Escoda Ultimo is good for soft gradient washes, human skin tones, lips, flowers (good for Art majors who paints human portraits). meanwhile, Versatil is used for vibrant painting because it can hold enough water just to allow the pigments to stay at first stroke, if u get what i mean. (good for Architects/Urban sketchers) Please observe the color vibrancy among all the test, the versatil is amazing. Thank you so much for the video ♥️♥️♥️
Thanks for the tests. I have been using Prada travel brushes for several years. Since I use them for smallish sketchbooks so big washes are not usually part of the sketch. I have to chuckle when your dog barked when you said squirrel. My dogs would have barked too.
Ha, ha! You are the first to comment on the "squirrel" and dog barking correlation. I actually added in a dog barking sound effect every time I mentioned "squirrel." Nice catch!
After the cymbal crash for the “Jarrods” comment, I figured you added the dog barking in post. Although our dog will bark at the word “Squirrel” but only if it is properly inflected.
I know this is an old video but it popped up in my feed at the exact right time as I was just kind of watching your channel in the background. I'm redoing my travel kit and was looking to add a few more escoda travel brushes to my kit. I currently primarily use my size 12 Versatil, but was trying to figure the difference between the other brushes online. This makes my decision so much easier, so thank you for making this direct comparison video! I truly appreciate it!
This video was extremely helpful. After years of using cheap synthetic brushes that lose their point after one use I've decided I'm going to give more expensive brushes a try. I decided on the ultimo because water capacity is something I've been frustrated with. I hadn't realized just how soft they are, so this video saved me from being disappointed. I think I'll get a larger ultimo now and maybe a versatil for detail.
I really appreciate this comparison video. It helped me to narrow down which Escoda travel set will work best for me. Thank you for such a thorough video!
Great comparison Brian! Tha ks for the video.. I've been eyeing those travel brushes for quite some time now. Btw, I'm glad you decided to came back to earth to make videos for us 😏
Thanks, Elga! Yeah, you've got to come back down once in awhile. ;) I think you'll like them if you try them. All of the Escoda travels that I've used are fantastic. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the review and comparison of the brushes! I'm in love with the Ultimo and use the Barroco for details, but never tried the others out, so it was great to know the differences to choose for the future. :)
THANK YOU for comparing the different lines of (synthetic) escoda travel brushes and having them in the same sizes. I want to invest in at least 1 escoda brush so this is very much needed for me. Looks like for my style, I'll have to go for Perla as my "hardy" travel brush and then eventually get Ultimo for more relaxed and loose painting sessions outside (and also because the squirrel brush I have is bad; it sheds).
thank you very much for doing and sharing this review/comparison video! i've been looking into getting a travel brush recently and your video really helped explain a lot of of the differences. :) sometimes i wonder why the brands that make such overlapping products don't put out videos like these to explain the differences, lol. hope you have a nice day!
Great review! Super helpful when I next want to grab some travel brushes. I have the versatil and reserva and they work well. Didn't think too much about the Perla but after watching this, I'll definitely look out for it in the future!
Thanks for watching! Yeah, I was skeptical about the Perla before trying one. I was really surprised at how well it handled compared to the more "traditional-looking" ones.
I'm very late to the party I'm afraid. Having only just started painting again after 40 years since I was at school. I'm loving how much information there is out there and how much availability to help there is. Really enjoying getting new info from you too. Timeless advice... I hope
Great Comparison. I just ordered a Perla. I have the other 3 and have compared them, and as you say they are all good. But I am missing the Perla and I like “Snappy Brushes” so you have helped me greatly in my decision to test drive another good point holding brush. My collection is the largest on the Prado brushes, but I can see from your test that I can get a similar point and snap, but holding more water. Thank you for your time.
Hello Brian... I really like this test to see which holds more water. Inspired by this I did a test of my own Escoda n.12 brushes : The results were a bit different from yours ( I will try again to double check though ) Perla 1.1 - Versatil 2.0 - Reserva 2.6. I found my Perla does not hold much water. but it is springy and firm which I do like. Versatil is tremendous value for money.
I am glad that I found this, since I’ve been shopping around for a travel brush. Thank you for turning me on to the Perla. That’s what I will be searching. For, sometime soon after payday. 😉
Good idea. I am hoping to compare the natural Kolinsky Reserva to these synthetics fairly soon. I'd especially like to know if the larger synthetics are holding a comparable amount of liquid to natural sable.
I really like your channel. It is such a breath of fresh air to find an art scholar on RUclips, not someone who posts clickbait videos or does art with "materials picked by my dog." Thanks for that. Very informative.
This was exactly what I was looking for. I was about to buy teh Versatil, but it went out of stock so I thought maybe the others were similar, BUT I got a huge surprice with your video, honestly thought the Versatil was better but now I think I'm gonna try the Perla. Than you!!!
I got a #2 Escoda Prado travel brush in one of the paint boxes I bought from one of the name brand paint companies (don't remember which one) and I just recently used it. I fell immediately in love with it. I have since purchased 3 more. Love the.
I love this test, thank you. Surprised at how well the Perla performed, I tend to ignore white nylons for some reason. I have the Versatil and love it for detail work, but will save up for a Perla for my next workhorse brush.
Thank for making this video. I’m about to buy some Escoda travelbrushes, but couldn’t decide which to buy. Now my options are much clearer! Will probably be an Ultimo 12 and a Perla 6
If i had seen this vid before... I would have done just what you say.... Perla for small numbers and último ir versatile for bigger numbers..... Instead i bought 6 perlas and i dont like how snappy they are for my numbers 8 and on 😤
i had a large amount of winsor newton sable brushes from when i worked at the WN warehouse in new jersey ... before we had a house fire easter sunday in 2017 , i miss them ... i've been able to afford some faux sable, they work well but there's def a difference , i bought some travel brushes ... faux sable off ebay and what i love about them is when put together to paint they are long like using a regular paint brush, not like using the nun of a pencil so many are so tiny when u put them together
Thank you so much for this video, I tho versatil was holding more water than the rest, what a surprise... I know now what I should look for. Nice videos :)
Sounds like they keep the Prado around because people are used to it. The versatil seems a better buy for most people. The Perla is what surprised me though. It doesn't look like a watercolor brush, but it performs way better than the others. If people have been saying that the Versatil performs as well as Sables, then the Perla must be better than the Sable. Would love to see a fight-off between the Perla, Versatil and Reserva.
I used to use some white synthetics when I was just learning to paint and they were AWFUL... stiff, carried very little water, and tended to unload all the water when you made a stroke. So, I was skeptical about the Perla before trying one. They handle beautifully. After comparing these four, I was thinking the same thing about the Reserva. I do wonder how these stack up against real sable. I will try to get ahold of a #12 Reserva and check it out (and do a video). Thanks for watching and commenting!
If you could only have one would it be the perla? Based on your tests I am going with the perla. I have gone up in the size of my paint brushes because I have decided that background even moves a botanical to a more " painterly look.
Ultimo is one of my absolute favorite brushes from Escoda! I might try the Versatil, as I was disappointed with the Reserva brushes I purchased (I'm wondering if I got damaged brushes... going to try the hot water trick to see if I can get them to behave). As for Perla... I've been very very disappointed by those--they won't hold a point for longer than a week or two, even if I treat them like absolute royalty. Which may not be a problem for other painters, but for the type of painting I do (hyper-detailed, lots of layers), I need that point. I wanted to find an Escoda synthetic I could love, so I'm hoping Versatil will be the answer.
Hi, Amaya! I suspect that the Veratil will hold a point a bit better than the Perla. However, my Perla is still holding its point pretty well. That may change with more use. Good thing to watch for. That's also interesting about the Reservas. I am tentatively planning to pick up a #12 Reserva to compare to these synthetics. Hmmm. If I get one, I hope it holds its shape. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I do botanical and natural science art, so my tips have to stay razor sharp! Plus lots of dry brushing. I think that for the average watercolor painter, the tip is probably fine. For what I do, the Perla lost its shape pretty quickly. But I'm hopeful for the Versatil! And it's probably better suited, since it's a sable imitation rather than a straight nylon/taklon type of brush.
@Yasmine S. I typically use a small ultimo mop for large wet washes in underpaintings, or for other types of painting like loose and fast landscapes. I do want to give the Versatil a try, as I would love a good synthetic alternative to kolinsky brushes.
For details nothing beats the natural sables... As much as I prefer vegan supplies, the frustration with synthetics losing their points is just too real :(
You might like the Barroco series by escoda, they hold the same water but are a little bit stiffer, so you might be able to do more detail work. Btw, all my perlas (sizes 2, 14, 18 and a 10 cat's tongue) still hold perfectly the point, I have done a lot of heavy lifting with them and even used them with pure bleach and ink! Also I have a couple of Reserva, size 8 it's super pointy but size 2 is not at all, maybe smaller sizes of that series don't hold the point so well.
I have a 14 jackson's Artica that is the same as perla and it exceed my expectations which were high to begin with. I have kolinsky and squirrel brushes to compare and the Perla (or Artica) and the silver black velvets for me are the brushes that make more sense for watercolors when you put performance, quality and price all in consideration. Both black velvets and Perla provide great control, not an excesive water holding capacity but just the needed, great... Great points, and are firm and soft at the same time. Of corse different styles of painting will need different fibers but Perla and Black Velvet are sooooo 👌👌👌👌
Great review, I’ve steered clear of white bristle brushes because I guess I’ve always thought of them as their 25 yr old counterparts. But I’m also a kolinsky snob but i never pay full price or I buy used brushes on amazon warehouse and fix them using the hot water trick. I’m curious to the water control with synthetics have now with technology increasing daily. I still hear these brushes have some issues with unloading water and/or pigment to quickly or all at once
I haven't noticed any issues with unloading too quickly. However, the majority of the brushes that I use daily are the Versatils. They seem to work just great.
Thank you so much. This is a great video. It had all the answers I was looking for. I was wondering... did you note any differences in the way color settles down between the Versatil and the Perla? Maybe its the video--but it seems to me that color looked brighter in versatil's first strokes vs. the perla...
Good idea, I have an old set from Utrecht that would be fun to get out to see what shape they are in. Okay Ill admit I have the davinci ones in a drawer too. Good to hear from you, enjoyed the reviews. Take care.. PS had to check I have an Escoda Perla size 10. It came with a set of Perlas non travel brushes I do use them often. LOL on being impressed that you can write, I will put that right up there with I can read. 👍🏻😁
Hi Essie! Thanks for acknowledging my ability to write. Ha, ha!! I need to buy some non-travel Perlas since I use the travel ones in the studio fairly often. Great to hear from you!
Brian Ashmore Studio I have an 18,10,12, and an 8. I love them, they have much more talent than I do, but they are working with me. Believe it or not, I found some of them on the Dick Blick clearance, I guess they were new and it must of been time to rotate their stock...
Thanks for this review ! Since then, I ordered a Versatil and a Perla ! Have you ever tried the Mimik Kolinsky Travel Brushes from Jerry's artrama ? There's no review for those and i'm wondering if they are any good ?
Wow I’m really surprised that Perla has this much better water retention than Versatil! Especially since Versatil is supposed to be kolinsky sable synthetic
Thanks for make this video it's very helpfull. I never try this brand before because it quite expensive but exchange with good quality and there are a lot to choose from..
Great video!! These look really kool Brian. I'd love to get me some, but I don't travel much. If I bought these and only used them in my studio, could I do that without breaking some kind of "art travel brush" law book statute?
Page 23, section H of the book allows up to 70% studio use of these brushes. So, go nuts!! Actually, I've probably used these more in the studio, lately, than on-the-go. I really need to buy a few traditional studio Escoda brushes so I don't wear these out too quickly. Thanks for watching, my friend!!
It would be nice to see the ultima and reserva size twelve next to these, although I do realize this review is about synthetic travel brushes. Still, would be wonderful to see.
Hi there, Loved your review.. Perfect!! I bought three versatel Escoda travel brushes while in Amsterdam as I forgot to bring my watercolor brushes with me. I recently realized that I lost one and so I began researching buying the one I lost. Sadly I found that the brushes I bought are not sable!! I was told they were and the cost was high. I will be buying a new set of the sable Escoda travel brushes.
Hi Lisa, That stinks!... to buy one thing but find out you have something else. I love the Escoda synthetics but can certainly understand wanting sable! I hope you found what you were looking for. Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment!
Well... I just got these due to the wonderful review above. And I’ve only painted outside once prior to this. 😅 lol omg the perla’s are wonderful. Just took them outta the package and tested them and everything he said above spot on!! 😬😬 thanks so much for your review. Now I’m saving for some inside brushes from this brand. Lol
This is a great video, very helpful. I noticed you haven't posted a new video for awhile. I hope you are doing well, and hope to see some new content soon! :)
How long are these when folded? I want to get a brush that will fit in an altoid tin palette that I 3d printed, but I can't find any information about the actual dimensions online, only the dimensions of the bristles specifically.
Interestingly I think the capacity situation is switched between the Perla and Versàtil for smaller sizes like a #8. But I don't really use those wee sizes much at all anymore. Anyway, check out Jackson's. The prices are _far_ better.
raosprid if you want individual perlas a company in Nashville TN called Plaza Art Materials sells those and prados individually. :) I got a Perla wallet from Jackson’s and I love it. They do half off escoda from time to time and I am always on the look out for that.
That's interesting about the smaller sizes making a difference in capacity. To be honest, you really can't go wrong with any of these Escodas. I definitely mix and match the different kinds and sizes of Escodas. Thanks for watching!
Wow....been looking at buying 1 of these and the perla was the ONLY one i was NOT considering......but now i think i will get a perla. And maybe a ultimo as a bigger wash travel brush. So like a 12 or bigger ultimo and a 8 perla or something
Are you sur of the water capacity of the perla? I have bought the number 10 and very surprise of how it can’t hold a lot of water! So I’m looking for ultimo now to complete this one
That’s definitely a bit tricky and something to watch out for. If you are careful and put them back together when the brush is still damp and a closed shape, it’s not too much of an issue.
Hi Brian... I just discovered your channel... i enjoyed watching this review. I was wondering the difference between those brushes. I’ve been meaning to buy travel brushes and Escoda is one of my option. However, I was also wondering how the Reserva behaved. But according to the comments she like the Ultimo better.
enjoyed the comparison. i noticed Blick carries an Escoda Signature Set #1 for Joseph Zbukvic. 3 Perla brushes - round 8 & 12, and a travel round 10. msrp $85.03, the usual sale price of $62.12 which sounds reasonable to me.
Hi Brian! Thanks so much for your video! I've been looking at the Escoda travel brushes for a while...and felt overwhelmed! Which series would you recommend for someone who does both watercolour and gouache painting? Thanks :)
Hi Maria! I don't really use gouache but I checked with a buddy that uses it all the time (Jared Loves to Draw). He said that he avoids using his Escoda brushes with gouache since it is more harsh on brushes than transparent watercolor. He said that he uses the cheaper Raphael Kaerrels for gouache. However, he did say that Escodas would be great for gouache if you do want to use them. As far as which one?... my guess would be that any of them would be good since they are all good with transparent watercolor. If you haven't already, I would definitely recommend checking out Jared's channel.
Thursday’s are one if the best days to buy art supplies. Just do a week of looking everyday morning and night and you’ll see. Oh don’t put it in your cart. The price goes up if it’s in your cart. Weird, yes but it’s true....ask me how I know?! I’ve purchased kolinsky sable brushes ($300 retail) for $45 catching amazon on a blunder. I don’t (and you shouldn’t either) do this to third party sellers only shipped and sold by amazon products.
Thanks for the tip, I spend a lot of time watching prices for art supplies and wouldn't have guessed about Thursday's. I can't wait for Thursday now, I ’m so curious.
Muchas gracias, aunque no se inglés me sirvió igual la comparativa. Entonces el perla aguanta más agua de lo esperado y tiene buenísima pinta para delineados. El prado y versatil aguantan parecido en agua pero el prado hace mas fáciles los trazos y el último contiene muchísima agua y es bueno para espacios amplios pero no para delinear o terminaciones. Gracias total para asi elegir mi pincel ❤
Hi Algum, I just posted a new video reviewing Escoda's travel version Reserva... a Kolinsky sable brush. It's the only Escoda sable I've tried, so far.
I use the Prado as I do urban sketching … my general sketchbooks don’t deal well with a bunch of water & there’s not a lot of time for drying / layering when out and about Now, if I were out and about with a watercolor block and an hour or two to kill, ultimo would be okay. … nice comparison, thanks
I would say the Perla for details and the Ultimo for washes. A size 6 Perla and a size 10/12 Ultimo would be a nice versatile travel brush loadout. I have the Jackson Artica size 6, which is the Escoda Perla made for Jackson's by Escoda for lower price. I wonder if Jackson's has an Ultimo clone 🤔
what I learnt back in my days at art school was that when comparing synthetic to natural brushes your synthetic should be larger than your natural brush. Like that you'd find out how to make use of their specific properties. … there are various different kinds of apples out there, I guess ;-)
I'm honestly shocked that the versatil and prado, supposed to imitate kilinsky fiber and advertised in their website as such, hold less water than the perla. Now I'm rethinking wich one buy for a travel brush.
I have a few versatile travel #8, #4 etc. I find that they get a hook on the tip pretty fast. I even got a new one at a Plein air event here in SF and the rep gave me a bread new one. It hooked too. I have used rosemary brushes for a few years as well.. they don’t get the hook.. btw did you notice that every time you said Squirrel, your dog barked? Good dog!
Interesting about those hooking. Now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve had that problem with any of my other brushes. The dog barking was meant to be a little joke. I added the barking dog sound effect. Most people don’t catch it. I think I even got one suggestion to keep my dog quiet while filming. 😂
I agree with you Eileen about the Vesatil brush tips which unfortunately curl and completely loses its point very fast. I do like it for good water control but only use it for dry brush effects, pigmented wash or mixing paints. My fave brushes now are Silver Black Velvet and RosemaryandCo sable blend or red dot synthetic ranges.
The Jackson Artica travel brush is a clone of the Escoda Perla. It is made by Escoda, so you can get a "Perla" travel brush for a really good price that way. Same thing for their regular Articas. I have a bunch of them, and they are exactly the same. If only they held more water, they would be my "go-to" brushes...
Escoda Ultimo is good for soft gradient washes, human skin tones, lips, flowers (good for Art majors who paints human portraits). meanwhile, Versatil is used for vibrant painting because it can hold enough water just to allow the pigments to stay at first stroke, if u get what i mean. (good for Architects/Urban sketchers) Please observe the color vibrancy among all the test, the versatil is amazing.
Thank you so much for the video ♥️♥️♥️
Thanks for the tests. I have been using Prada travel brushes for several years. Since I use them for smallish sketchbooks so big washes are not usually part of the sketch. I have to chuckle when your dog barked when you said squirrel. My dogs would have barked too.
Ha, ha! You are the first to comment on the "squirrel" and dog barking correlation. I actually added in a dog barking sound effect every time I mentioned "squirrel." Nice catch!
After the cymbal crash for the “Jarrods” comment, I figured you added the dog barking in post. Although our dog will bark at the word “Squirrel” but only if it is properly inflected.
@@brianashmorestudio kml
@@brianashmorestudio Hahaha I suspected! The dog barks every time you say "squirrel" LOL
@@brianashmorestudio - The Dog barking FX for every squirrel honestly makes may day! Expert dad humor! Please never stop!
I think you just saved me a lot of guess work. Thanks Brian!
Great! Although, you really can't go wrong with any of them, it's kind of fun to see what differences there are between them. Thanks!
I know this is an old video but it popped up in my feed at the exact right time as I was just kind of watching your channel in the background. I'm redoing my travel kit and was looking to add a few more escoda travel brushes to my kit. I currently primarily use my size 12 Versatil, but was trying to figure the difference between the other brushes online. This makes my decision so much easier, so thank you for making this direct comparison video! I truly appreciate it!
Hahaha that sound effects made me happy. Great review! Those brushes are my favorite in the world. I love them. Same with their regular line.
Thanks, my friend! ... and thanks again for opening my eyes to more than just the Versatil!
This video was extremely helpful. After years of using cheap synthetic brushes that lose their point after one use I've decided I'm going to give more expensive brushes a try. I decided on the ultimo because water capacity is something I've been frustrated with. I hadn't realized just how soft they are, so this video saved me from being disappointed. I think I'll get a larger ultimo now and maybe a versatil for detail.
Glad it helped!! Thanks!
Great review! My wife has been researching these brushes to get for her travel kit. Super helpful👍
I really appreciate this comparison video. It helped me to narrow down which Escoda travel set will work best for me. Thank you for such a thorough video!
Great comparison Brian! Tha ks for the video.. I've been eyeing those travel brushes for quite some time now.
Btw, I'm glad you decided to came back to earth to make videos for us 😏
Thanks, Elga! Yeah, you've got to come back down once in awhile. ;) I think you'll like them if you try them. All of the Escoda travels that I've used are fantastic. Thanks for watching!
Man: Squirrel
Dog: Woof! Woof! Woof!
Ha ha!!! Glad someone caught that!!
lmao and it wasnt even just one time!!! 😆
Exactly. everytime except one.
Thanks, I've been drooling over these travel brushes for a while!
Thanks for the review and comparison of the brushes! I'm in love with the Ultimo and use the Barroco for details, but never tried the others out, so it was great to know the differences to choose for the future. :)
Thanks for watching! I'm really enjoy using my Ultimos, as well.
THANK YOU for comparing the different lines of (synthetic) escoda travel brushes and having them in the same sizes. I want to invest in at least 1 escoda brush so this is very much needed for me.
Looks like for my style, I'll have to go for Perla as my "hardy" travel brush and then eventually get Ultimo for more relaxed and loose painting sessions outside (and also because the squirrel brush I have is bad; it sheds).
thank you very much for doing and sharing this review/comparison video! i've been looking into getting a travel brush recently and your video really helped explain a lot of of the differences. :) sometimes i wonder why the brands that make such overlapping products don't put out videos like these to explain the differences, lol. hope you have a nice day!
Great review! Super helpful when I next want to grab some travel brushes. I have the versatil and reserva and they work well. Didn't think too much about the Perla but after watching this, I'll definitely look out for it in the future!
Thanks for watching! Yeah, I was skeptical about the Perla before trying one. I was really surprised at how well it handled compared to the more "traditional-looking" ones.
Love your methods. I'm still learning from the beginning, so I will remember this.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you! I love my Ultimo and also use silver black velvet travel brushes in my travel bag.
Thank you for this! I'd been pondering which one to get!
I'm very late to the party I'm afraid. Having only just started painting again after 40 years since I was at school. I'm loving how much information there is out there and how much availability to help there is. Really enjoying getting new info from you too. Timeless advice... I hope
Great Comparison. I just ordered a Perla. I have the other 3 and have compared them, and as you say they are all good. But I am missing the Perla and I like “Snappy Brushes” so you have helped me greatly in my decision to test drive another good point holding brush. My collection is the largest on the Prado brushes, but I can see from your test that I can get a similar point and snap, but holding more water. Thank you for your time.
Ordered my brushes right after watching these video. Thanks for the review!
Brilliant video. Thank you very much. I'm going for the Versatil though.....it just looks soooooo good!
Everytime you mentioned the squirrel, that dog barked. Thanks for the review, very useful.
Hello Brian... I really like this test to see which holds more water. Inspired by this I did a test of my own Escoda n.12 brushes : The results were a bit different from yours ( I will try again to double check though ) Perla 1.1 - Versatil 2.0 - Reserva 2.6. I found my Perla does not hold much water. but it is springy and firm which I do like. Versatil is tremendous value for money.
I am glad that I found this, since I’ve been shopping around for a travel brush. Thank you for turning me on to the Perla. That’s what I will be searching. For, sometime soon after payday. 😉
I was surprised at how much I liked the Perla after a friend sent me one to try out. Great brush!
I just got a #6 Reserva and am looking to synthetic for the larger sizes so thanks for this. 👍🏼✨🙏🏼✨
Good idea. I am hoping to compare the natural Kolinsky Reserva to these synthetics fairly soon. I'd especially like to know if the larger synthetics are holding a comparable amount of liquid to natural sable.
I really like your channel. It is such a breath of fresh air to find an art scholar on RUclips, not someone who posts clickbait videos or does art with "materials picked by my dog." Thanks for that. Very informative.
Susan L. McGee Thanks so much, Susan!! I really appreciate that. 👍
This was exactly what I was looking for. I was about to buy teh Versatil, but it went out of stock so I thought maybe the others were similar, BUT I got a huge surprice with your video, honestly thought the Versatil was better but now I think I'm gonna try the Perla. Than you!!!
I got a #2 Escoda Prado travel brush in one of the paint boxes I bought from one of the name brand paint companies (don't remember which one) and I just recently used it. I fell immediately in love with it. I have since purchased 3 more. Love the.
I love this test, thank you. Surprised at how well the Perla performed, I tend to ignore white nylons for some reason. I have the Versatil and love it for detail work, but will save up for a Perla for my next workhorse brush.
Absolutely great technique of review, thanks
Escoda are very good brushes,made in Spain.
Thank for making this video. I’m about to buy some Escoda travelbrushes, but couldn’t decide which to buy. Now my options are much clearer! Will probably be an Ultimo 12 and a Perla 6
If i had seen this vid before... I would have done just what you say.... Perla for small numbers and último ir versatile for bigger numbers..... Instead i bought 6 perlas and i dont like how snappy they are for my numbers 8 and on 😤
@@dhoakohime What exactly are you saying? Your last sentence is gobbledigook!
@@johnd942 he's saying that the size 8 and above Perlas are too snappy for him.
Man i wish i watched this before I bought some brushes but this review is really on point! I love my Perla brush
i had a large amount of winsor newton sable brushes from when i worked at the WN warehouse in new jersey ... before we had a house fire easter sunday in 2017 , i miss them ... i've been able to afford some faux sable, they work well but there's def a difference , i bought some travel brushes ... faux sable off ebay and what i love about them is when put together to paint they are long like using a regular paint brush, not like using the nun of a pencil so many are so tiny when u put them together
That's my choice as well - love that line of brushes - cheers
Great to hear! Thanks for watching, Robin!
The MOST useful experience, THANKS A LOT ❤️
Thank you so much for this video, I tho versatil was holding more water than the rest, what a surprise... I know now what I should look for. Nice videos :)
I was surprised, as well! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
This was great. I wanted to know about the brushes.
Recently I bought the Isabey set of travel brushes from a local store, I thought it was a decent buy for what I got despite the limited sizes offered.
Sounds like they keep the Prado around because people are used to it. The versatil seems a better buy for most people.
The Perla is what surprised me though. It doesn't look like a watercolor brush, but it performs way better than the others. If people have been saying that the Versatil performs as well as Sables, then the Perla must be better than the Sable. Would love to see a fight-off between the Perla, Versatil and Reserva.
I used to use some white synthetics when I was just learning to paint and they were AWFUL... stiff, carried very little water, and tended to unload all the water when you made a stroke. So, I was skeptical about the Perla before trying one. They handle beautifully. After comparing these four, I was thinking the same thing about the Reserva. I do wonder how these stack up against real sable. I will try to get ahold of a #12 Reserva and check it out (and do a video). Thanks for watching and commenting!
Would love to see a Reserva. Never heard of it.
Thanks, now I know which one I will get when I go to buy one. We chose the same one. TFS
Hi Kim! I will definitely be buying more Perlas, as well.
Very useful video, saved me so much time! THANK YOU
Thanks a lot best review now I m gonna go get meself a Perla no.12.
Great and very useful review Brian..
Thanks so much for watching, Venu!!
Excellent review! Thank you.
So very helpful, thank you!
Thanks for watching, Debra!
If you could only have one would it be the perla? Based on your tests I am going with the perla. I have gone up in the size of my paint brushes because I have decided that background even moves a botanical to a more " painterly look.
Excellent video, nothing else like it on RUclips.
Thanks so much, Julian!
Ultimo is one of my absolute favorite brushes from Escoda! I might try the Versatil, as I was disappointed with the Reserva brushes I purchased (I'm wondering if I got damaged brushes... going to try the hot water trick to see if I can get them to behave). As for Perla... I've been very very disappointed by those--they won't hold a point for longer than a week or two, even if I treat them like absolute royalty. Which may not be a problem for other painters, but for the type of painting I do (hyper-detailed, lots of layers), I need that point. I wanted to find an Escoda synthetic I could love, so I'm hoping Versatil will be the answer.
Hi, Amaya! I suspect that the Veratil will hold a point a bit better than the Perla. However, my Perla is still holding its point pretty well. That may change with more use. Good thing to watch for. That's also interesting about the Reservas. I am tentatively planning to pick up a #12 Reserva to compare to these synthetics. Hmmm. If I get one, I hope it holds its shape. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I do botanical and natural science art, so my tips have to stay razor sharp! Plus lots of dry brushing. I think that for the average watercolor painter, the tip is probably fine. For what I do, the Perla lost its shape pretty quickly. But I'm hopeful for the Versatil! And it's probably better suited, since it's a sable imitation rather than a straight nylon/taklon type of brush.
@Yasmine S. I typically use a small ultimo mop for large wet washes in underpaintings, or for other types of painting like loose and fast landscapes. I do want to give the Versatil a try, as I would love a good synthetic alternative to kolinsky brushes.
For details nothing beats the natural sables... As much as I prefer vegan supplies, the frustration with synthetics losing their points is just too real :(
You might like the Barroco series by escoda, they hold the same water but are a little bit stiffer, so you might be able to do more detail work.
Btw, all my perlas (sizes 2, 14, 18 and a 10 cat's tongue) still hold perfectly the point, I have done a lot of heavy lifting with them and even used them with pure bleach and ink! Also I have a couple of Reserva, size 8 it's super pointy but size 2 is not at all, maybe smaller sizes of that series don't hold the point so well.
thank you so much for this informative review!
I have a 14 jackson's Artica that is the same as perla and it exceed my expectations which were high to begin with. I have kolinsky and squirrel brushes to compare and the Perla (or Artica) and the silver black velvets for me are the brushes that make more sense for watercolors when you put performance, quality and price all in consideration. Both black velvets and Perla provide great control, not an excesive water holding capacity but just the needed, great... Great points, and are firm and soft at the same time. Of corse different styles of painting will need different fibers but Perla and Black Velvet are sooooo 👌👌👌👌
I find the Perla far superior to Jackson’s artica.......didn’t like the latter at all
Such a helpful video. Thanks!
Great review, I’ve steered clear of white bristle brushes because I guess I’ve always thought of them as their 25 yr old counterparts. But I’m also a kolinsky snob but i never pay full price or I buy used brushes on amazon warehouse and fix them using the hot water trick. I’m curious to the water control with synthetics have now with technology increasing daily. I still hear these brushes have some issues with unloading water and/or pigment to quickly or all at once
I haven't noticed any issues with unloading too quickly. However, the majority of the brushes that I use daily are the Versatils. They seem to work just great.
Thank you so much. This is a great video. It had all the answers I was looking for. I was wondering... did you note any differences in the way color settles down between the Versatil and the Perla? Maybe its the video--but it seems to me that color looked brighter in versatil's first strokes vs. the perla...
Good idea, I have an old set from Utrecht that would be fun to get out to see what shape they are in. Okay Ill admit I have the davinci ones in a drawer too. Good to hear from you, enjoyed the reviews. Take care.. PS had to check I have an Escoda Perla size 10. It came with a set of Perlas non travel brushes I do use them often. LOL on being impressed that you can write, I will put that right up there with I can read. 👍🏻😁
Hi Essie! Thanks for acknowledging my ability to write. Ha, ha!! I need to buy some non-travel Perlas since I use the travel ones in the studio fairly often. Great to hear from you!
Brian Ashmore Studio I have an 18,10,12, and an 8. I love them, they have much more talent than I do, but they are working with me. Believe it or not, I found some of them on the Dick Blick clearance, I guess they were new and it must of been time to rotate their stock...
Thank you for your fantastic comparison. Is it possible to make one about the nr. 2 brushes?
Thanks for this review ! Since then, I ordered a Versatil and a Perla !
Have you ever tried the Mimik Kolinsky Travel Brushes from Jerry's artrama ? There's no review for those and i'm wondering if they are any good ?
Wow I’m really surprised that Perla has this much better water retention than Versatil! Especially since Versatil is supposed to be kolinsky sable synthetic
Thanks for make this video it's very helpfull. I never try this brand before because it quite expensive but exchange with good quality and there are a lot to choose from..
Perfect explained - i ordered some Versatile for more control than my Ultimo 😄thank you
informative review. thank you
Great video!! These look really kool Brian. I'd love to get me some, but I don't travel much. If I bought these and only used them in my studio, could I do that without breaking some kind of "art travel brush" law book statute?
Page 23, section H of the book allows up to 70% studio use of these brushes. So, go nuts!! Actually, I've probably used these more in the studio, lately, than on-the-go. I really need to buy a few traditional studio Escoda brushes so I don't wear these out too quickly. Thanks for watching, my friend!!
It would be nice to see the ultima and reserva size twelve next to these, although I do realize this review is about synthetic travel brushes. Still, would be wonderful to see.
I was thinking the same thing. I'm seriously considering buying a #12 Reserva to compare. Thanks for watching!
Hi there, Loved your review.. Perfect!! I bought three versatel Escoda travel brushes while in Amsterdam as I forgot to bring my watercolor brushes with me.
I recently realized that I lost one and so I began researching buying the one I lost. Sadly I found that the brushes I bought are not sable!! I was told they were and the cost was high. I will be buying a new set of the sable Escoda travel brushes.
Hi Lisa, That stinks!... to buy one thing but find out you have something else. I love the Escoda synthetics but can certainly understand wanting sable! I hope you found what you were looking for. Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment!
Well... I just got these due to the wonderful review above. And I’ve only painted outside once prior to this. 😅 lol omg the perla’s are wonderful. Just took them outta the package and tested them and everything he said above spot on!! 😬😬 thanks so much for your review. Now I’m saving for some inside brushes from this brand. Lol
This is a great video, very helpful. I noticed you haven't posted a new video for awhile. I hope you are doing well, and hope to see some new content soon! :)
Well developed experimental design!
I need to see the comparisons for Escoda Travel sets, Otimol ( kolinsky Sable) and Escoda Reversa ( finest Kolinsky Sable). Any ideas Brian ?
I bought the Perla set based on this review. I'm quite happy with them, but wish I had chosen the Versatil. Oh, well, I could use 2 sets....
thank u so much 😊
How long are these when folded? I want to get a brush that will fit in an altoid tin palette that I 3d printed, but I can't find any information about the actual dimensions online, only the dimensions of the bristles specifically.
Interestingly I think the capacity situation is switched between the Perla and Versàtil for smaller sizes like a #8. But I don't really use those wee sizes much at all anymore.
Anyway, check out Jackson's. The prices are _far_ better.
raosprid if you want individual perlas a company in Nashville TN called Plaza Art Materials sells those and prados individually. :) I got a Perla wallet from Jackson’s and I love it. They do half off escoda from time to time and I am always on the look out for that.
That's interesting about the smaller sizes making a difference in capacity. To be honest, you really can't go wrong with any of these Escodas. I definitely mix and match the different kinds and sizes of Escodas. Thanks for watching!
Wow....been looking at buying 1 of these and the perla was the ONLY one i was NOT considering......but now i think i will get a perla. And maybe a ultimo as a bigger wash travel brush. So like a 12 or bigger ultimo and a 8 perla or something
Are you sur of the water capacity of the perla? I have bought the number 10 and very surprise of how it can’t hold a lot of water! So I’m looking for ultimo now to complete this one
which of the brush keeps its point the longest? like durability perhaps?
Should I buy this set for my home use or it's only for artist who does painting outside?
Thanks for the great comparison test. Are they all easy to insert the brush to the handle, without touching/splitting the belly of the brush?
That’s definitely a bit tricky and something to watch out for. If you are careful and put them back together when the brush is still damp and a closed shape, it’s not too much of an issue.
if i have to have a one brush, what size should i get, 10 or 12? i am planning to purchase escoda synthetic also
Thanks! This is helpful!
Hi Brian... I just discovered your channel... i enjoyed watching this review. I was wondering the difference between those brushes. I’ve been meaning to buy travel brushes and Escoda is one of my option. However, I was also wondering how the Reserva behaved. But according to the comments she like the Ultimo better.
Hi April, Thanks for watching. I have since purchased a Reserva travel brush and plan to do un update video sometime soon.
I have the perla and versatil and everytime i am going to paint i alway pick perla over versatil for me is a lot better than versatil for some reason
enjoyed the comparison. i noticed Blick carries an Escoda Signature Set #1 for Joseph Zbukvic. 3 Perla brushes - round 8 & 12, and a travel round 10. msrp $85.03, the usual sale price of $62.12 which sounds reasonable to me.
Love the bark.
Batman's utility belt!😂😂😂 I'm just picturing the labels they had for everything like the shark repellent!
Hi Brian! Thanks so much for your video! I've been looking at the Escoda travel brushes for a while...and felt overwhelmed! Which series would you recommend for someone who does both watercolour and gouache painting? Thanks :)
Hi Maria! I don't really use gouache but I checked with a buddy that uses it all the time (Jared Loves to Draw). He said that he avoids using his Escoda brushes with gouache since it is more harsh on brushes than transparent watercolor. He said that he uses the cheaper Raphael Kaerrels for gouache. However, he did say that Escodas would be great for gouache if you do want to use them. As far as which one?... my guess would be that any of them would be good since they are all good with transparent watercolor. If you haven't already, I would definitely recommend checking out Jared's channel.
Thursday’s are one if the best days to buy art supplies. Just do a week of looking everyday morning and night and you’ll see. Oh don’t put it in your cart. The price goes up if it’s in your cart. Weird, yes but it’s true....ask me how I know?! I’ve purchased kolinsky sable brushes ($300 retail) for $45 catching amazon on a blunder. I don’t (and you shouldn’t either) do this to third party sellers only shipped and sold by amazon products.
Thanks for the tip, Erin!! I'll be watching to see how things fluctuate.
Thanks for the tip, I spend a lot of time watching prices for art supplies and wouldn't have guessed about Thursday's. I can't wait for Thursday now, I ’m so curious.
Muchas gracias, aunque no se inglés me sirvió igual la comparativa. Entonces el perla aguanta más agua de lo esperado y tiene buenísima pinta para delineados. El prado y versatil aguantan parecido en agua pero el prado hace mas fáciles los trazos y el último contiene muchísima agua y es bueno para espacios amplios pero no para delinear o terminaciones. Gracias total para asi elegir mi pincel ❤
Could you post links for products you review they've been really helpful im currently making your plein air setup and thanks for all your videos.
Hi Rodrigo! Thanks! I will try harder to post links as I go forward.
I think I like the Prado the best out of all of the Escoda synthetics....though nothing beats real sable.
Hi, Thankyou for the review..this is really helpful. Would you suggest Perla for watercolor art ?
Definitely! All of these Escoda brushes are great for watercolor despite their differences.
Thanks, very helpful video. Can you do their sable line also?
Hi Algum, I just posted a new video reviewing Escoda's travel version Reserva... a Kolinsky sable brush. It's the only Escoda sable I've tried, so far.
I use the Prado as I do urban sketching … my general sketchbooks don’t deal well with a bunch of water & there’s not a lot of time for drying / layering when out and about
Now, if I were out and about with a watercolor block and an hour or two to kill, ultimo would be okay.
… nice comparison, thanks
Do tthese fill up with water?
I would say the Perla for details and the Ultimo for washes. A size 6 Perla and a size 10/12 Ultimo would be a nice versatile travel brush loadout. I have the Jackson Artica size 6, which is the Escoda Perla made for Jackson's by Escoda for lower price. I wonder if Jackson's has an Ultimo clone 🤔
what I learnt back in my days at art school was that when comparing synthetic to natural brushes your synthetic should be larger than your natural brush. Like that you'd find out how to make use of their specific properties. … there are various different kinds of apples out there, I guess ;-)
How do they compare to your DaVinci travel brushes?
I'm honestly shocked that the versatil and prado, supposed to imitate kilinsky fiber and advertised in their website as such, hold less water than the perla. Now I'm rethinking wich one buy for a travel brush.
I have a few versatile travel #8, #4 etc. I find that they get a hook on the tip pretty fast. I even got a new one at a Plein air event here in SF and the rep gave me a bread new one. It hooked too. I have used rosemary brushes for a few years as well.. they don’t get the hook.. btw did you notice that every time you said Squirrel, your dog barked? Good dog!
Interesting about those hooking. Now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve had that problem with any of my other brushes. The dog barking was meant to be a little joke. I added the barking dog sound effect. Most people don’t catch it. I think I even got one suggestion to keep my dog quiet while filming. 😂
I agree with you Eileen about the Vesatil brush tips which unfortunately curl and completely loses its point very fast. I do like it for good water control but only use it for dry brush effects, pigmented wash or mixing paints. My fave brushes now are Silver Black Velvet and RosemaryandCo sable blend or red dot synthetic ranges.
Thank you!
The Jackson Artica travel brush is a clone of the Escoda Perla. It is made by Escoda, so you can get a "Perla" travel brush for a really good price that way. Same thing for their regular Articas. I have a bunch of them, and they are exactly the same. If only they held more water, they would be my "go-to" brushes...