Either way you spell them out they are great new tools for watercolor sketchers. Water brushes aren’t really new any more except in the USA. They originated in Japan and are widely used there. Many of the Japanese books on sketching recommend them. There are a lot of manufacturers on the band wagon now. I’ve used them exclusively since I started sketching again a couple of years ago.
So far, I’ve only been able to find three brands here in the U.S., and of those, the Pentel is the best. The water chamber is flattened to prevent it from rolling around. It is perhaps a bit better quality too. I think Pentel simply put a little more thought into their design, even in the shape of the filaments. Some of the late comers seem to have whipped one together so they could get to market. The Pentels are more expensive but I’ve found them to be worthwhile. Of note, the Sakura “koi” is the shortest and most compact.
The least expensive I’ve found were the Leow Cornell waterbrushes (Aqua Flo). I found them at a local Dick Blick store. All of the brands I’ve tried perform quite well for watercolor sketching. So, if you’re on a budget, or simply want to get to know these tools a bit, go for the less expensive ones.
If you do large paintings, say larger than 5×7, then these brushes are probably going to frustrate you. That’s because the brushes are simply not intended to be wash brushes. The filaments hold a fair amount of color but no more than an equivalent sized sable brush. Larger paintings, regardless of brush material, simply require more color in the brush. So these guys are ideal for small paintings and watercolor sketchbooks.
The hardest part for artists it seems, is getting past the way synthetic brushes “work” as opposed to sable brushes. They are a bit different in the way they bounce and react. Honestly, not being a professional fine artist, I’ve never been able to tell enough difference in how a synthetic brush affected my skills. Whether I use a waterbrush, or a $75 kolinsky sable brush, I get the same results in my sketches. That probably has to do with a lack of skill on my part, but as they say “ignorance is bliss”. Since all I do is sketch with watercolor, I don’t have a need for a broad watercolor skill set.
So What’s The Big Deal About Water Brushes?
By far, the greatest thing about water brushes is the water chamber. No longer does one need to take along all the paraphernalia associated with watercolor. The water is contained in the brush barrel. Squeeze and your brush is loaded with water. Dip in color and you’re ready to paint. Wipe the tip on a paper towel while squeezing a little water out and the brush is clean and ready for the next color. The paper towel is your “control device”. It helps you control the how wet the brush is. You could just as easily use a cashmere cloth if you’re into “finery”. Or even a sponge.
All I ever use to sketch is a tiny little watercolor box I made, a Pentel “twist-erase” mechanical pencil, a superfine (S) Pitt Artist Pen, and a medium Pentel Aquash water brush. I make my own sketchbooks now. The travel size is 3.5″ x 5″. All of this can go in my pants pocket in a pinch. Usually, I carry a really small fanny pack though. That way I can carry a couple of small squirt bottles of water to refill the brush if needed.
Simplicity Releases Creativity and Beauty
So, if you’re a sketchbooker like me, or do sketch crawls and travel sketching…SIMPLIFY. You’ll enjoy it more and get more sketching done once you give in to the change of thinking about brushes, colors, and sketchbooks. By the way, I use six colors. That’s it. I also have some white gouache in the little box for highlights if needed.
I’ll sketch up the refined design of the little watercolor box for you in a future post.
Sketch on brothers and sisters, sketch on!
Here are some links to online stores that have the water brushes.
Opus Framing and Art Supplies (Holbein’s version)
Cheap Joes
Conservation Resources
Wet Paint
Judson’s Plein Aire
Supplies dot Net
Paperkin Arts I bought Pentels here.
Dick Blick (Loew Cornells)
Dick Blick (Niji brand)
