Apply brush strokes to paths

Last updated on Sep 11, 2025

Learn how to enhance your artwork by adding decorative brush strokes to a path.

Select the path using the Selection tool.

To apply brush strokes to multiple paths, press Shift and select multiple paths.

Select Window > Brushes to open the Brushes panel.

In the Brushes panel, select a brush style to apply it to the path.

Illustrator interface showing Artistic Watercolor brush selected and applied as a stroke to a dragon path, creating a hand-painted effect.
Apply brush stroke to the selected path using the Brushes panel.

Tip

You can also select brush styles from the Brush Libraries panel or the Control bar.

To apply a different brush while keeping the original brush’s stroke settings, press Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) as you select the new brush.