Free Photoshop brushes are ideal for artists looking to improve your workflow and give your projects that extra flair without having to break the bank. Having a wide range of brushes to work with is essential for creatives because they allow you s much more flexibility while creating. Not only do they give your work that extra pizazz, but they help you to create digital art efficiently. There are lots of brushes already built into the Photoshop app, but expanding your collection will help your work to stand out, and other brushes may suit your needs better than what Adobe has to offer.
However, we know that there are thousands of options out there on the internet, which can be a little overwhelming for those artists who aren't sure where to start looking. That's where we come in. We've rounded up 66 brilliant free Photoshop brushes of every painting style and texture to suit a range of projects. To help you navigate your way around our post, we've even split it into categories so you can jump straight to what you're looking for.
Whether you need a brush that'll help you with dust particles or just plain old watercolours, we have something on this list to suit your needs. Before you use any of the brushes though, make sure you check the licensing as not all brushes are available to use for commercial and personal use.
Still haven't downloaded Photoshop? Make sure you have a look at our guide to the best Adobe Creative Cloud discounts to get started.
We understand that knowing where to start when it comes to Adobe Creative Cloud can be somewhat daunting, so if you're not certain where to start then check out our guide on how to download Photoshop. Then once you've done then, why not top up on Photoshop knowledge with our roundup of the best Photoshop tutorials? Then once you're in and working on the software, you can try out some Photoshop Shortcuts to make your workflow a lot smoother.
We know that even though it's one of the best editing software out there, it still can be pretty pricey to download and run Photoshop. And if it's just a little out of your budget right now, then don't worry, perhaps one of the best Photoshop alternatives will suit you better. Or if you're quickly realising you're in the totally wrong place and you were actually on the hunt for Illustrator brushes, then don't worry, you're probably looking for our roundup of the best Illustrator brushes instead.
Free Photoshop brushes for painting
01. Canvas brushes collection
- Designer: Radical Madder
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download the Canvas Brushes Collection from MyPhotoshopBrushes (opens in new tab)
While this collection might be small with only eight brushes, it sure is mighty. With a pencil, pastel and charcoal texture, this brush set is sure to give your project an authentic feel. Plus with this set, you can also use several canvas effects to really add that element of authenticity. From streaky to triangle, this will look just like you've actually applied brush to canvas with this set.
02. Digital oil painting brushes
- Designer: Martina Palazzese
- Usage: Free for personal use
- Download Digital Oil Painting Brushes from DeviantArt (opens in new tab)
If your forte is digital oil painting then you're in luck. This brush set allows you to create high-resolution oil paintings with a texture just like the real thing. This brush set created by Martina Palazzese is only available for personal use though, so be careful which project you use them on.
03. Kyle T.Webster's Adobe brushes
- Designer: Kyle T.Webster
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download Kyle T.Webster's brushes from the Adobe Site (opens in new tab)
Over on the Adobe website, you can stock up on a number of brushes. Kyle T.Webster's brush set is part of Adobe's seasonal drop, so you can keep up to date with all the hottest digital art trends with this brush set. When having a go with a number of brush sets, we decided that our personal favourites are the Runny Inkers and Copier sets that give a particularly earthy look to projects.
04. Concept art brushes
- Designer: Jeremy Fenske
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download Free Brush Pack from Gumroad (opens in new tab)
Jeremy Fenske is a concept and visual development artist working in Los Angeles. As well as sharing this set of Photoshop brushes for free, he's also included a 35-minute video explaining how he uses them. Check it out for some helpful tips.
05. Painting textures
- Designer: Obsidian Dawn
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use but see terms
- Download Painting Texture from DeviantArt (opens in new tab)
These Photoshop brushes are actually textures, meaning you can create some interesting effects that are...well... textured. They're great for backgrounds and for experimentation in general. Check the terms (opens in new tab) for all uses as you'll need to credit the artist. But if you can't provide credit, a commercial licence is just $3.
06. Photoshop Illustration Brush Set
- Designer: Matt Heath
- Usage: Free
- Download Photoshop Illustration Brush Set from GumRoad (opens in new tab)
This simple brush set is jam-packed with over 20 brushes, perfect for any beginner or anyone looking to expand their collection. The brushes were created using an 8B Staedler pencil. You can get this set for free or contribute any amount you like to get the set.
07. Wavenwater Photoshop brushes
- Designer: Michael Guimont
- Usage: Free for personal use (contact artist for commercial licence)
- Download Wavenwater from DeviantArt (opens in new tab)
freelance concept artist and illustrator Michael Guimont put together this comprehensive set of Wavenwater Photoshop brushes based on his own personal collection of brushes and tool presets. We haven't counted exactly how many brushes are included in this set, but we can say there are certainly lots of options here that can add serious flair to your artwork.
08. Sakimichan Photoshop brushes
- Designer: Sakimichan
- Usage: Free for commercial and personal use
- Download Sakimichan Photoshop Brushes from DeviantArt (opens in new tab)
Deviant Art member sakimichan has made 56 of her favourite custom Photoshop brushes for painting available to download for free in this big bundle. She recommends painting at 70-100 percent opacity with the pressure option on, and says that the brushes are already set up for this.
09. Digital painting Photoshop brushes
- Designer: Aaron Griffin
- Usage: Free for commercial and personal use
- Download Digital Painting Photoshop Brushes from DeviantArt (opens in new tab)
Aaron Griffin is a self-taught illustrator and concept artist who's especially known for his figure paintings (his work has even graced the cover of our sister magazine ImagineFX (opens in new tab)). He's generously offering up the Photoshop brushes he uses to create his digital paintings, free of charge.
10. Thick acrylic paint strokes
- Designer: Creative Nerds
- Usage: Free for commercial and personal use
- Download Thick Acrylic Paint Stroke from CreativeNerds (opens in new tab)
The second instalment of a series of popular free Photoshop brushes from Creative Nerds, Thick Acrylic Paint Strokes Volume 2 allows you to quickly add an authentic paint effect to your illustrations. The brushes are free for both personal and commercial work, but you're not permitted to redistribute or modify them for resale.
11. Dry brush strokes for Photoshop
- Designer: Chris Spooner
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download Dry Brush Strokes from SpoonGraphics (opens in new tab)
Dry Brush Strokes is a fantastic set of 12 free Photoshop brushes from Chris Spooner. These high-resolution dry brushes are superbly detailed, bristly and texture-rich. Featuring wispy lines and detailed edges, they're perfect for roughing up your artwork or distressing its edges.
12. Flower brushes
- Designer: Milka
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download Flower Brushes from thedesignest (opens in new tab)
The artist Milka, aka Oxana Kuznetsova, is behind this beautiful botanical collection. It consists of 15 high-quality Photoshop brushes, inspired by roses, lilacs, dandelions and other flowers. It's perfect for stationery, packaging, printouts or other floral designs.
13. Dry brushes
- Artist: Kirk Wallace
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download Dry Brushes from BoneHaus (opens in new tab)
Artist Kirk Wallace created these Dry Brush Photoshop brushes at home using ink and paper. Perfect for creating rough, harsh textures, they're also dynamic – you can click and drag to span larger areas without getting an ugly repeat effect, or you can paint with them.
14. Spray paint
- Designer: Creative Nerds
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download Spray Paint from CreativeNerds (opens in new tab)
Creative Nerds is offering this spray paint effect Photoshop brush set to subscribers (it's free to subscribe). The pack includes four high-res brushes (2500px each) that you can use to add a distressed effect to your paintings.
15. Speedpainting set
- Artist: Darek Zabrocki
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download the Speed Painting Set from DeviantArt (opens in new tab)
Concept artist Darek Zabrocki has worked on some major projects in the fantasy art world, including Assassin's Creed, Magic: The Gathering and Halo Wars 2. He's offering the set of Photoshop brushes he uses for his speed paintings as a free download.
16. Deharme traditional painting set – sample
- Designer: Bastien Lecouffe Deharme
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download the Deharme traditional painting set from MyPhotoshopBrushes (opens in new tab)
This is only a sample of Lecouffe Deharme's full set of traditional painting brushes for Photoshop, but it provides a range of options, including oil, paint, charcoal and smudge brushes. If you like the sample, the full set of textured dynamic brushes is available on the designer's website for $6.
Watercolour Photoshop brushes
17. Watercolour brushes #2
- Designer: Snezhana Switzer
- Usage: Free for personal use
- Download Watercolours Photoshop Brushes #2 from Dropbox (opens in new tab)
This extensive pack of watercolour Photoshop brushes comes from Snezhana Switzer. It contains 40 Photoshop brushes, which all serve to mimick watercolours in digital paintings.
18. Furry watercolour Photoshop brush
- Designer: Heygrey
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download Furry Watercolour Brush from BrushLovers (opens in new tab)
If you want to create a soft, hazy aesthetic, try this free furry watercolour Photoshop brush from Heygrey. It's described as a 'furry watercolour brush', and the creator suggests using it to create hazy backgrounds. We're especially impressed with the realistic watercolour effect achieved here.
19. Watercolour Photoshop brush: spray
- Designer: Creative Nerds
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download Watercolour Brush: Spray from CreativeNerds (opens in new tab)
This Photoshop brush is handy for creating a large-scale watercolour spray effect in your artwork. It generates an impressively authentic effect, which you can apply to your own digital paintings with ease. Its creator says this brush was a pleasure to create.
20. Edgedestroys Watercolour brush pack
- Designer: xedgewolfx
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use but credit the artist
- Download the Edgedestroys brush pack from DeviantArt (opens in new tab)
This is the fifth watercolour set created by xedgewolfx so if you love this pack then there are plenty more where that came from. There might only be seven brushes in this pack in particular but we promise they're worth the download.
Pen, ink, charcoal and pencil Photoshop brushes
21. Illustration brush set
- Designer: jermshaw
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download Charcoal from Brusheezy (opens in new tab)
This charcoal brush set is small but mighty. This is just a demo of a full charcoal set, but if you like the brushes then there is also a full set available for purchase. You can also use these brushes for personal and commercial use – bonus!
22. Ink brushes
- Designer: Brittney Murphy
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download Ink Brushes from DeviantArt (opens in new tab)
This set from designer Brittney Murphy contains a whopping 192 ink Photoshop brushes. You'll find big slabs, thin strokes, ink splotches and everything in between here. Murphy generously offers these brushes for free, with no attribution necessary, as long as they're not redistributed.
23. Pencil Photoshop brush
- Designer: Andantonius
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download Pencil Photoshop Brush from DeviantArt (opens in new tab)
Create the effect of a soft pencil sketch without getting your hands and paper dirty with smudged lead. This pencil-effect Photoshop brush is one of the most realistic we've seen, and you can download it for free from DeviantArt, courtesy of professional digital artist Andantonius, aka Jon Neimeister.
24. Realistic charcoal Photoshop brush
- Designer: WojtekFus
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial use
- Download Realistic Charcoal Brush from DeviantArt (opens in new tab)
Charcoal's an essential part of any artist's toolkit, but it's undoubtedly the messiest as well. With this excellent charcoal brush set, you can get those soft charcoal lines without getting charcoal all over your hands and everything else.
25. Real markers
- Designer: Eilert Janßen
- Usage: Free for personal and commercial us
- Download Real Markers from HejBrush (opens in new tab)
Perfect for fashion illustrations, industrial design and storyboarding, this set of 12 free real marker brushes from Eilert Janßen enables you to create lively imagery that looks like it's been sketched with marker pens. If you like what you see, you can buy more of Janßen's brushes on his website (opens in new tab).
Next page: Natural brushes
