I have the Pentel Waterbrushes from Amazon; they were a three pack consisting of a large, med and small round brushes. They do not leak like the Koi water brush, which locks in the opposite conventional direction , counterclockwise instead of clockwise. Love them and they were reasonable priced.
Lindsay, you MUST try the Pentel Aquash waterbrush! It is now the only one I buy! Comes small, medium and large, but honestly, the medium is quite sufficient and gives great brush and water control. The tip is PERFECTION!
The Pentel brushes are really nice and they have the valve so your water doesn't get tainted by the paint. I prefer using a regular brush as I feel like I have much better water control but the Pentel brushes are great if you're painting on the go. I have the 3 piece set with the 3 different sized tips and they're really great.
After looking for a long time and trying myriad brands/styles, I bought the Pentel Aquash. Love them. Won't look back or bother with another brand. I have the Caran D'Ache set with plungers and the bristles are good, as is the felt tip. But they are so fiddly to fill. And hard to squeeze for older hands.
I have the three pack of Pentel and like them quite a bit. I have rheumatoid arthritis, but have no trouble squeezing them, and the barrels are very comfortable to hold.
I really love the Kuretake Zig BrusH2O waterbrushes! I tried the koi ones, but the bristles were so long and I had trouble with control with them. I like the Zigs because they have shorter bristles, but aren’t too short. They also have pretty good water control. You can get nice, juicy washes and good dry brush effects with them. I do think my smallest one probably needs to be replaced, because the bristles are a little splayed. I’m pretty rough on my brushes, though so I’m not surprised. There’s also a mini version of the small brush that collapses in on itself by flipping the bristles into the barrel of the brush. I don’t like it as much because it’s a little leaky if you leave water in the barrel. But the mini I got actually comes with a really cute and handy bottle for filling up your brush and I absolutely love it! Super useful! They also have larger barrel versions and a flat brush option that I haven’t tried yet. My favorite one is the green medium brush as it’s a good all-arounder for small to medium paintings while on the move. (3”x5”-8”x10” paintings approximately) I’m hoping to try the Pentel brushes soon.
The Pentel brushes are really good. They hold a fantastic point, I only wish they did a big flat brush too! The Derwents brushes are ok, they loose their point or edge rather quickly and have a bad tendency to pull paint up into the body of the brush, meaning you waste a lot of weather trying to clean them. They also seem to airlock badly when trying to move water through the tip.
I have the Mudder set and I use the large flats just for wetting the paper. I really like painting with the other 4 brushes plus my Koi brush from my 24 color set.
I have Pentel Water brushes; I bought their 3-pack so I could have a small, medium and large brush. I use them quite a bit, especially if I just want to do a little quick practice sketching while sitting watching TV. I think they work well. There is sometimes some staining of the filaments but never any color back-wash. My first water brush was the one that came with the Koi travel set, and what I love about that one is the little plug that allows the brush to be stored in two pieces to save space. I found more of those from Koi in a mini-brush on Amazon. I keep them with my micro paint sets that I keep in my car or bag. They don't hold as much water but enough for my use and I also keep a micro-mister in my bag, and can use that to refill.
Great comparison video! Super helpful! I have only used 3 brands of waterbrushes. I love the Pentel Aquash waterbrushes. I find that they are easy to squeeze, the water flow is great and their bristles are a little stiffer than the Derwents and Caran d'Ache, which makes it easier for me to wet my cotmans or dissolve my watercolor pencils. The water barrels aren't round, they are sort of flatish oval shaped, which is great since they won't roll away. I have the 3 rounds, I didn't realize they make a flat. The Derwent water brushes, aren't that great... I liked the Derwents when I first got them, but after two years they seem to have clogged. I don't know, I never got paint into the valve or into the barrel, but the brush doesn't want to release water and squeezing them is hard. Their brush bristles are finer and softer than the Pentel. They do roll away unless you but the cap on the back. And finally, the Caran d'Ache waterbrushes, I only have the large size and the small size. The large is nice but I find the bristles too soft to really pick up watercolor pencil or my cotmans well. I use them with my Artist grade watercolors like the Misson Gold or Yarkas. I really like the button that dispenses the water though, and the suction refill. The small Caran d'Ache waterbrush... I don't know what to do with it. The brush isn't a brush, but a marker tip. I am stumped and haven't found a use for it. I guess I could use it like a colorless blender? I'm not sure.
You are amazing! I'm new to stamping and paper rafts having just started a few months ago so I have lots of questions about which products and brands to purchase. Every time I enter a search question, you pop up with exactly the review and/or comparison video I need. Plus you are just so much fun to watch, a serious artist but with a lively personality. Thank you, Lindsey for all the answers and inspiration.
Great comparison - all brands I don't have too! Pentel I think are great (Fine, Medium, Broad and Flat - first 3 come in open stock, sets of 3 and 4 are available) are inexpensive and fab and long-lasting. Can't fault them yet and I fill them with inks and bleach and so on. Derwent Chisel (3) I really dislike - flawed design with a barrel that is so hard to squeeze it hurts and paint gets drawn up into it v easy.
I actually love the derwent one. I have a number 2 (medium). It's brush is not too soft, which I prefer. Great for details. I also have the koi brush (also medium, #6) and I don't like that one at all. It's brush too soft for me.
I totally agree with you about the royal pens. They constantly flow the water out. And hated them. So I will look for ones with valves. SO GLAD you did this tutorial. I sometimes don’t put water in them and just use them like a regular brush
Linsay I just enjoy every video I’ve ever watched of yours. I love how you’re NEVER boring, & sooo knowledgeable! Tx for the great teaching. Your a genius! Much love 💕Deb
Pentel...hands down. Excellent water regulator. I have and have used, all three sizes.. The tips hold up well when used on mixed media or gessoed or rough watercolor papers..Love-TheFrugalCrafter!
I got a pack of pentel water brushes from amazon and I really enjoy them. The water doesn't suck back in like with the royal and they also have a small bump on the end of the barrel for you to place the cap on.
I have the Tim Holtz waterbrushes. I used a coupon to purchase them because they are pricey. I like them and they have held up well. I have the Detail and the Flat Tip brushes. Thanks for the review of the various other water brushes.
Guess I got lucky, I didn't know water brushes existed until I saw them at my local Michael's store and thought I'd try them. I got a set of two by Recollections for $9.99. They were on sale so I got a great deal. One flat and one round tip, soft barrels. Love them! I've been carrying them in my bag for a couple of weeks,upright, so far no leakage. I keep a tiny water bottle for refills and found that I can't pour the water into the brush but instead have to squeeze the barrel, put it into the bottle and release it so it just sucks the water right up into it. It's much easier and no mess! You squeeze the barrel to get water through and it only goes as fast as you squeeze, so a pretty fair amount of control. They've been quite easy to clean so far as well. Thank you for the reviews of the other water brushes,I'll definitely be checking them out!
I use an adjustable spray bottle to refill my water brushes. One that can do a single stream of water, as well as mist. Using the stream setting is perfect for filling the water brushes. So I just carry an adjustable spray bottle of water with me to refill my water brushes. Also works if I need to sprinkle some water on my paper, or mist my palette, etc.
I use the pental aqua brushes, I got mine in a set of 3 small medium and large round brush. I think they are extremely good, they aren't too hard to squeeze but don't overload the paper with water either. The brush tips are really good quality and they are moderately priced.
I bought a set of Niji brushes recently and I really like them. I actually bought three of those cheap watercolor sets for my kids so they could all have their own paints (so no fighting) AND they each have a waterbrush which they love (and means no cups of water to dump which is something *I* love). I really liked those waterbrushes a lot when I was showing them how they worked. And I also bought the cotman brush pen set which has a waterbrush that I really like.
Thanks so much for this review Lyndsey . I've been looking for a review on water brushes. I did however get a shock when you said the cost of the Royals , I paid $21 for a pack of 2 a couple of years ago and haven't used them cause of the fact they suck up the paint 😩. Now thanks to my favourite crafter I now know which brush I'm going to replace them with. Thank you again and God Bless 💐
I bought a set of the Mudder brushes from Amazon uk. Had to return them as the thread on the water reservoir of the large flat was split the whole way down. There was no option to speak to the retailer to organise an exchange, so had to return them. I will note that the large round brush did not come to a good point either.
My fav are the Tim Holtz ones. Canadian so can't give accurate pricing. There are a couple different sizes but I like the fine one. These are great for stamp colouring as the tip is firm and precise. I don't usually even put water in it but if I do it is just for cleaning.
Thanks for this review, Lindsay! I don’t have that much experience with water brushes, I only have one I got at Michael’s, its a Marvy one, but I love it. It doesn’t leak, it has great flow control. Since I only use it for watercolor coloring books, I was scared that it will let loose too much water, but it doesn’t at all. I actually don't have to squeeze any water out at all only when I want more. I think it's a good one but then again, like I said, I don have much expirience. But thanks again for the review I’ve been looking to try out different brands. This helps a lot.
I have the same one and I love it too! =) I picked it up thinking I would give watercolor on cardmaking a try, and I love how it works. If I want less water flow I will use another brush or even empty the chamber, but I love the tip and the brush. It is firm and doesn't seem to ever fray for me, though I am very careful with it. I find I get really good lines with it. With coupon or sale, I think I picked it up for like 3 or 4 dollars. In fact, I liked it so much, I got a new set they came out with this year. It is from Recollections, and it has a round brush, a little bigger than the old one, and a small flat brush. They compliment my old one nicely. With coupon, they were like 6 dollars for the two. These just have the Recollections brand on them, but they seem similar, though I have not used those two yet. If they are anything like the first, I know I will love them. =) I highly recommend to anyone who doesn't want to wait for a shipped order, and just wants to pop into Michaels.
I got the pentel med and have liked it so much I bought the 3 pack of small med and large, water flows well but I've used them only with watercolor pencils
I have used the Koi and the "generic" ones. Then I tried the Pentel. I love the pentel. They fit nicely in my hand and are easy to squeeze. I also have a Caran D'Ache foam tip brush I bought for blending watercolor pencils. I like the syringe in the back. I like it so much I might end up buying more sizes.
My first brushes I acquired were the Pentel set of 3 on Amazon. I really like them. They can be rather wet, so I make sure I wipe them before I start using them. I too bought the Jerry Q paints (thank you Lindsay) and I like that water brush also.
I have the Pentel brush pen and the Royal brush pens, I really enjoy the Pentel brushes. It took me a bit to get used to it, but once I figured it out i was very happy with them. I ended using it most of the time for painting. The Royal brush pens are very frustrating because of the faults you mentioned. I found they work pretty well for water soluble graphite where you're using basically the same color, so the slightly tinted gray water doesn't matter. I don't use them for regular watercolor painting though. They are alright for that, but not really anything else.
My fav so far is Ranger, and Faber Castel, but I am definitely going to try the one that has the plunger to fill it. Thanks Lindsey for all your great tutorials!!
hey Lindz. thanks for the review. the 1st waterbrushes I bought were the Royals & not only were you "on spot" about color going back into chamber...but they leaked badly around seal. they went to my 5 & 7 yr old grandchildren in their yearly art supply kits I send them. I do love my Koi that came in compact kit & my Sakura. I also have a Pentel large & it is supreme. The ones that took me by surprise though I found in the coloring book section of Michaels & altho I only was able to buy the small size...it is my favorite...Marvy brand.Mostly bc of the waterflo control valve. All in all my favorites are my Lrg Pentel,Med Koi & Sm Marvy. hope it helps.(marvys were about $6 ea)
Oh thanks a bunch Lindsay for doing a water brush comparison! Very helpful. Will definitely recycle one of our liquid water flavor enhancer bottles to use as a refill bottle for water brushes - brilliant and green helpful tip :) I would appreciate any tips on the best water brushes and inks to use for lettering on a budget. Thanks in advance!
Interesting and useful to see your water brush collection and information. I have seen your older video of regular brush for diff mediums. Now you would have added to your collection, so interested to see your regular brush collection, brands and stuff.
The only one I could find at my local shops here in Australia is the Derwent ones and it works fine. I do find it has a heavy flow and I have to keep a rag close by to dab off
I have a few of the generic and the bristles fall out.. The Koi and Derwent are my favorite. I have some that look like the Mudder brush that are pretty good. I also have some pentel. Thank you for all your helpful videos.
I have Kuretake H2O water brushes and one Derwent. The Derwent doesn't have a valve so the water flows really quickly and can flood the paper. I think it would be great for people who want to paint in a loose style, but not if you want more control. The Spin Doctor is spot on saying that the plastic is hard to squeeze. I'm sticking to the Kuretake.
Thanks for the bubbly cheerful reviews, all of them! I just received Jerry's Aqua Stroke set of four, after soaking the first thing I saw was a strand sticking out at the center removed it as it wasn't attached, found a few more... Over forty! My largest round is shaped like a Y. I will not even try the other two, as both that I did try also slip in the ferrule, plus I need both hands to squeeze them. As you said a bit hard to do so. They drip at the ferrule. I am not glad to hear at all that others have this problem, not at all! Great rewiew, Thank you. Joel
I just did moments ago. They are good, and I do business with them. I did not expect a direct response at all. Like my Pentel they thread backwards like all plumbing fixtures so put down the pliers and twist off in the other direction... Take a break and watch the clouds go by, ( with the Family ) All of your subscribers know how busy you are. ( well... maybe most ) Thank You for your time and Hard Work Joel
I'm not a painter (drawing isn't my strong suit at all) so I just use water brushes for more crafty things. I've mostly only used the TH Ranger waterbrush that is easily available at craft stores. It's pricey but with sales and coupons the price gets reasonable. But I've had no issue with the brush and it works great for what I use it for. I also picked up some of the Michaels brand that they had over the summer but I haven't used them yet.
I have a Pentel water-brush that works fine. From my experience, as you said too, they all work very similarly. The bristles move super easily, sometimes too easily for my liking, on the medium brush, but they definitely snap back into place and make an okay point. However, I have only used my a hand full of times gently and have already noticed the point is no longer fine. Thanks for the video. I can't wait to try out more affordable versions.
Huh, I have the Royal brushes, use them a lot, and I never had problems with them sucking up color. The bristles are stained, obviously, but that's about it - the water in the barrel always stays clean.
I have the Royal ones and they are a pain when they suck up the paint so I'm going to buy the Pentel ones instead and I've been thinking maybe about adding distress ink to the royal ones to kind of make my own version of mermaid markers 😊 Kate x
I like the Koi, but that's all my local art stores sell. Even Blick doesn't sell them. You have an insane amount!! I love water brushes. I'll have to look into a few of the ones you suggest.
Very Informative and greatly appreciated by All.!These flat 'Mudder' brushes would make really great for my type of art in landscapes where we use a lot of varying flat brushes.Great for doing trees. You said it all very well, really do appreciate all the information you shared and you seem to have a lot so far and so I thank you.! But I cannot wait to get myself some'Niji' brushes, those appeal to me.
I have pentel water brushes.. it came in a two pack for $10 two different sizes (amazon). the brushes are a bit stiff but they're not bad for traveling. I can't compare them to any other aqua brush since these are my one and only
This is so very helpful. Thank you. I do not know why I never thought to suggest it. Water brushes are an item I stare at wondering will it be garbage or will it be fabulous, Trash or Treasure - that sounds better. I have purchased both ends of the scale in the past and price doesn't always effect the out come so thank you again for a VERY useful video!
the set of six brushes ( mudder) is available on ebay for 3.89 US + free shipping , they are the exact same set i bought. they are great. i just got them this week
Wow thank you so much for sharing!!!!! I recently got a set of three Derwent brand. They are stiff to squeeze but don't let too much water out. I do t like the flat. I've used mine in adult coloring books and a few pictures. Soft and sponge like. But I want to try the koi brand!!! ❤️🤘🏼🌸
I have the flat Number 3 Derwent. It's a very small flat brush, about 4 mm wide and comes to a fine blade like point in depth. I absolutely love it as the brush is springy without being too stiff and the water flow is easy to control. The design is excellent too with the cap being a tight fit on either end of the brush and it's rim is square to stop it rolling. Some people don't like them much, but I can't fault mine. I have a fine Kuretake Zig that I like a lot too. The tip is very fine with similar qualities to my Derwent one. Both brands have kept their shape well. I got a set of 3 Pentel Aquash which are okay but I prefer a stiffer bristle and slightly less flow of the above two as I use them mainly with watercolour pencils and on fine details. In retrospect, I'd have got the set of 3 Derwent but the Pentel have overwhelmingly positive reviews so I gave in to peer pressure (that and it was only slightly more to get the set of 3 than buy just one to test). They are excellent quality and it's only personal preference on minor details rather than me thinking they are awful. These are the ones I'd take if I was painting plen air with watercolour proper versus pencils. And yup, those Royal & Langnickel ones are cheap but not very cheerful. They were the first ones I ever got and there's a reason the set of three of them cost what one Kuretake, Derwent or Aquash costs. Just too much water flow both ways. I even tried putting a disc of plastic in them with a tiny pinprick, to no avail. And the tops will not stay on for love or money. It's so frustrating! I've lost two of the lids as they just pop off at random unattended moments. The best thing about them is the colour coding is superbly obvious.
Ranger water brushes are awesome! A little on the expensive side. I also really like the recollection ones. I have ones I got from Joans, don't remember the brand but they look similar to the ones you have that are 3 colored they came in a pack of 3 and have no valve either and not very good as they suck up water
I have a couple of the Marvy (by Uchida) water brushes from Michaels. With a coupon they were $3 each. They are a fine tip, the water flows at just the right rate (at least for me), and seem to be a decent quality.
I own the royal (hate them for same reasons you mentionned) and recently bought the derwent and just love them, 3 good size. My next buy will be the pental (as a stampin up demo, will buy them with my discount 😉). Thanks for this comparison video, very helpfull ☺️
I have three "aqua squeeze" brushes by Molotow, I think they are very nice, however I do have some troubles controlling the flow of water with the smaller size.
A few years ago i got a 3 set under the name of xpassion on amazon. They were 6 dollars when i got them. They hold a lot of water like the holbiens and the water control is fantastic. I have more expensive brushes but i still reach for these on a regular basis.
I have the Derwent water brushes. I do like them very much. They are numbered so you don't have to look under the cap for which one you want. Smallest brush = smallest tip.
Did your chisel (3) get paint up in the ferule? Mine did and many viewers of my review of it had the same issue. Curious to see if it was a batch issue or a product issue.
My chisel tip works fine too. I haven't had any issues with my derwent brush. However,,, the royal langnickel brushes.. Indeed terrible. Cap doesnt stay on, and the paint will Always be drawn back into the barrel.
I have the Derwent brushes in small, large, and the flat (they came as a set and I agree, flat is not very useful!), and they are really nice. They work very well & I think they are a great value. I completely agree about the Royal brushes - without a regulator they are kind of a mess. I tossed mine in the box of supplies I keep for kids to use. Great video, thanks for sharing! I'd love to know your thoughts on the best way to clean your waterbrushes - I find that occasionally they get gunky so I'd love any tips you have on how to clean and how often. Thanks again!
I've found that my Koi brushes tend to get a bit yucky, but the Derwent flat (not sure if it's the same as the chisel?) got really gross. I didn't use it much anyway so I ended up just leaving it empty. I haven't tried the Pentel, but will definitely give them a go.
Thanks for this! I only have the Koi which wasn't bad, but I usually prefer to bring regular brushes even when I travel just to have a variety of sizes. I honestly would pay the money for Caran D'Ache considering its hypodermic design (easy refill and not having to worry about losing the stoppers), plus its build quality if I only need one.
i have a derwent water brush pen and what happened in the most cheap water brush (on this vid) happens everytime in my derwent. for me, derwent is kinda hard to squeeze but its tip is really thin & great which i really like but overall, i do not recommend it at all. i bought two zig water brush pens (small & medium) and the water brush pen itself is great!
I just started to use water brush and I have only one because I wanted to try out the brand before I bough more. The one I got also have a plunger and it is way to dry, I have to dip it in water for it to work. So now I am looking for another brand.
im so glad to see this comparison video. lol, I tried to make my first review video. I don't know why you apologize for yours all the time. its really hard to make a good video. yours are always fun and enjoyable, and your knowledge of tools and supply's has been of great value. thank you for your fun, wonderful video's.
I got some from Walmart's website to try because why not they were $3 for 3 and they are really similar to Koi but do not leak water. and i do recommend for anyone just starting and need cheap brushes. Only bad thing is they have small water tubes
Very useful tutorial, I learned Alot. I've got the Royal set, not happy with them due to the color in the reservoir. Now I can make a more educated choice on Amazon.. I think the flats would work well for wetting the paper. Maybe I could use the Royal for ink instead of watercolor. Thanks again
Thanks for the comparison! I have the last and cheapest one which never did work for me. then the Tim Holtz which is ok but I love the Prima ones so far.
I just bought one from Michael's yesterday that's by Marvy. It's my first one so I can't really compare with anything but I'm not sure I like the brush quality. It's a finer point but it just seems to be a bit flimsy. I'm glad you did this video so I can look for more :). This one was $4.99.
from all my waterbrushes the pentel medium aquash is farout my favorite becouse of how easy it is to controll the waterflow and how it feels in my hand.
Really nice comparison! I use the pentell but have never tried another brand. They seem pretty good I never had a problem capping them they don't leak and have good snap back. The flow is good too. It's rare but they do sometimes pull color into the barrel I've had them for a year and it only happened twice which could be human error lol but like you I prefer my regular brushes and mostly use these to drop water into my palette these days or for mixing as they're easier to clean 😅
Hi Lindsay. Here in France I found a brand called Fill'it. They come in three sizes, small, medium and large. They're ok but I would like to try another brand to make a better comparaison. It might be that the watercolor pans I use them with, aren't the best. Anyway, thanks for the useful video :)
The mudders brand cracks with use on the screw where you screw them together. And derwent has suck back issues as well for paint coming back in the brush. Niji or koi or caran dache is way worth the money! :)
the derwents cud be a lot better and I agree with the review the spin doctor made with them. whould like to have a look at some of the Japanese high tec one that are like sumi-e brushes
I have the Derwent (3 set), the Kuretake (3 set) and the Pentel Aquash (3 Set) - Out of the three, I prefer the Derwent. The Kuretake and Pentel release a little too much water imho. The Derwent bristles seem to be more robust too. Even though I am UK, I am not a Derwent fan as such, but credit where credit is due, I prefer their water brushes. I saw the mudder this morning on Amazon, and was considering those. I might get them as being bedbound, water brushes are much more convenient. I do tend to use them all the time with watercolour pencils though, not watercolour pans.
same here....If you have a Action store in UK they have 2 waterbrushes for 89 Euro cents right now or xh3ck out Tiger /Flying Tiger.They have good cheap paint brushes.Their biggest ones are around size 20 or higer catyonque and I use those for watercolor. Their wc paper is fine as student quality and their watercolor pans I heard are a great student quality for a small budget.
I have a small and large Niji water brush as well as the water brush which came with my Koi watercolors sketch box. Of the two brands, the Niji brushes are my favorites. For me to try other brands, I would have to order them online. The Koi water brush is not that great. The bristles keep pulling loose and I have to keep pushing them back into place.
Donna I have the very same brushes as you!! LOL plus I bought the flat brush from Niji. I got the Koi set too, and I Love the set, but the brush that came with it, I was really not impressed with. But I Love my Niji's and I've had them for about 15 yrs and they are still my go to waterbrushes.
Alice Clark I have not had my Niji brushes as long as you have; probably less than 10 years. I do like using them. I would like to find a compact travel kit that I could fit my Niji waterbrushes in. I do like the compact size of the Koi set. It just isn't quite wide enough to throw a Niji brush in.
I have a squarish insulated lunch bag that I bought on clearance for a couple of dollars. It makes a perfect kit for taking out in nature. It will hold all three waterbrushes, plus the Koi or a Windsor Newton set, plus a micron pen, a mechnacil pencil and a mini mister. I can also fit in a 5"X8"watercolor journal, a small pack of tissues, plus last but not least a couple of little plastic containers so I can fill with extra water if I need it for cleaning. Really you can take anything you'll ever need. It has zipper closures, pockets, but best of all it has a handle ,or a sholder strap on it so it's convenient and easy to take with you. It's been the best thing I've ever tried, and it's cheap!!! LOL Hope this helps.
Thanks you all. I have Pentel and they work fine for me, I'm new so I'm not experienced enough to know the difference. I got lucky I guess. Thanks for the gret review.
For Dutch fans: I bought some from unknown brand 2 for 89 Euro cents/0.89 .Store :Action. So please keep in mind they are xtreme cheap and Action isn t a very xpensive store...So they act fine don t think they have a valve...I ll edit this comment if I find a valve in them.And only one size:Fine point. They stain and the barrel is pretty hard to squeeze but havent seen paint going into the barrel. Maybe handy for people in The Netherlands that can t afford the brand name waterbrushes and need some. Note that this us the 1st time I gound them at the Action and it might not be refilled after the holidays or may be a one time offer....anyway hope other might benefit from my experience. Thanks for this video.I now know I want the Caran dache ones if I think I use the waterbrushes enough. But I mostly use them now for on the go so I can leave my expensive natural hair watercolor brushes safe at home.
I have the Pentel Waterbrushes from Amazon; they were a three pack consisting of a large, med and small round brushes. They do not leak like the Koi water brush, which locks in the opposite conventional direction , counterclockwise instead of clockwise. Love them and they were reasonable priced.
The Pentel brushes are my absolute favorite...easy to control, comfortable to hold...The Derwent are just ok...not a huge fan.
Lindsay, you MUST try the Pentel Aquash waterbrush! It is now the only one I buy! Comes small, medium and large, but honestly, the medium is quite sufficient and gives great brush and water control. The tip is PERFECTION!
PS...the handle (water reservoir) is really comfortable in the hand!
corikay may i know how much is it and is it easily available? I'm from the Philippines:)
Yes yes it is
Monica May Martinez yea it is once I when to another place and I got one there because I didnt bring it
The Pentel brushes are really nice and they have the valve so your water doesn't get tainted by the paint. I prefer using a regular brush as I feel like I have much better water control but the Pentel brushes are great if you're painting on the go. I have the 3 piece set with the 3 different sized tips and they're really great.
I do prefer my normal brushes but for in my bag for the times I have to wait somewhere or plein art stidy sketching I use the waterbrushes.
After looking for a long time and trying myriad brands/styles, I bought the Pentel Aquash. Love them. Won't look back or bother with another brand. I have the Caran D'Ache set with plungers and the bristles are good, as is the felt tip. But they are so fiddly to fill. And hard to squeeze for older hands.
I have the three pack of Pentel and like them quite a bit. I have rheumatoid arthritis, but have no trouble squeezing them, and the barrels are very comfortable to hold.
I really love the Kuretake Zig BrusH2O waterbrushes! I tried the koi ones, but the bristles were so long and I had trouble with control with them. I like the Zigs because they have shorter bristles, but aren’t too short. They also have pretty good water control. You can get nice, juicy washes and good dry brush effects with them. I do think my smallest one probably needs to be replaced, because the bristles are a little splayed. I’m pretty rough on my brushes, though so I’m not surprised. There’s also a mini version of the small brush that collapses in on itself by flipping the bristles into the barrel of the brush. I don’t like it as much because it’s a little leaky if you leave water in the barrel. But the mini I got actually comes with a really cute and handy bottle for filling up your brush and I absolutely love it! Super useful! They also have larger barrel versions and a flat brush option that I haven’t tried yet. My favorite one is the green medium brush as it’s a good all-arounder for small to medium paintings while on the move. (3”x5”-8”x10” paintings approximately)
I’m hoping to try the Pentel brushes soon.
The Pentel brushes are really good. They hold a fantastic point, I only wish they did a big flat brush too! The Derwents brushes are ok, they loose their point or edge rather quickly and have a bad tendency to pull paint up into the body of the brush, meaning you waste a lot of weather trying to clean them. They also seem to airlock badly when trying to move water through the tip.
Please consider an update to this topic.. I've been looking for recent review/comparisons and they are all from years ago.
With the Mudder brushes, the two largest flat brushes could be used to wet the paper for wet on wet painting.
+April Stark yes! I actually took them out yesterday and used them that way
I have the Mudder set and I use the large flats just for wetting the paper. I really like painting with the other 4 brushes plus my Koi brush from my 24 color set.
So great you mentioned the arthritis issue. Saves me time and money to be sure! I love how much you share your knowledge with everyone. Thanks you!
I love my pentel aquash brushes. I filled one with ink and use my other two all the time with no leakage issues.
I do the same - they work well with bleach in to change colours of inks etc.
I have Pentel Water brushes; I bought their 3-pack so I could have a small, medium and large brush. I use them quite a bit, especially if I just want to do a little quick practice sketching while sitting watching TV. I think they work well. There is sometimes some staining of the filaments but never any color back-wash. My first water brush was the one that came with the Koi travel set, and what I love about that one is the little plug that allows the brush to be stored in two pieces to save space. I found more of those from Koi in a mini-brush on Amazon. I keep them with my micro paint sets that I keep in my car or bag. They don't hold as much water but enough for my use and I also keep a micro-mister in my bag, and can use that to refill.
Love that you repurpose those water flavor bottles! Brilliant!
Great comparison video! Super helpful! I have only used 3 brands of waterbrushes.
I love the Pentel Aquash waterbrushes. I find that they are easy to squeeze, the water flow is great and their bristles are a little stiffer than the Derwents and Caran d'Ache, which makes it easier for me to wet my cotmans or dissolve my watercolor pencils. The water barrels aren't round, they are sort of flatish oval shaped, which is great since they won't roll away. I have the 3 rounds, I didn't realize they make a flat.
The Derwent water brushes, aren't that great... I liked the Derwents when I first got them, but after two years they seem to have clogged. I don't know, I never got paint into the valve or into the barrel, but the brush doesn't want to release water and squeezing them is hard. Their brush bristles are finer and softer than the Pentel. They do roll away unless you but the cap on the back.
And finally, the Caran d'Ache waterbrushes, I only have the large size and the small size. The large is nice but I find the bristles too soft to really pick up watercolor pencil or my cotmans well. I use them with my Artist grade watercolors like the Misson Gold or Yarkas. I really like the button that dispenses the water though, and the suction refill. The small Caran d'Ache waterbrush... I don't know what to do with it. The brush isn't a brush, but a marker tip. I am stumped and haven't found a use for it. I guess I could use it like a colorless blender? I'm not sure.
starshinesoldier fill it with India ink for line work?
The pentel are my favorites i love they fine point ❤️❤️
You are amazing! I'm new to stamping and paper rafts having just started a few months ago so I have lots of questions about which products and brands to purchase. Every time I enter a search question, you pop up with exactly the review and/or comparison video I need. Plus you are just so much fun to watch, a serious artist but with a lively personality. Thank you, Lindsey for all the answers and inspiration.
Great comparison - all brands I don't have too! Pentel I think are great (Fine, Medium, Broad and Flat - first 3 come in open stock, sets of 3 and 4 are available) are inexpensive and fab and long-lasting. Can't fault them yet and I fill them with inks and bleach and so on. Derwent Chisel (3) I really dislike - flawed design with a barrel that is so hard to squeeze it hurts and paint gets drawn up into it v easy.
Wow thanks for mentioning Derwent - I wanted to get it now I will tread with caution.
I actually love the derwent one. I have a number 2 (medium). It's brush is not too soft, which I prefer. Great for details. I also have the koi brush (also medium, #6) and I don't like that one at all. It's brush too soft for me.
I totally agree with you about the royal pens. They constantly flow the water out. And hated them. So I will look for ones with valves. SO GLAD you did this tutorial. I sometimes don’t put water in them and just use them like a regular brush
I have a pentel waterbrush that I have had for nearly ten years, it has stood the test of time and I like it very much. 💞
I have only tried Kuretake water brushes and I like them. Planning to try Pentels and may be Caran d'Ache too.
Linsay I just enjoy every video I’ve ever watched of yours. I love how you’re NEVER boring, & sooo knowledgeable! Tx for the great teaching. Your a genius! Much love 💕Deb
+Debbie Swanson aww, thanks!
Pentel...hands down. Excellent water regulator. I have and have used, all three sizes.. The tips hold up well when used on mixed media or gessoed or rough watercolor papers..Love-TheFrugalCrafter!
thanks for the reveiw:)
I got a pack of pentel water brushes from amazon and I really enjoy them. The water doesn't suck back in like with the royal and they also have a small bump on the end of the barrel for you to place the cap on.
I have the Tim Holtz waterbrushes. I used a coupon to purchase them because they are pricey. I like them and they have held up well. I have the Detail and the Flat Tip brushes. Thanks for the review of the various other water brushes.
Guess I got lucky, I didn't know water brushes existed until I saw them at my local Michael's store and thought I'd try them.
I got a set of two by Recollections for $9.99. They were on sale so I got a great deal.
One flat and one round tip, soft barrels. Love them!
I've been carrying them in my bag for a couple of weeks,upright, so far no leakage. I keep a tiny water bottle for refills and found that I can't pour the water into the brush but instead have to squeeze the barrel, put it into the bottle and release it so it just sucks the water right up into it.
It's much easier and no mess!
You squeeze the barrel to get water through and it only goes as fast as you squeeze, so a pretty fair amount of control. They've been quite easy to clean so far as well.
Thank you for the reviews of the other water brushes,I'll definitely be checking them out!
I use an adjustable spray bottle to refill my water brushes. One that can do a single stream of water, as well as mist. Using the stream setting is perfect for filling the water brushes. So I just carry an adjustable spray bottle of water with me to refill my water brushes. Also works if I need to sprinkle some water on my paper, or mist my palette, etc.
I use the pental aqua brushes, I got mine in a set of 3 small medium and large round brush. I think they are extremely good, they aren't too hard to squeeze but don't overload the paper with water either. The brush tips are really good quality and they are moderately priced.
I bought a set of Niji brushes recently and I really like them. I actually bought three of those cheap watercolor sets for my kids so they could all have their own paints (so no fighting) AND they each have a waterbrush which they love (and means no cups of water to dump which is something *I* love). I really liked those waterbrushes a lot when I was showing them how they worked. And I also bought the cotman brush pen set which has a waterbrush that I really like.
Thanks so much for this review Lyndsey . I've been looking for a review on water brushes. I did however get a shock when you said the cost of the Royals , I paid $21 for a pack of 2 a couple of years ago and haven't used them cause of the fact they suck up the paint 😩. Now thanks to my favourite crafter I now know which brush I'm going to replace them with. Thank you again and God Bless 💐
I bought a set of the Mudder brushes from Amazon uk. Had to return them as the thread on the water reservoir of the large flat was split the whole way down. There was no option to speak to the retailer to organise an exchange, so had to return them. I will note that the large round brush did not come to a good point either.
Thank you for this!! I bought the cheap ones and hated them and have been wanting a new set. This was great for me knowing brands, quality and prices.
My fav are the Tim Holtz ones. Canadian so can't give accurate pricing. There are a couple different sizes but I like the fine one. These are great for stamp colouring as the tip is firm and precise. I don't usually even put water in it but if I do it is just for cleaning.
Thanks for this review, Lindsay! I don’t have that much experience with water brushes, I only have one I got at Michael’s, its a Marvy one, but I love it. It doesn’t leak, it has great flow control. Since I only use it for watercolor coloring books, I was scared that it will let loose too much water, but it doesn’t at all. I actually don't have to squeeze any water out at all only when I want more. I think it's a good one but then again, like I said, I don have much expirience. But thanks again for the review I’ve been looking to try out different brands. This helps a lot.
I have the same one and I love it too! =) I picked it up thinking I would give watercolor on cardmaking a try, and I love how it works. If I want less water flow I will use another brush or even empty the chamber, but I love the tip and the brush. It is firm and doesn't seem to ever fray for me, though I am very careful with it. I find I get really good lines with it. With coupon or sale, I think I picked it up for like 3 or 4 dollars.
In fact, I liked it so much, I got a new set they came out with this year. It is from Recollections, and it has a round brush, a little bigger than the old one, and a small flat brush. They compliment my old one nicely. With coupon, they were like 6 dollars for the two. These just have the Recollections brand on them, but they seem similar, though I have not used those two yet. If they are anything like the first, I know I will love them. =) I highly recommend to anyone who doesn't want to wait for a shipped order, and just wants to pop into Michaels.
I got the pentel med and have liked it so much I bought the 3 pack of small med and large, water flows well but I've used them only with watercolor pencils
I have used the Koi and the "generic" ones. Then I tried the Pentel. I love the pentel. They fit nicely in my hand and are easy to squeeze. I also have a Caran D'Ache foam tip brush I bought for blending watercolor pencils. I like the syringe in the back. I like it so much I might end up buying more sizes.
My first brushes I acquired were the Pentel set of 3 on Amazon. I really like them. They can be rather wet, so I make sure I wipe them before I start using them. I too bought the Jerry Q paints (thank you Lindsay) and I like that water brush also.
I have the Pentel brush pen and the Royal brush pens, I really enjoy the Pentel brushes. It took me a bit to get used to it, but once I figured it out i was very happy with them. I ended using it most of the time for painting. The Royal brush pens are very frustrating because of the faults you mentioned. I found they work pretty well for water soluble graphite where you're using basically the same color, so the slightly tinted gray water doesn't matter. I don't use them for regular watercolor painting though. They are alright for that, but not really anything else.
My fav so far is Ranger, and Faber Castel, but I am definitely going to try the one that has the plunger to fill it.
Thanks Lindsey for all your great tutorials!!
hey Lindz. thanks for the review. the 1st waterbrushes I bought were the Royals & not only were you "on spot" about color going back into chamber...but they leaked badly around seal. they went to my 5 & 7 yr old grandchildren in their yearly art supply kits I send them. I do love my Koi that came in compact kit & my Sakura. I also have a Pentel large & it is supreme. The ones that took me by surprise though I found in the coloring book section of Michaels & altho I only was able to buy the small size...it is my favorite...Marvy brand.Mostly bc of the waterflo control valve. All in all my favorites are my Lrg Pentel,Med Koi & Sm Marvy. hope it helps.(marvys were about $6 ea)
Oh thanks a bunch Lindsay for doing a water brush comparison! Very helpful. Will definitely recycle one of our liquid water flavor enhancer bottles to use as a refill bottle for water brushes - brilliant and green helpful tip :)
I would appreciate any tips on the best water brushes and inks to use for lettering on a budget. Thanks in advance!
+Tina Kloepfer the koi are nice for lettering
Interesting and useful to see your water brush collection and information. I have seen your older video of regular brush for diff mediums. Now you would have added to your collection, so interested to see your regular brush collection, brands and stuff.
The only one I could find at my local shops here in Australia is the Derwent ones and it works fine. I do find it has a heavy flow and I have to keep a rag close by to dab off
I have a few of the generic and the bristles fall out.. The Koi and Derwent are my favorite. I have some that look like the Mudder brush that are pretty good. I also have some pentel. Thank you for all your helpful videos.
I uses the R&L brushes to add brusho in the water section and write with it for ages
I have Kuretake H2O water brushes and one Derwent. The Derwent doesn't have a valve so the water flows really quickly and can flood the paper. I think it would be great for people who want to paint in a loose style, but not if you want more control. The Spin Doctor is spot on saying that the plastic is hard to squeeze. I'm sticking to the Kuretake.
Thanks for the bubbly cheerful reviews, all of them!
I just received Jerry's Aqua Stroke set of four, after soaking the first thing I saw was a strand sticking out at the center removed it as it wasn't attached, found a few more... Over forty!
My largest round is shaped like a Y. I will not even try the other two, as both that I did try also slip in the ferrule, plus I need both hands to squeeze them. As you said a bit hard to do so.
They drip at the ferrule. I am not glad to hear at all that others have this problem, not at all!
Great rewiew, Thank you. Joel
+Joel Daddy email customer service and snap a photo of the bad brush. They should refund you. Those brushes are bad but they are a good company:)
I just did moments ago.
They are good, and I do business with them.
I did not expect a direct response at all.
Like my Pentel they thread backwards like all plumbing fixtures so put down the pliers and twist off in the other direction...
Take a break and watch the clouds go by, ( with the Family )
All of your subscribers know how busy you are. ( well... maybe most )
Thank You for your time and Hard Work
Joel
I'm not a painter (drawing isn't my strong suit at all) so I just use water brushes for more crafty things. I've mostly only used the TH Ranger waterbrush that is easily available at craft stores. It's pricey but with sales and coupons the price gets reasonable. But I've had no issue with the brush and it works great for what I use it for. I also picked up some of the Michaels brand that they had over the summer but I haven't used them yet.
Thanks for the tip on the mudder and the other one!!!!! I I have severe RA and I am happy I saw your comparison of all!!!
I recently got Arteza and they have a soft push button on the side to feed more water and they are cheap too,
One of my favorite illustrators uses those Pentel brushes so I've ordered me some
I have a Pentel water-brush that works fine. From my experience, as you said too, they all work very similarly. The bristles move super easily, sometimes too easily for my liking, on the medium brush, but they definitely snap back into place and make an okay point. However, I have only used my a hand full of times gently and have already noticed the point is no longer fine. Thanks for the video. I can't wait to try out more affordable versions.
Huh, I have the Royal brushes, use them a lot, and I never had problems with them sucking up color. The bristles are stained, obviously, but that's about it - the water in the barrel always stays clean.
I have the Royal ones and they are a pain when they suck up the paint so I'm going to buy the Pentel ones instead and I've been thinking maybe about adding distress ink to the royal ones to kind of make my own version of mermaid markers 😊 Kate x
I ordered the royal ones for my students and the same thing happened to me. Thry got pretty frustrated.
I like the Koi, but that's all my local art stores sell. Even Blick doesn't sell them. You have an insane amount!! I love water brushes. I'll have to look into a few of the ones you suggest.
Very Informative and greatly appreciated by All.!These flat 'Mudder' brushes would make really great for my type of art in landscapes where we use a lot of varying flat brushes.Great for doing trees. You said it all very well, really do appreciate all the information you shared and you seem to have a lot so far and so I thank you.! But I cannot wait to get myself some'Niji' brushes, those appeal to me.
Love the flavored water container tip, I will now be recycling them in a new way!
I have pentel water brushes.. it came in a two pack for $10 two different sizes (amazon). the brushes are a bit stiff but they're not bad for traveling. I can't compare them to any other aqua brush since these are my one and only
My favorite brush is from pentell. Feels very good in the hand and is easy to squeeze and control the water.
the set of small travel brushes are also available on ebay for about 3 bucks US . I own two sets of those
The flat tip ones are good for wetting the page quickly.
This is so very helpful. Thank you. I do not know why I never thought to suggest it. Water brushes are an item I stare at wondering will it be garbage or will it be fabulous, Trash or Treasure - that sounds better. I have purchased both ends of the scale in the past and price doesn't always effect the out come so thank you again for a VERY useful video!
+tlyria glad it helped!
the set of six brushes ( mudder) is available on ebay for 3.89 US + free shipping , they are the exact same set i bought. they are great. i just got them this week
Awesome tutorial and so glad you did it. Love to you and your family, Lindsay. 😃💖
Wow thank you so much for sharing!!!!! I recently got a set of three Derwent brand. They are stiff to squeeze but don't let too much water out. I do t like the flat. I've used mine in adult coloring books and a few pictures. Soft and sponge like. But I want to try the koi brand!!! ❤️🤘🏼🌸
They were $9.99
I have the flat Number 3 Derwent. It's a very small flat brush, about 4 mm wide and comes to a fine blade like point in depth. I absolutely love it as the brush is springy without being too stiff and the water flow is easy to control. The design is excellent too with the cap being a tight fit on either end of the brush and it's rim is square to stop it rolling. Some people don't like them much, but I can't fault mine. I have a fine Kuretake Zig that I like a lot too. The tip is very fine with similar qualities to my Derwent one. Both brands have kept their shape well.
I got a set of 3 Pentel Aquash which are okay but I prefer a stiffer bristle and slightly less flow of the above two as I use them mainly with watercolour pencils and on fine details. In retrospect, I'd have got the set of 3 Derwent but the Pentel have overwhelmingly positive reviews so I gave in to peer pressure (that and it was only slightly more to get the set of 3 than buy just one to test). They are excellent quality and it's only personal preference on minor details rather than me thinking they are awful. These are the ones I'd take if I was painting plen air with watercolour proper versus pencils.
And yup, those Royal & Langnickel ones are cheap but not very cheerful. They were the first ones I ever got and there's a reason the set of three of them cost what one Kuretake, Derwent or Aquash costs. Just too much water flow both ways. I even tried putting a disc of plastic in them with a tiny pinprick, to no avail. And the tops will not stay on for love or money. It's so frustrating! I've lost two of the lids as they just pop off at random unattended moments. The best thing about them is the colour coding is superbly obvious.
good to know:) Yes, the color coding is handy
Ranger water brushes are awesome! A little on the expensive side. I also really like the recollection ones. I have ones I got from Joans, don't remember the brand but they look similar to the ones you have that are 3 colored they came in a pack of 3 and have no valve either and not very good as they suck up water
I have a couple of the Marvy (by Uchida) water brushes from Michaels. With a coupon they were $3 each. They are a fine tip, the water flows at just the right rate (at least for me), and seem to be a decent quality.
I own the royal (hate them for same reasons you mentionned) and recently bought the derwent and just love them, 3 good size. My next buy will be the pental (as a stampin up demo, will buy them with my discount 😉). Thanks for this comparison video, very helpfull ☺️
I have three "aqua squeeze" brushes by Molotow, I think they are very nice, however I do have some troubles controlling the flow of water with the smaller size.
that might be the nature of the beast, my really fine koi is the same, I generally use a larger brush. Thanks for sharing!
A few years ago i got a 3 set under the name of xpassion on amazon. They were 6 dollars when i got them. They hold a lot of water like the holbiens and the water control is fantastic. I have more expensive brushes but i still reach for these on a regular basis.
I love my Royal Langnickle ones. I am looking to get more of the mediums....
I have the Derwent water brushes. I do like them very much. They are numbered so you don't have to look under the cap for which one you want. Smallest brush = smallest tip.
Did your chisel (3) get paint up in the ferule? Mine did and many viewers of my review of it had the same issue. Curious to see if it was a batch issue or a product issue.
So far I have not had it suck back up into the tube. I use Koi water colors. I see a bit of staining at the end but no color in the tube.
My chisel tip works fine too. I haven't had any issues with my derwent brush.
However,,, the royal langnickel brushes.. Indeed terrible. Cap doesnt stay on, and the paint will Always be drawn back into the barrel.
+Terri Abrams Not into the tube just up under the clear plastic ferule that surrounds the bristles.
+The Spin Doctor sounds like it might be a bad batch because I am getting rave recommendations or horrible warnings over the Derwent brushes.
I have the Derwent brushes in small, large, and the flat (they came as a set and I agree, flat is not very useful!), and they are really nice. They work very well & I think they are a great value. I completely agree about the Royal brushes - without a regulator they are kind of a mess. I tossed mine in the box of supplies I keep for kids to use. Great video, thanks for sharing! I'd love to know your thoughts on the best way to clean your waterbrushes - I find that occasionally they get gunky so I'd love any tips you have on how to clean and how often. Thanks again!
My Derwent "3" got very gunky (I have a video on it) but no Pentel I've ever had has ever done that. They seem to stay v clean.
I've found that my Koi brushes tend to get a bit yucky, but the Derwent flat (not sure if it's the same as the chisel?) got really gross. I didn't use it much anyway so I ended up just leaving it empty. I haven't tried the Pentel, but will definitely give them a go.
I know this is coming late, but I love the Kuretake water brushes. Of all the water brushes that I have, these are my favorite.
I love my stampin up ones. Good quality and good price. Great for a started or experienced water colourist
Thanks for this! I only have the Koi which wasn't bad, but I usually prefer to bring regular brushes even when I travel just to have a variety of sizes. I honestly would pay the money for Caran D'Ache considering its hypodermic design (easy refill and not having to worry about losing the stoppers), plus its build quality if I only need one.
was thinking the same about the caran dache. it seems like a convenient design.
+Joe Maysky they also have a 3 pack at Jerry's for $24 with all sizes
i have a derwent water brush pen and what happened in the most cheap water brush (on this vid) happens everytime in my derwent. for me, derwent is kinda hard to squeeze but its tip is really thin & great which i really like but overall, i do not recommend it at all. i bought two zig water brush pens (small & medium) and the water brush pen itself is great!
I just started to use water brush and I have only one because I wanted to try out the brand before I bough more. The one I got also have a plunger and it is way to dry, I have to dip it in water for it to work. So now I am looking for another brand.
Thanks for the review! I order the muddier set but haven't used them yet! The large flat wide might work well for lettering!
im so glad to see this comparison video. lol, I tried to make my first review video. I don't know why you apologize for yours all the time. its really hard to make a good video. yours are always fun and enjoyable, and your knowledge of tools and supply's has been of great value. thank you for your fun, wonderful video's.
+jojoberrypie thank you;)
I got some from Walmart's website to try because why not they were $3 for 3 and they are really similar to Koi but do not leak water. and i do recommend for anyone just starting and need cheap brushes. Only bad thing is they have small water tubes
really similar to the last brush she showed
thanks for the recommendation!
Very useful tutorial, I learned Alot. I've got the Royal set, not happy with them due to the color in the reservoir. Now I can make a more educated choice on Amazon.. I think the flats would work well for wetting the paper. Maybe I could use the Royal for ink instead of watercolor. Thanks again
Thanks for the comparison! I have the last and cheapest one which never did work for me. then the Tim Holtz which is ok but I love the Prima ones so far.
Delivered today the Mudder set. Hope they’re as good as your tests are. Thanks
Have fun!
I just bought one from Michael's yesterday that's by Marvy. It's my first one so I can't really compare with anything but I'm not sure I like the brush quality. It's a finer point but it just seems to be a bit flimsy. I'm glad you did this video so I can look for more :). This one was $4.99.
from all my waterbrushes the pentel medium aquash is farout my favorite becouse of how easy it is to controll the waterflow and how it feels in my hand.
Really nice comparison! I use the pentell but have never tried another brand. They seem pretty good I never had a problem capping them they don't leak and have good snap back. The flow is good too. It's rare but they do sometimes pull color into the barrel I've had them for a year and it only happened twice which could be human error lol but like you I prefer my regular brushes and mostly use these to drop water into my palette these days or for mixing as they're easier to clean 😅
Hi Lindsay. Here in France I found a brand called Fill'it. They come in three sizes, small, medium and large. They're ok but I would like to try another brand to make a better comparaison. It might be that the watercolor pans I use them with, aren't the best. Anyway, thanks for the useful video :)
The mudders brand cracks with use on the screw where you screw them together.
And derwent has suck back issues as well for paint coming back in the brush. Niji or koi or caran dache is way worth the money! :)
+AmieCreationsx I just got the murders so I don't know how they will holdup, so far so good, I took them out yesterday
+thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich mudder's not murders lol
the derwents cud be a lot better and I agree with the review the spin doctor made with them. whould like to have a look at some of the Japanese high tec one that are like sumi-e brushes
Awesome comparison video Lindsay! Very informative!
Which ones do you prefer? The ones that come with colors or the ones without so you can mix your own.
I have the Derwent (3 set), the Kuretake (3 set) and the Pentel Aquash (3 Set) - Out of the three, I prefer the Derwent. The Kuretake and Pentel release a little too much water imho. The Derwent bristles seem to be more robust too. Even though I am UK, I am not a Derwent fan as such, but credit where credit is due, I prefer their water brushes. I saw the mudder this morning on Amazon, and was considering those. I might get them as being bedbound, water brushes are much more convenient. I do tend to use them all the time with watercolour pencils though, not watercolour pans.
same here....If you have a Action store in UK they have 2 waterbrushes for 89 Euro cents right now or xh3ck out Tiger /Flying Tiger.They have good cheap paint brushes.Their biggest ones are around size 20 or higer catyonque and I use those for watercolor. Their wc paper is fine as student quality and their watercolor pans I heard are a great student quality for a small budget.
I have the sakura koi water brushes in all sizes but I lost one of the stoppers of one of the brushes
I have a small and large Niji water brush as well as the water brush which came with my Koi watercolors sketch box. Of the two brands, the Niji brushes are my favorites. For me to try other brands, I would have to order them online. The Koi water brush is not that great. The bristles keep pulling loose and I have to keep pushing them back into place.
+Donna G I have had that happen with a waterbrush before, I prima I think. You might be able to get it replaced.
Donna I have the very same brushes as you!! LOL plus I bought the flat brush from Niji. I got the Koi set too, and I Love the set, but the brush that came with it, I was really not impressed with. But I Love my Niji's and I've had them for about 15 yrs and they are still my go to waterbrushes.
Alice Clark I have not had my Niji brushes as long as you have; probably less than 10 years. I do like using them. I would like to find a compact travel kit that I could fit my Niji waterbrushes in. I do like the compact size of the Koi set. It just isn't quite wide enough to throw a Niji brush in.
I have a squarish insulated lunch bag that I bought on clearance for a couple of dollars. It makes a perfect kit for taking out in nature. It will hold all three waterbrushes, plus the Koi or a Windsor Newton set, plus a micron pen, a mechnacil pencil and a mini mister. I can also fit in a 5"X8"watercolor journal, a small pack of tissues, plus last but not least a couple of little plastic containers so I can fill with extra water if I need it for cleaning. Really you can take anything you'll ever need. It has zipper closures, pockets, but best of all it has a handle ,or a sholder strap on it so it's convenient and easy to take with you. It's been the best thing I've ever tried, and it's cheap!!! LOL Hope this helps.
Alice Clark
Thanks, we don't have a thrift store; but, I will check at the Dollar Tree, the next time I go downtown.
Thanks you all. I have Pentel and they work fine for me, I'm new so I'm not experienced enough to know the difference. I got lucky I guess. Thanks for the gret review.
The widest muddier brand you can turn the head at the brush and it becomes a texter brush for leaves and bushes.
I'm currently using the Mudder brand and they seem really good in my opinion :D
I got the smaller Koi brushes so that they could be more compact and I’m glad to know it’s not all water brushes that constantly feed water.
For Dutch fans: I bought some from unknown brand 2 for 89 Euro cents/0.89 .Store :Action. So please keep in mind they are xtreme cheap and Action isn t a very xpensive store...So they act fine don t think they have a valve...I ll edit this comment if I find a valve in them.And only one size:Fine point. They stain and the barrel is pretty hard to squeeze but havent seen paint going into the barrel.
Maybe handy for people in The Netherlands that can t afford the brand name waterbrushes and need some. Note that this us the 1st time I gound them at the Action and it might not be refilled after the holidays or may be a one time offer....anyway hope other might benefit from my experience.
Thanks for this video.I now know I want the Caran dache ones if I think I use the waterbrushes enough. But I mostly use them now for on the go so I can leave my expensive natural hair watercolor brushes safe at home.