” strokes are good for rosebuds, curled petals, or leaves that fold inward. To paint this type of stroke, start by touching the tip of your brush to the page. Then, move in a “C” or “U” shape (left or right), gradually pressing down so more of the brush makes contact with the paper. Finish by lifting the brush quickly to result in a tapered edge.
Try filling up a whole page with these strokes—it’s a great way to build muscle memory and get comfortable using the triangular paintbrush. Once they start to feel natural, you’re ready to move on to making stems and leaves!
Creating stems and leaves with a triangular brush is simple and satisfying. Start with a thin stroke for the stem, then use tapered strokes to add graceful leaves. Watch the demonstration below for detailed instructions:
Once you’ve watched the video tutorial, try using your triangular paintbrush to fill up a page with stems and leaves. Let yourself just play, and if you want to add some watercolor calligraphy into the mix, do it!
The tapered stroke is very powerful when it comes to painting basic flowers! Follow along with this demonstration to learn how to combine flowers, stems, and leaves to make a quick and pretty wreath.
To get the hang of this exercise, try making a few of your own wreaths. Combine basic flowers in various colors along with stems and leaves to flesh out a circle, rectangle, or oval. Once you’re finished, consider adding lettering or calligraphy to the inside!
You can center triangle strokes around a center point to make “pinwheel flowers”. In the tutorial video below, I’ll show you how to use both sizes of triangular brushes to make “pinwheel flowers”. You’ll also learn how to load the brush with two different colors and how to add in dainty complementary leaves.
In the video, I shared the envelope below, which was created by artist and calligrapher Phyllis Macaluso. If you like this motif, try mimicking aspects of it in a sketchbook or on your own envelope art!
Once you’re feeling confident with the strokes and motifs we’ve covered so far, give rosebuds a try! They’re a bit looser and trickier at first—but once you get the hang of them, you’ll be adding beautiful little blooms to everything.
When it comes to these rosebuds, I encourage you to experiment! Try a different combination of colors, or arrange your rosebuds into a wreath. Remember that if you don’t get these on the first try, you’re not alone. Achieving an elegant, natural-looking rosebud shape took me quite a while to master.
Now that you’ve learned how to use your triangular brush, let’s talk about how to keep it in top shape. First, always rinse your brush thoroughly after use. Then, store it flat or upright to maintain its shape. If the bristles start to fray or splay, you can use gum arabic to reshape them.
I want to reiterate that this beginner’s guide is more of a video course than brief overview. It’s important to take in all of this information one section at a time, starting with the basic strokes. Give yourself a few days to practice the strokes and exercises, and don’t rush it. A slow and steady pace makes for confident, joyful painting!
A huge thank you for being part of this community and for supporting content like this. Your membership helps make in-depth tutorials like this possible. I hope you walk away from this guide feeling artistically energized and ready to create!
Warmly,
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