i think dredz covered the basics very well. i'd like to add that a coat of gesso is very advantageous even on primed canvasses, as the primer kind of sucks. as far as brushes, i use primarily synthetics, and i like "flats" or "brights" as far as brush shapes. a good rule of thumb is to always use a bigger brush than you think you need, as it builds confidence and brush dexterity, the equivalent of can control. hope this helps...-c36