WATERCOLOUR BRUSHES : Synthetic vs Natural Hair
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ย. 2021
- Sythetic versus Natural brushes. Which watercolour brush should you buy? What is the difference? Which is better? In this quick video I do some quick tests to compare two brushes from the brand Escoda - a synthetic brush and a squirrel brush.
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EQUIPMENT USED IN VIDEO
The Aquario brush has changed it's name to Aquario gold - buy it here
www.jacksonsart.com/en-au/sea...
The Synthetic brush the Ultimo can be found here.
www.jacksonsart.com/en-au/sea...
Transparent Orange Watercolour - Winsor and newton
www.jacksonsart.com/en-au/sea...
Opera Rose Watercolour - Winsor and Newton
www.jacksonsart.com/en-au/sea...
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Hello Charles. I recently switched from squirrel mops to a synthetic substitute. In this case, Jackson's Raven. The squirrel just about has the edge when it comes to water-holding capacity, but not enough to be worth worrying about. Another thing I like is the plastic handle. Plastic's not usually something I prefer but, in this case, I do. The plastic variety doesn't crack up like the varnished wood variety.
And, at the end of the day, I can honestly state that no squirrels were harmed in the making of this painting.
Thanks for the comment and for watching David. I think I am getting closer and closer to switching. I agree the water holding difference isn't so great( and we can dip our brush in the paint again anyway🙂). Plastic handle sounds good for the reasons you state and as you say, good to know squirrels aren't harmed in the making of the brush. I may give those Jackson's Raven brushes a go - I like that name of them too. Cheers. Charles
I started out using a synthetic kolinsky, and I've actually tried a natural kolinski that a friend owned. However I think that the brush that I enjoy using most out of all of them was a relatively inexpensive Princeton Neptune series synthetic squirrel brush. Out of all of the brushes that I've used thus far it is the only one that feels like it does what I wanted to without me having to think about it. It's definitely become my favorite by far
Thanks for the message. I can't say that I have used a Princeton Neptune series brush, but I have certainly seen them or heard of them. It is nice when you find a brush that does what you want. They are the best ones, irrespective of price. If they work, use them I say. Thanks for watching. Regards
Charles
Next time I see a dead squirrel in the road I’ll be making my own brush
Reduce, reuse, recycle 😁
@@charles-slugahaha 😄
OMG, you probably hear this every day, but I LOVE your water pot!
Actually, not many people have mentioned it at all. Thanks. I love that water pot. Makes me smile every time I look at it. Oh and thanks for watching my video.
New artist. Using creative Mark & loew cornell 7020, mandalay hake. Thank yoiu for the comparisions.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Very helpful, thank you for the demos!
Thanks very much. I'm glad you found it helpful.It's my pleasure and thanks for watching.
fantastic vid, mate. really appreciated
Thanks very much. I'm glad you liked it :)
great review thanks a lot
Thanks very much. 🙂
Thanks Charles, this video was great information for someone like me who doesn't know much about brushes! I think I look mostly at how the brush works and feels, and my first lot of brushes were just cheaper ones. Recently I bought a few that are more expensive but I think they might have been synthetic (happy with them). My favourite is my Neef size 00 mop brush - just love it and use it almost every day! I think it might be natural hair....I've had it at least 1 year so memory lapse on that one! Looking forward to your next lesson!
Thanks Robyn for watching. It really just comes down to what works for you and what you enjoy using. Synthetic or natural hair - as long as it does the job. Nice that you have a favourite brush (your Neef). Enjoy.
Nice review, but there isn't supposed to be much snap in quill brushes. That doesn't really matter much even if they are synthetic or natural. Snap depends on if it's a a synthetic sable or synthetic squirrel brush. It also depends on whether you compare to a budget "squirrels quill" with goat hair, or a real black squirrel. Some quills are quills without being specifically "squirrel", though, like the Jackson's Raven. These are good and not too expensive synthetic quills.
Thanks Trond for watching. True, but I did want to keep the video to a reasonable length 😁 There are often exceptions and more variety in snap of a brush and how they behave than stated here. . However the video is a generalisation ( and only compared 2 brushes), but something to go by. Yes, I too now have a Raven brush and it is nice brush, with not much snap.
Enjoyed the video and do appreciate the comparison. I prefer the escoda synthetic gold talon vs the natural hair . It was the return to point and the water absorption that I particularly like when painting. Thank you.
Thanks Cheryl. You make a good point ( no pun intended😁). It's a nice brush. Thanks for watching.
For my flat washes I have a Princeton Neptune synthetic squirrel brush (quill) and I love it! It does what it shall do giving me beautiful washes without streaks. I have never tried natural squirrel so I‘m not able to compare properly, but I honestly think for more than double the price I feel no need to try them.
If you are looking for „snap“ the Princeton Aqua Elite synthetic Kolinsky might be a good option. Again, I can‘t compare to natural Kolinskys, since the price difference there is even higher.
Thanks for watching and letting me know what y you use. Yes, I think you have a good point( no pun intended😊), for the difference in price, it does raise the question of, how much difference does it really make, and is t that difference worth the extra cost? Thanks again.
Hi Charles, I use Luxartis Sable Rounds for my home painting and Princeton Aqua Elite for everything else.
Hi Andy, Thanks for watching. I haven't tried the Luxartis Sable Round, but I might check them out.
Hello Charles, just wanted to say, continue with your videos, please! I've come across your channel after a long time, and I see that you still have got just about a thousand subscribers. You're so underrated. Today I bought some White Nights, can't wait to try them but there was still some fear of a difficulty of watercolours. Anyway after I've watched some of your vids again, it gave me a spark of, don't know how to describe, maybe "lightness" :D and having fun of using watercolours. Thanks for this, I can imagine how hard it must be to make videos for just few of us, but again, it's helpful! By the way, I am curious how you mount/frame your paintings properly. Maybe you can show us? :)
EDIT: Haha I agree with that opinion about forcing to subscribe! However, hope more people will discover your channel, I will recommend it to others.
Hi Rowena,
Wow, that is all so nice of you to say. It has made my day. Yes, I only have about a thousand subscribers and making the videos is a ton of effort and time. I just hope my subscriber benefit from them or at least enjoy them. I certainly enjoy making them. Yes, watercolour can be difficult, but so rewarding and we must never forget the "lightness" of painting in watercolour - the joy and fun and accept that many paintings may not work, but when they do, what a feeling. I haven't tried White Nights paints but have heard of them. Thanks for watching and a special thanks for spreading the word about my channel. Much appreciated.
Charles
very clear demo...thanks.
Thanks for watching Mike.
It’s just like any art equipment, the natural is an better experience and that’s the secret of art.
Except when it comes to paints. Some of those synthetics are brilliant.
I use synthetic brushes, Kolinsky sable brushes as well as squirrel brushes - I use synthetic brushes to mix washes from squeezed, dried paint in my pallet so that I don't damage my Kolinsky brushes, the synthetic brushes drop their load quickly which sometimes you want and sometimes don't want... When I first started painting (I only paint with watercolours) I used synthetic brushes but then someone I knew suggested I try their Winsor & Newton Series 7, size 7 watercolour brush - which was MUCH bigger than my size 8 synthetic brush - and I absolutely fell head over heels in love with the feel of it gliding over my paper, I'm a very tactile person so I shouldn't have been surprised nevertheless I was... So, now I have amassed a small collection of Kolinsky brushes including Winsor & Newton Series 7, Da Vince Maestro, Escoda, Nevskaya Palitra (Russian brand) and Jacksonsart own brand (which are a JOY to use and by far the best value for money) and I use my Kolinskys almost ALL the time and they never disappoint. Painting with watercolours is sheer JOY and having beautiful watercolour paper and exquisite brushes just elevates the experience to another level.... I also enjoy using my squirrel brushes, the brands I have are Da Vinci and Neef - somehow the feel of the Da Vince squirrel mop is better than the Neef squirrel, quite possibly because the Neef sheds a hair or two and so I'm always on the lookout for it...
Thanks for the very detailed comment Magdalena. It sounds like you have a great collection of brushes. My favourites are definitely my squirrel mop brushes ( even more than my series 7 Kolinsky) and I agree with you that watercolour is a very tactile medium - as you say good equipment makes a difference. Thanks for watching.
I have several escoda Brushes, also som ultimo ((and travelbrushes) but i also love the davinci casaneo (synth squirrel) and the davinci colineo ( sijnth kolinski sabel) have a good day
Thanks for watching and for the comment Nadine Yes, I also have a davinci casaneo and enjoy it. Come to think of it, I enjoy most brushes😁
I prefer synthetic. Lower price and I require max snap. I often work more tight and use less water, and have an unconvetional method for watery soft effects (see below). I don't really want to harm squirrels either. Also I prefer plastic handles as lacquered wood cracks over time. And on the whole like soft white and gold takalon and brushes that snap completely back to initial shape. Floppy brushes are a pain to actually paint with personally. I don't enjoy them (natural or synthetic) I wouldn't like the brushes you showed here except that they look like artistic 'symbols' of a paintbrush. I think of floppy brushes as a nightmare personally but to each their own. I find it preferable to purchase more brushes once the point hooks or deteriorates but would love a low cost med size round with a long lasting perfect point. Otherwise I'll save the money. I only spend $10 or less on a paintbrush and its VERY rare for me to actually spend over 2 dollars. With $1- $1.5 being my average. I also regretted more of the brushes I have spent the most on and LOVE my dollarstore and Walmart brushes best. cheap brushes are hit or miss but you waste very little money on the misses!
I SUPER Highly recommend makeup brushes for painting. And when you want softer high water techniques that don't require a point they are amazing and can be purchased at the dollar store! Even with my $4-6 softer paintbrushes I reach for the Dollarama makeup brushes way more often.
Don't believe the hype and try using makeup brushes! Just because the company who makes a brush says its for makeup or paint....
Also try different Shapes sometimes not always just round brushes!
I prefer to invest more in the paint and paper than brushes BUT its still good to build up a collection and if you notice a lack/issue keep looking. such as How I recently needed to get a few new tiny very pointy brushes as the tips have worn down on many of my smaller brushes.
I hope my comment helps someone.
Interesting video, thanks.
Thanks for the detailed message and thanks for watching.
It's great that you have found what works for you and as you say, each to their own. I do prefer professional artist brushes, but if I was given a cheap brush, I could still produce a painting with any quality brush or even no brush at all. I just find quality brushes, be they natural or synthetic make my life easier... and who doesn't want that?😁 Happy painting.
@@charles-sluga I agree to each their own. It might however make a fun video for you to try using makeup brushes! Especially comparing ‘mop’ styles them to full art mops. Just a suggestion. Your literally only out a few dollars to try makeup brushes with watercolours and you may be shocked at how amazing they are added to the brushes you use! If not then like I sad it cost you less than $10 even if you get the best from the dollar store! You don’t know if you have never tried!
@@valasafantastic1055 Thanks. Not sure if I will do a video of it, but yes, probably worth giving it a go. Maybe I will just steal my daughters make up brush and save even more money😆
@@charles-sluga I’d get new ones. Skin oils, bacteria and oily makeup will not mix well with watercolours. I have separate sets for watercolour and acrylic personally and if I used make up would have a third set for body use.
@@valasafantastic1055 oh wauw great tip!😃
Personally I like squirrel hair brushes, they are more expensive but I cannot describe how much more satisfying the feeling is when I get to watch a vegan cry, conversely I do like the synthetic brushes as they get the just stop oil protestors into a hissy fit.
Cheeeeeeeeers! Charles. I have been influenced a lot by your videos. I now use Watercolour using your techniques and tutorial talent as a base to paint my Portraits in Oils. Is that a common process do you know? As far as this video is concerned I plead heathen. I use 2nd hand brushes I find in Garage Sales and Op-Shops, and a knitting needle for the Oils. Mind you I have an antique no8 knitting needle made of Deer Antler, that I'm quite fond of! Love your work Charles.
Hi Postie, Thanks for watching the videos, even though you work with oils.
I a also work in oils and there are so many aspects that cross over from oils to watercolours and vice versa.
Brushes are just a tool and a good brush can make doing watercolour a little easier. With oils however, the paint can be applied with anything (even knitting needles), but again good brushes can just make things a little easier. Brushes, knitting needles, hands, sponges... it doesn't really matter, as long as it works for you and gets the results you want. I am sure you are aware of that - love the idea of the antique No 8 knitting needle made from a Deer antler 😁. Thanks again for watching and the kind words.
Blue Squirrel brushes. I am partial to the Neef ones and their long handles, I use many very inexpensive "wolf hair" calligraphy brushes as well. I do have a DaVinci Caseneo, which is a synthetic mop equivalent to an Escoda 14 where the hairs have been engineered with a crimp in them to catch the waters more like a natural hair and it does a pretty good job, but i prefer the ability to splay and make more unusual marks that the natural hair brushes are so adept at.
Can't say I have ever used "wolf hair" brush, but have used the others you have mentioned. Actual wolf hair? 🐺 . Thanks for the comment and for watching. I'm enjoying reading what brushes people like using and so far have seen a good mix. 🖌
@@LudwinV thanks for that. That is a really interesting fact.
Escoda is way more expensive here in the US so I’ve been looking for cheaper but artist quality alternatives. The Ultimo has almost the same hair and water retention as the Raphael Softaqua. Escoda Perlas feel a lot like princeton snaps or himi brushes. Escoda Prado feels a lot like the Mimik Kolinsky or Princeton Aqua elite. The natural alternative to squirrel brushes are goat brushes. They are soft like squirrel and hold about the same water. I generally avoid mixed synthetic/natural brushes because they don’t seem to have much of an improvement to goat.
That's too bad that they are so expensive, but fantastic you have found alternatives and it sounds like, plenty of options.
Thank you for the demo. It is very helpful. I think I am going for synthetic since the snap is important to me cause brush control is important. Although I will be using it for washes I'd also would like to learn how to use it for detail work. Can you do a demo for sable vs squirel hair.?
Hi Patricia, there are exceptions to the generalisation of the snap of a brush being relation to synthetic or not. The best thing to do ( if you like the snap) is to test it in the store before you buy it. General yes, synthetics snap more than natural fur, but there are many exceptions. Also note Patricia, that you don't need snap to have brush control. You just need a more delicate touch when using a brush with very little snap.
I love my Silver Black Velvets, they are squirrel and synthetic squirrel mix and paint beautiful
Hi Cianna. I can't say I have tried those brushes. Squirrel and synthetic mix often give you the best of both worlds.
I prefer natural hair. I use four mops (Aquario Gold 18, Isabey Vintage 3, Jackson’s 6 & 8) and one rigger (Jackson’s Sable 1). The only synthetic brushes I use are Versatil (10 & 12)and Perla (2 & 14).
Nice collection. I particularly like the Isabey, but all are nice brushes. Thanks for watching.
@@charles-sluga Thanks.
Have some of both. And like you don't find much difference between them. So now I shop on price.
Yep, I think some of the synthetics are now as good as Squirrel brushes, especially if you like a bit of snap in your brush. I think you have the right idea - shop for price.
Thank you, can you tell me the size from Ultimo which you used? Please.
I prefere synth. Da vinci colineo.
Greetings from Germany. I just subscribed :-) Dagmar
Hi Dagmar. Thanks for subscribing and greetings f from Australia🙂. The size of the Ultimo I used was 18. I haven't tried the DaVinci Colineo yet.
I use synthetic now as I had a brush eating insect/moth, (that i never saw, )but it chewed off natural bristles. It must have arrived in an old inherited set, disaster! So now only synthetic for me.
😆I shouldn't laugh Wendy, but the thought of some kind of bug eating your brushes is incredible. So glad I haven't had any of those. Glad you found the solution. Synthetic brushes to the rescue. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Not quite!
When it comes to detail work, nothing beats synthetic! As for water/pigment load kolinski or squirrel performs the max!
Bottom line, use them in conjunction for best of results!
Anything else, as a guide, just doesn't hold water!
Not quite?😁I actually agree. A combination is great, but I do think synthetic brushes have come along way and if not harming animals or cost saving is important tou you, then synthetics are the way to go.
Thanks for the video.
I was going to buy a natural squirrel brush.
Now I think I'll go synthetic.
I just want a good watercolor brush that holds a good point.
Does anyone have suggestions on what brand.
Thanks!
Thanks for watching. I do find the Escoda is pretty good, but have now tried the Raven (as suggested by a watcher) and quite like that too - even though it doesn't have quite as much snap.
Thanks for the information.
I'll check out that brand.
The difference to the squirrel is indescribable. Please consider a cruelty free option.
Well, whichever watercolour brush we use, painting the way modern watercolorists do, will ruin any equipment quickly. Dipping the brush in the paint in the small rectangular wells of the palette, grabbing thick paint with it, then pressing it against the flat palette to mix the paint, will kill the brush and its point really fast. Then, pressing already damaged brush tip against the rough texture of the watercolour paper will sand it down further and completely ruin it. Oil painters are smarter; they mix paint with a palette knife, spread it on the palette, then pick up paint carefully with the side of the brush. Watercolour painters nowadays should, at least, use a cheap (flat) synthetic brush to grab the paint and mix it on the palette. Then use a proper brush to pick up the mix and apply on paper. Otherwise, they set a bad example by ruining more brushes and wasting more paint than necessary.
Interesting Zvonimir- I don't find that the method of dipping into my wet paint and painting directly onto the paper has made any difference at all to my brushes. I have been painting like this for years and my brushes are still fine ... but maybe I'm not as smart as an oil painter🤣😉🖌
@@charles-sluga The way watercolourists paint today, using a large amount of paint from the tube, on heavyweight textured papers, direct without surface preparation, using very wet techniques, etc. .. was introduced with abstract expressionism.
The abstract expressionists threw many things through the window and wanted to explore watercolour as a "more spontaneous" medium.
The manufacturers obliged them. Very quickly the old painting techniques in watercolour were forgotten, and now 75 years after, completely gone. That included how to mix paint with one brush and apply it with the other. That method was developed simultaneously in oils, and in watercolour, because watercolour was often used as a study for oils - it worked for both techniques. It allows the painter the necessary time to recollect before making a definitive mark. It works well when pigments and brushes and supplies are scarce and expensive - as they once were.
The damaging result is more visible on sable brushes which are firmer, than on squirrel hair brushes which are very soft and oblige to any surface. Synthetic hair is more resilient and, of course, cheaper, making it an ideal substitute for sables - for those who use sables in watercolour.
However, for those who use sables for ink, on hot pressed and smooth surfaces, there is no substitute (not yet) for a good quality sable brush. And there sables can indeed last many years.
But that's a different medium altogether. I have compared the sable brushes I used for the watercolour, and for ink, the same brand of brushes, shape, etc. and undoubtedly, those used for watercolour - which I used following the modern techniques - wear off quickly when compared to the same brushes used for ink. Despite the fact that I used the point of the brush in ink far more frequently than in watercolour!
lol true. casual painters shouldnt waste quality animal hair
Please don't use any animalhair brushes the animal cruelty is horrific
A good thing that synthetics are so good now.
@SLUGA exactly, so no need for more harm😊
Do you let mice over run your house? Do you have any leather products? You animal cruelty issue is unbalanced.
That's how humanity got its progress. Through violence and cruelty. Deal with it.
simple mind assuming someone that cares wouldnt avoid leather. xD also leather is a biproduct of the meat industry so it will happen either way. greed and overconsumption is what ruins everything. everything has a right time and place. cats take care of the mice. @@eileentoohey628