The basic or classic grip for holding a watercolor brush is similar to how we hold a pen or pencil for writing. The only difference is that a watercolor artist grips the brush a little further from the paper. You should pick up the brush and hold the thickest part of the handle above the ferrulle (or the body of the brush) and grip it like you are getting ready to write on paper.

To get the correct feel, weight the brush in your hand and roll it with your fingers. This is done to find the balance of the brush in your grip. For starters, start signing your name in a way that you plan to sign your paintings with. It may take a bit of practice to find the ideal one so be patient and take your time. The classic grip will give you linear control which is ideal when painting flowing lines and drawing with paint.