I am glad you mentioned the point on your Aqua Elite brushes do not stay sharp. Mine don’t either but I thought I was doing something to them to cause this. I make sure I wet my paint before I start so I am not putting the points into a hard clump of dry paint.
GOOD video - I love Princeton brushes & go back & forth between all of the ones you reviewed. Think my favorite depends on what I’m painting & maybe my mood 😃 thank you 🙏
Thank you so very much for that detailed evaluation of these brushes this is exactly what I needed right now as I am ready to but a few and needed to know the specific differences without a lot of fluff added :-) nice and direct!
Very informative Tutorial Crystal ! I have all of those brushes as well ! I can't quite get used to the softness of the Neptune brushes and I get frustrated with the lack of control. I started with the Velvetouch round long in 6 and 8 and I used them every day and now the bristles are showing some wear and tear. I will actually purchase the Heritage and the Snap brushes :) Hopefully my husband is not noticing that my jars of brushes is getting bigger and bigger..... Thanks again !
It was the Snap brushes I started out with a couple of years ago. I like the precision and love the price but I prefer something a bit softer these days and the Snap doesn't hold as much water so I prefer them for gouache now. I haven't tried any of those other Princeton brushes but I'll give them a closer look now I've seen them 😃
Thank you! I have been so confused about these brush differences; and being a perpetual newbie, I am never sure if it is me or the brush at times. I started out with Neptune and snap, which I like, but not as crazy about Neptune lately and have kept looking for a more precision point.
Good morning, Crystal. Hope you are getting well adjusted in your new abode. I over a few months bought one of each too, to explore… and ironically… it went a full circle where I now finally appreciate my first brush Princeton heritage so much more even when I didnt back then. My second brush neptune drove me crazy due to its uncontrollability for definition but now… I too did eventually objectively assess it for where it will offer strength ie ultra loose, abstract and washy looks. It’s a brush where I would hold higher up the handle. I found the aqua elite less appealing than the heritage though quite pricey. Velvetouch was my least liked due to the way it picked up the least pigment. Still debating whether the Snap would be a waste of money for me but my curiosity will probably make me buy to experience it. My final conclusion so far was that the heritage is able to pick up and distribute not just water *but pigment too, more evenly and nicely on paper, with the closest output to the silver black velvet ( which i have the 6 & 8). There is less uneveness and pooling at each brushstroke. Since I cant afford the bigger black velvet brushes , i plan to buy more Princeton heritage to build my bigger size brush collection. But am sure… if I practise and use every tool dilligently… I’d be able to better appreciate when each is best used for different types of painting. That way… I would stay positive and never feel buyer’s remorse.
Fantastic analysis! You’re so right about the pigment pick up. I never really thought about it that way. As in, thinking about picking up pigment vs water. I have the silver black velvet brushes, but somehow I don’t use them as much as my main round brush because it creates a very specific pointy shape to my petals which I don’t necessary like for all my paintings. But I use the smaller ones a lot for details. Thanks for the share!
Your excellent video inspired me to look in my brush collection! I found three Princetons: a quarter inch Aqua Elite Angular Shader, quite stiff, which I've used a lot; a Velvetouch petals, used only a couple of times; and a size 10 Neptune that hasn't even had its protective cover off. I must rectify that! 😆🌺🏵🌿
Total Princeton Fanboy here. I need to check out that Heritage 10. I personally think the White Taklon Snaps are seriously underrated. I always recommend them to beginners because they are cheap and you can abuse them. I primarily use mine for gouache. Same with the Velvetouch. I have a Filbert in the Velvetouch that is my go to Gouche brush. I have tons of Aqua Elites and Neptunes as well. I appreciate the quality for price ratio and the wide range of synthetic fibers. My only gripe is they don't make #12s in the Aqua Elite and Neptune Travel Brush Format. Thank you for the side by side comparison. For me, I like going from a softer to a stiffer fiber as I paint in watercolor so this is a very useful reference. PS--not sure if you've tried the Petals Brush in the Velvetouch line I don't do botanical art but I love unsual brush shapes. This one's designed for botanical art and part of a brush set designed for such. Happy Painting!
Thanks for the share!!! You sound like u do have lots of Princeton’s! Haha. I have heard of the petal brush set but haven’t actually looked into what’s inside. I will now! And also, it’s very rare for a dude to comment on my videos! So it’s a nice change. 😉
I have used all the brushes you listed and love the Velvet Touch the best. The Velvet Touch also comes in “long” which is something that I use a lot. I paint smaller picture so this is brush is the best for me. Did not like the Elite or the Neptune at all. Velvet Touch and Heritage are the two I like the best.
I thought it was finally time to upgrade all of my cheap Aliexpress brushes. I have only heard good things about the Princeton Aqua Elite series, so I ordered all of the round ones, size 3/0 to 20, some angle and stroke ones and also one Neptune Quill 8. Hopefully they are as good as people claim, because they aren't exactly cheap here in Sweden. Take care!
Hi Crystal! Thank you for that video! I bought the Neptune last year with the same confusion. 😄I thought you would use this one, but it was the Heritage. Unfortunatelly there is no way of buying the Heritage in Europe. For some reason the big shops only have the Neptune, Snap and Velvettouch. I once found a Set on Amazon with for Heritage brushes, but I have no need for two of them and the fourth I own already. 😖 So I have to wait for an oportunity to get the No. 10 one day. :)
That’s frustrating! The velvet touch is close to heritage. And yes they are not consistently selling it on Amazon. Luckily I have a shop close to me that sells it!
Great video! Thank you for saying you can't have too many brushes :)
Thanks!!!
I am glad you mentioned the point on your Aqua Elite brushes do not stay sharp. Mine don’t either but I thought I was doing something to them to cause this. I make sure I wet my paint before I start so I am not putting the points into a hard clump of dry paint.
Ok cool so it’s not just me too then!!!
When I’m watching your videos I never want them to end. I so enjoy what you have to teach me. Thank you for that.
You are so welcome Sandy. Kind words from you always. 😘
GOOD video - I love Princeton brushes & go back & forth between all of the ones you reviewed. Think my favorite depends on what I’m painting & maybe my mood 😃 thank you 🙏
You're welcome Linda!
Loved it, informative, and the flowers are so pretty :)
Thanks so much 😊 I didn’t really like my flowers here.
Thank you so very much for that detailed evaluation of these brushes this is exactly what I needed right now as I am ready to but a few and needed to know the specific differences without a lot of fluff added :-) nice and direct!
Thanks!!! Now watching this, I realise It could do with alot less "Ermm" hahaha
Very informative Tutorial Crystal ! I have all of those brushes as well ! I can't quite get used to the softness of the Neptune brushes and I get frustrated with the lack of control. I started with the Velvetouch round long in 6 and 8 and I used them every day and now the bristles are showing some wear and tear. I will actually purchase the Heritage and the Snap brushes :) Hopefully my husband is not noticing that my jars of brushes is getting bigger and bigger..... Thanks again !
A good brush goes a long way! Dont worry about buying and trying them all. As long as you continue with your practice, you'll be alright. :)
I thought I was being too hard on my aqua elite brush since it lost its point. Good to know. Thank you. I will try the heritage
Thanks for sharing, glad to know it's not just me then!
Loved this thank you!
So glad!
Great video !!
Perfect description and explanation of those brushes !
I agree totally 🤩🤩💕💕
Yay! Thank you!
Thanks for this video! I have been trying to figure out which one to get.
Glad this was helpful!
Very informative...thank you!
Welcome!
New info for me. I will subscribe. Thanks
Awesome, thank you!
It was the Snap brushes I started out with a couple of years ago. I like the precision and love the price but I prefer something a bit softer these days and the Snap doesn't hold as much water so I prefer them for gouache now. I haven't tried any of those other Princeton brushes but I'll give them a closer look now I've seen them 😃
You’ll love the heritage. It’s a perfect blend of snappy and soft. !
Thank you! I have been so confused about these brush differences; and being a perpetual newbie, I am never sure if it is me or the brush at times. I started out with Neptune and snap, which I like, but not as crazy about Neptune lately and have kept looking for a more precision point.
It can be so frustrating when you're not sure if it's the brush or you! I'm glad this helped. 😊
Good morning, Crystal. Hope you are getting well adjusted in your new abode. I over a few months bought one of each too, to explore… and ironically… it went a full circle where I now finally appreciate my first brush Princeton heritage so much more even when I didnt back then.
My second brush neptune drove me crazy due to its uncontrollability for definition but now… I too did eventually objectively assess it for where it will offer strength ie ultra loose, abstract and washy looks. It’s a brush where I would hold higher up the handle.
I found the aqua elite less appealing than the heritage though quite pricey. Velvetouch was my least liked due to the way it picked up the least pigment. Still debating whether the Snap would be a waste of money for me but my curiosity will probably make me buy to experience it.
My final conclusion so far was that the heritage is able to pick up and distribute not just water *but pigment too, more evenly and nicely on paper, with the closest output to the silver black velvet ( which i have the 6 & 8). There is less uneveness and pooling at each brushstroke. Since I cant afford the bigger black velvet brushes , i plan to buy more Princeton heritage to build my bigger size brush collection.
But am sure… if I practise and use every tool dilligently… I’d be able to better appreciate when each is best used for different types of painting. That way… I would stay positive and never feel buyer’s remorse.
Fantastic analysis! You’re so right about the pigment pick up. I never really thought about it that way. As in, thinking about picking up pigment vs water. I have the silver black velvet brushes, but somehow I don’t use them as much as my main round brush because it creates a very specific pointy shape to my petals which I don’t necessary like for all my paintings. But I use the smaller ones a lot for details. Thanks for the share!
Your excellent video inspired me to look in my brush collection! I found three Princetons: a quarter inch Aqua Elite Angular Shader, quite stiff, which I've used a lot; a Velvetouch petals, used only a couple of times; and a size 10 Neptune that hasn't even had its protective cover off. I must rectify that! 😆🌺🏵🌿
Hahaha those are rather unusual shaped brushes.
Great comparison 👏👏👏🙏🌹
Thanks 🙏👍
Glad you liked it!
Total Princeton Fanboy here. I need to check out that Heritage 10. I personally think the White Taklon Snaps are seriously underrated. I always recommend them to beginners because they are cheap and you can abuse them. I primarily use mine for gouache. Same with the Velvetouch. I have a Filbert in the Velvetouch that is my go to Gouche brush. I have tons of Aqua Elites and Neptunes as well. I appreciate the quality for price ratio and the wide range of synthetic fibers. My only gripe is they don't make #12s in the Aqua Elite and Neptune Travel Brush Format. Thank you for the side by side comparison. For me, I like going from a softer to a stiffer fiber as I paint in watercolor so this is a very useful reference. PS--not sure if you've tried the Petals Brush in the Velvetouch line I don't do botanical art but I love unsual brush shapes. This one's designed for botanical art and part of a brush set designed for such. Happy Painting!
Thanks for the share!!! You sound like u do have lots of Princeton’s! Haha. I have heard of the petal brush set but haven’t actually looked into what’s inside. I will now! And also, it’s very rare for a dude to comment on my videos! So it’s a nice change. 😉
Like your red top ❤
Thank you!!
Great video, thank you for sharing :)
Thanks for watching!
interesting! i do all my florals and everything actually, with the neptunes, they are my absolute favorite brush : )
Wow! U have great control over them somehow then! They are so hard to control!
Thanks bella very interesting. ❤❤❤❤❤bravissima
You’re welcome Milena! 😊
I have used all the brushes you listed and love the Velvet Touch the best. The Velvet Touch also comes in “long” which is something that I use a lot. I paint smaller picture so this is brush is the best for me. Did not like the Elite or the Neptune at all. Velvet Touch and Heritage are the two I like the best.
Oh yes they do come in long! Which I don’t really find useful to me. Velvet touch is pretty versatile.
I thought it was finally time to upgrade all of my cheap Aliexpress brushes. I have only heard good things about the Princeton Aqua Elite series, so I ordered all of the round ones, size 3/0 to 20, some angle and stroke ones and also one Neptune Quill 8. Hopefully they are as good as people claim, because they aren't exactly cheap here in Sweden. Take care!
Oh I’m sure you’ll love them. And they last forever if u take care of them!
Where/what is that color pallet reservoir from?
Its a 42 well shinhan palette!
Do I like it what???? Ha ha ha, sorry, I had to. Love the video!
Glad you enjoyed it Carissa !!!
Neptune can be floppy, and if not careful, can release a lot of water. I wish I had this video before buying!
No worries! It can still be used for other things! :)
Hi Crystal! Thank you for that video! I bought the Neptune last year with the same confusion. 😄I thought you would use this one, but it was the Heritage. Unfortunatelly there is no way of buying the Heritage in Europe. For some reason the big shops only have the Neptune, Snap and Velvettouch. I once found a Set on Amazon with for Heritage brushes, but I have no need for two of them and the fourth I own already. 😖 So I have to wait for an oportunity to get the No. 10 one day. :)
That’s frustrating! The velvet touch is close to heritage. And yes they are not consistently selling it on Amazon. Luckily I have a shop close to me that sells it!