Water brushes are one of the most wonderful inventions I have ever discovered. Upon hearing of them, I was thrilled at the idea of finally being able to sketch discreetly in cafes, and to brave the outdoors without sloshing around a big cup of water. Besides Niji, I know that the companies Holbein, Pentel, and Sakura also make water brushes, but I haven’t tried them since they’re a bit harder for me to get. I’m also so completely content with the Nijis that I doubt I’ll ever go out of my way to try the other brands (a rare move for me).
The brushes have now been a staple in my sketching kit. During my time in Korea, I could sit in cafes and refill the brush in the bathroom or through my tiny spray bottle. Cue hours of wholesome entertainment.
When I first bought one, it came with Japanese-only instructions, so I wasn’t entirely sure how to use the brush let alone fill it. Apparently if you unscrew the brush head, you should be able to take out the little black piece and then fill with water.
Clean up is laughably easy- all I need to do is wipe the brush on a napkin until the color comes out (sometimes I use fallen leaves if no tissues are around). When in use the water trickles down slowly and evenly, so that the brush tip is consistently moist. If it ever gets too dry, a gentle squeeze releases more water from the barrel. I thought I’d find myself consistently refilling the brushes, but they surprisingly lasted much longer than I initially imagined. Then again, I don’t work very large scale.
Besides sketching in watercolor and gouache, I can use these brushes to soften the edges of my watercolor paintings. Some people fill their brushes with ink or watercolor for interesting effects and textures. I’ve even heard of some artists who fill theirs with solvents to blend their colored pencil paintings.
In terms of sturdiness, I’ve had my large sized brush for about a year and a half and it’s held up very well. The square tipped one is even less worn since it doesn’t see too much use except for when I want big washes.
The only caveat I’d give is that the tips are fairly tiny…I wouldn’t go any tinier than large for most sketchbooks.
At the end of the day, will these ever replace my beloved sable brushes? No. I still much prefer the luxury of natural hair over the synthetic feel. But I think it’s a wonderful bit of technology, and everyone who plein-air sketches in watercolor ought to consider giving them a go. Maybe one day someone will create a water brush with kolinsky sable hair, but dare to dream…
the mind of michelle 