Pincel vs. brocha
In the Spanish language, 'pincel' and 'brocha' are two words used to refer to different types of paintbrushes. Though they both deal with painting, they are not interchangeable and are used in varying aspects of the activity.
Pincel
A 'pincel' refers to a small and thin paintbrush, primarily used for careful, detailed work. Artists usually use 'pinceles' when focusing on details because of its thin and delicate bristles.
Usé un pincel fino para pintar los detalles del retrato.
(I used a fine brush to paint the details of the portrait.)
El artista está limpiando sus pinceles después de pintar durante todo el día.
(The artist is cleaning his brushes after painting all day.)
Brocha
'Brocha' refers to a larger paintbrush or a brush that's typically used for bigger surfaces such as walls or bases for art. It's characterized by its wide and thick bristles that can hold a large amount of paint.
Necesito una brocha más grande para pintar la pared de mi sala.
(I need a bigger brush to paint the wall of my living room.)
La brocha tiene mucha pintura, por eso es ideal para pintar áreas grandes.
(The brush holds a lot of paint, so it's ideal for painting large areas.)
Summary
Both 'pincel' and 'brocha' are types of brushes used for painting in Spanish. The main difference lies in their size and their use cases. A 'pincel' is smaller and best suited for detailed work, whereas 'brocha' is larger and typically used for broader strokes or larger surfaces.