6 Best Water Brushes For Beginners, Calligraphy, and Professionals Reviewed

Michael Daly
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Are you looking to get into watercolor painting, calligraphy, or maybe even use a brush dip pen? If you are, then this guide is for you. It covers a range of brushes for beginners to professionals that will help you complete your brush collection.

We will cover a range of different materials of the water brushes, their different sizes, and even what to look for when buying a water brush.

If you’re looking to pick up a water brush and paint like the professionals, then look no further.

NameCategoryProduct
Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted TipsBest OverallPentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted Tips
Sakura 39123 9-ml Tank Koi Water Color BrushBudget PickSakura 39123 9-ml Tank Koi Water Color Brush
Caran d 'Ache d-ache 115.303 3 pièce – Brushes BrushUpgrade PickCaran d 'Ache d-ache 115.303 3 pièce – Brushes Brush

1. Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted Tips

Our rating: 9 / 10

Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted Tips

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Pros:

  • Four assorted brush sizes, bold, medium, fine and flat point brushes
  • Easy-to-squeeze barrel
  • Unique valve system to control the flow of water
  • Durable nylon brush tip
  • Easy to clean
  • ACMI Certified

Cons:

  • Some users complaint of leakage
  • Some users complain that they saturate the paper

This Pentel Aquash brush features synthetic bristles. The bristles are soft enough to blot and add texture when necessary and hard enough to create details and edges.
The Pentel Quicker-View is an amazing product for beginners looking to get into calligraphy, acrylic painting, watercolor painting, and even seasoned professionals who want a great brush that won't break the bank.

2. Caran d 'Ache d-ache 115.303 3 pièce – Brushes Brush

Our rating: 9 / 10

Caran d 'Ache d-ache 115.303 3 pièce – Brushes Brush

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Pros:

  • Three brushes per pack
  • Three sizes, large 15mm tip, medium 12mm tip, and fine 9mm tip
  • 20 ml reservoir
  • Easy to use
  • Precise control push button

Cons:

  • Brush tips fray easily
  • Not for immature beginners
  • Average quality

The Caran d‘Ache d-ache 115.303, 3 pièce brush is a durable paint brush set for those who just started to dabble in watercolors. They are great for splattering paint and mixing. The handles are made from mulberry, so they’re strong and durable.
Caran d‘Ache is a leader in manufacturing writing instruments, with a hand sketch-inspired design of their products. Most of their items have received the German Design Award.

3. Sakura 39123 9-ml Tank Koi Water Color Brush

Our rating: 8 / 10

Sakura 39123 9-ml Tank Koi Water Color Brush

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Pros:

  • 9ml barrel
  • Available in large size
  • Soft bristles
  • Comfortable grip
  • Great for beginners
  • Affordable price

Cons:

  • A smaller barrel allows less refilling
  • Leaks
  • Bigger size may require some effort to grip

One of the best ways to get started with calligraphy is to purchase the necessary tools. One of the tools that exhibit masterful craftsmanship is the Sakura Koi watercolor brushes. With the help of these pens, you can create various types of calligraphy for several purposes.

These pens are also found in the hands of many professional graphic designers. Each of the pens offers a long-wearing, high-quality design that is soft and will not produce any smudges while you play.

These pens can even be used by children so that they can learn the art of artistic calligraphy. These pens are best when used on paper, but it is also possible to use them on other surfaces for a more dramatic effect.

4. Kuretake ZIG BrusH2O WATER BRUSH PEN

Our rating: 8 / 10

Kuretake ZIG BrusH2O WATER BRUSH PEN

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Pros:

  • Brushes are made from premium quality materials
  • The paint flows smoothly
  • Portable and easy to store
  • Easy to clean
  • Detailer brush type is perfect for fine lines

Cons:

  • Brush tips cannot be replaced
  • Difficult to fill the pen

If you're a beginner who's just getting started with water brushes, this set from Kuretake is a great place to start. It has a series of brushes for you to experiment with your creativity. The brush tip is flexible and long enough to give you more fine control over your art pieces.
The paint flows smoothly, and the brushes are capable of producing beautiful calligraphy lines and letters. The set is easy to clean, and you can simply watch your pigment dissolve and flow out from the brush. It's very easy to control your paint drip and master the technique.

5. Yasutomo Niji Water Brush

Our rating: 8 / 10

Yasutomo Niji Water Brush

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Pros:

  • Made of nylon
  • Available in medium size 12mm tip
  • Great flow control
  • All in one brush and water container

Cons:

  • Some users find it hard to maintain a comfortable flow
  • Not very easy to clean

The Yasutomo Niji Water Brush is a must-have for every artist. It’s practical to use and is very inexpensive. It holds a good amount of water though you will have to refill it more often due to the large volume of water it uses. It’s great for calligraphy work as well. The water flow when it streams out is medium-fast. It’s great for beginners and experienced calligraphers alike.

6. Derwent Art Supplies

Our rating: 8 / 10

Derwent Art Supplies

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Pros:

  • Made of soft plastic with a nylon tip
  • Pack contains small, medium, and chisel tip brush
  • Water flows to the synthetic fiber tip via a leak-proof valve
  • No-mess watercolor brushes
  • Leak Proof plastic reservoir
  • Easy to fill and clean
  • Portable for painting ‘en Plein air

Cons:

  • Often have leakage complaints
  • Not worth the money
  • Paint backwash into the barrel

This is a good budget-friendly option if you’re looking for three water brushes at once. They’re great for watercolor as well as traditional calligraphy and can produce a massive range of lines. Moreover, they’re easy to clean, and you can take them anywhere you want with you because of their compact size.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the best water brushes?

Water brushes provide the advantage of using them with even the most sloppy drawing to be still able to produce consistent lines. Many watercolor artists prefer this over a brush pen, as it is easier to correct mistakes with a water brush, and it is also easier to control for specific effects.

You can also use these brushes for calligraphy, which is a great objective for those with experience in brush lettering.
Overall, water brushes are great for artists who plan to spend a lot of time outdoors or those who prefer an airy, whimsical style to a total-precision one.

What is best brand of watercolor brush pens?

The Amazon Basics Watercolor Brush Pens are way above average.
The brush tip is not too broad, and paint does soak into the cover of the brush tip.
The actual watercolor paints are, simply put, just plain awesome. Trust me, and you’d never want to use any other paint.

But, the most significant selling point of this bundle is its price. You would never have guessed that you could get a watercolor brush pen and eight awesome watercolor paints in a package at an affordable price.

What are the best brush pens for calligraphy?

Calligraphy is that beautiful, fancy handwriting you see in fancy penmanship. It is a decorative writing style used by both professionals and by those just interested in lettering. The best brush pens for calligraphy must be at least dual tip, which means it will have an extra-fine tip on the other end.

This will ensure that your writing is clear and precise. In addition, they must have good ink flow so that you are not frustrated by skips and gaps in your writing. Any pen with a good ink flow is going to be re-usable many times over.

Are water brushes good?

Yes, water brushes are good. They are great writing instruments, no matter how skilled you are at painting, sketching, or calligraphy.

A good water brush will allow you to explore your inner calligraphy and painting self-expression and creativity.

Conclusion

When choosing the best water brush, the phrase “different strokes for different folks” comes to mind. Depending on the unique requirements of your project, you should choose the brush that most closely meets your expectations. You should also consider the type of paper, ink, and technique involved in your project. Some brushes may be better if you create Japanese or Chinese calligraphy, while others may be great for painting.

Our Recommendation

NameCategoryProduct
Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted TipsBest OverallPentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted Tips
Sakura 39123 9-ml Tank Koi Water Color BrushBudget PickSakura 39123 9-ml Tank Koi Water Color Brush
Caran d 'Ache d-ache 115.303 3 pièce – Brushes BrushUpgrade PickCaran d 'Ache d-ache 115.303 3 pièce – Brushes Brush