Are you an artist and want a better understanding of watercolor brushes?
Are you looking for a good set of watercolor brushes and have no idea where to start?
Perhaps you are regretting that you bought a cheap set of brushes before and you’re looking for something better?
No worries, I have you covered!
This guide on the watercolor brushes is for both beginner and advanced level artists looking to either start using watercolor, or to find the best watercolor brush for their specific needs.
Your search for the best watercolor brush ends here.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Artist Paint Brush Set Professional 15pc Best Art Supplies Paintbrushes | Best Overall |  |
| Sakura 38550 4-ml Tank Koi Water Color Brush | Budget Pick |  |
| da Vinci Watercolor Maestro Kolinsky Red Sable Brush Set 5500-3 Brush Set | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Artist Paint Brush Set Professional 15pc Best Art Supplies Paintbrushes
Pros:
- Affordable price tag
- Wide variety of sizes and types
- Comes with a carrying case
- Strong and durable
- Easy to maintain
While the Artist Paint Brush Set Professional 15pc Best Art Supplies Paintbrushes for Acrylic Watercolor Oil Gouache Paint with Free Carrying Case doesn’t have the most complex name in the world, it has a lot to offer a potential buyer.
This set of paint brushes for watercolor and oil painting is pretty nice. It comes with 15 brushes that are sold individually at different prices, which means that it is a great deal to get all of these brushes together.
The brushes come with wooden handles that are comfortable to hold, and all of them come with synthetic hair bristles of high quality. They’re strong and durable, and are also good for the sensitive skin of the artist.
2. Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted Tips
Pros:
- Solid construction
- Great for all media
- Doesn’t freeze
- Easy to clean
- Very low price point
- Very convenient to use
- Has a wide range of accessories
You might not realize it, but there’s a lot you have to consider before settling on the best watercolor paint brush. You want one that you can use with most kinds of watercolors, and one that’s easy to clean. You also want to make sure it’s the right size for the brushes on your palette.
The water brush from Pentel is a versatile tool that’s easy to carry and pack. The water brush has an ergonomic handle design for comfort during extended periods of use. The water brush is filled with water, and a little paint works like a brush. It’s super convenient to use.
The brush can be cleaned easily and can hold up to five times its weight in water. You can even reconstitute your paint directly in the water brush. It’s also extremely durable and easy to use. Best of all, the tip is fine so you can paint details easily.
3. da Vinci Watercolor Maestro Kolinsky Red Sable Brush Set 5500-3 Brush Set
Pros:
- Affordable
- Natural hair
- High-quality brush set
- Great for watercolor and acrylic painting
- Thoroughly cleaned after every use
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Sizes might be too small for those used to large brushes
- The red sable hairs on the edges of the brushes may be irritating for some users
Overall, these versatile brushes from da Vinci Watercolor are some of the best watercolor brushes you can find. You can use them as soft as you need, but you can also use them for bolder, harder strokes.
These watercolors are made with natural hairs. This means that you don’t have to worry about the brushes losing shape or effectiveness when it gets wet. They’re very easy to clean, which is really important because you don’t want to end up with damaged bristles.
The gentle hair is perfect for even the trickiest of strokes. It won’t damage your paper or leave harsh and unnatural marks.
4. da Vinci Watercolor Series 10 Maestro Paint Brush
Pros:
- Made with genuine red sable hair for optimal performance
- Has a wide range of uses, including watercolor, oil, or acrylic
- Fittings and ferrule of the brush are made of a high-quality resin that is strong, lightweight, and easy to clean
- Comes with a snap-fit aluminum ferrule that doesn’t mar the surface of the brush
- Has a seamless, strong metal cap to ensure your brush maintains its shape
A high quality, long lasting paint brush is definitely indispensable if you are a professional or just an amateur artist.
This particular paint brush comes with three different hair density sizes: “light,” “medium,” or “heavy” for a range of applications. The sable hair of this brush is a very fine hair that is resilient and capable of holding a lot of paint and water.
Using this brush, you can be sure that the brush will not split (a problem that is common with other brushes). This brush highlights the delicate tonal variations and edges that can help you achieve that high quality artwork that you desire.
5. Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted Tips
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- Available in multiple sizes
- Excellent control
- Excellent painting and drawing strokes
- Washable
- Resists water
- Long durability period
- Free of latex, ethelyne glycol, phthalate and heavy metal
Pentel Arts Aquash is another great paint brush that you should take with you on your next painting expedition. The barrel of the brush allows for paint to flow directly from the container to the tip.
The brush can be used to create elegant, fine lines or directional strokes. The felt tip also provides for undistorted flow control. You will have a fantastic amount of control with these brushes. The brush heads are made of synthetic fiber, which makes them easy to clean.
The caps on both ends prevent the brushes from drying out and maintain their shape.
6. Virtuous Arts Fine Paintbrushes
Pros:
- Perfect for watercolors or acrylics
- Well-balanced handles
- Arranged in great order for a painting kit
- Slightly hairs are great for detailing purposes
- Small and nicely made
- Very soft and comfortable
- Not too pricey
Cons:
- Paint comes off easily when cleaning
- Paint gets into the handles
These fine paintbrushes from Virtuous Art are top tier quality, with hand made wooden handles and high quality synthetic fibers.
These paintbrushes come in a handy travel box with 1/8", 1/4", 1/2" and 3/4" chisel tipped brushes. Very professional setup that makes the brush kit stand out from the others on the market.
The handle is made out of high quality maple wood, with gold plated ferrules and a wooden cap to cover the brush end. They don't feel cheap like some other paint brushes on the market.
7. Akashiya CA200/20V Sai Watercolor Brush Pen
Pros:
- Can create a variety of art styles
- Vibrant colors
- Affordable pricing
- Relatively durable
- Comes with amazing features
- Great for first-timers
Cons:
- Might take some practice to get used to
- Not the best for detailed work
- Colors don’t last long
Many artists are probably wondering why watercolor brushes were included in this list. But there are plenty of people who swear by them. News flash for all you artists out there: chalk brushes can work well for water artwork.
The Akashiya Sai Watercolor Brush Pens set is super affordable. And anyone who has used a brush in the past is going to have a very easy time using it. If you’ve never tried it, well, it might take you a little bit to get used to it.
The bristles are made from synthetic materials. The bristles are soft and work pretty well. It’s pretty easy to create different strokes, especially when you’re using the brush for different techniques.
8. Paint Brush Set Acrylic Xpassion 10pcs Professional Paint Brushes Artist
Pros:
- Precise and soft bristles
- Comes with a case
- 5-year guarantee
- 6 different brush sizes
- No odor
- Good price
- Made of quality materials
- Perfect for painting on primed canvases
Cons:
- Comes apart from the handle easily
- May feel flimsy at first
- Tips are not durable
- Case is too small for the brushes
- Brush tips get stained easily
If you’re just starting out in watercolor painting, we recommend getting a set of professional watercolor brushes from Xpassion. They’re designed for both beginner and experienced painters which is why they have a 5-year warranty.
The tips are soft, so they won’t scrape your painting or the canvas. Their colors are genuine and won’t wash out. They’re very flexible and the bristles don’t harden.
They have a neat fitted case that holds all the different brushes securely. The case has a zipper closure which makes sure that none of the brushes were damaged during transport or while on display in your home.
9. Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Paint Sketchers' Pocket Box
Pros:
- Come highly-rated in customer ratings
- High quality paint
- Comes in a stylish tin case
- Mixes and holds color well
- Responsive to water
Cons:
- Some colors are thin and need to be applied in multiple layers
- High price tag
The Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Paint Sketchers' Pocket Box, Half Pans, 14-Pieces are our choice for best watercolor brushes.
These pocket boxes include 14 half-pans of pure, high-quality Winsor and Newton watercolors. The brushes are perfect for either the artist at home or someone who wants to take their watercolors on the go.
The colors are creamy and have a nice consistency. They’re good for creating light to heavy washes, and you can get some nice bold colors with them as well. You’ll find the paints to be quite responsive to water and to work well together. The only downside is that some colors will need to be reapplied several times.
10. Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Sable Brush-Pointed Round #8
Pros:
- Durable watercolor brush made from sable
- High quality design and beautiful craftsmanship
- Pointed tip for controlled application
- Even, smooth surfaces for easy clean up
- Well-made and well-designed brush
- The fine fibers allow for easy clean up
- Soft but firm for consistency
- Strong and well-built
- The corners and edges of the brush are tapered
- The points of the brush are fine and even
Cons:
- The natural color and softness of the brush makes it easy for the paint to stick to the brush
- The tips are prone to bending
- The size of the brush allows for a limited amount of paint to be used during application
- The price may seem high for some users
- The bristles are fragile and might break easily
Winsor & Newton is an award-winning painting company known for its high-quality products. They specialize in artist brushes of all kinds, and this watercolor brush is no exception.
11. Caran d 'Ache d-ache 115.303 3pièce – Brushes Brush
(Set Of 3)
This watercolor brush set features three different brushes because different strokes suit different painting styles. All of the brushes are soft, which makes them easy to use on paper, and are great for watercolor painting.
What sold us on this brush set is the eco-friendliness on multiple angles. First, it’s made of synthetic fibers. Second, the packaging is 100% recycled. Third, and most important, the brushes are made in and packaged in Switzerland. For the price tag, this is pretty special.
12. Sakura 38550 4-ml Tank Koi Water Color Brush
Pros:
- Soft and durable bristles
- Different sizes available
- Durable shape with a sturdy handle
- Vibrant colors
- Works well with all types of paints
Cons:
- Ferrule can come loose
- May stain clothes
This is one of the best watercolor brushes out there. Sakura's brushes are known for their durability, comfort, and color consistency.
The ferrules are made with durable aluminum which secures the soft bristles. These brushes are ideal for all types of water colors, from watercolors to Gouache. The brushes hold water well, and the bristles don't start to sag or lose their shape as you paint.
The Sakura 4-ml Tank Koi Water Color Brushes are available in a variety of sizes. And the paint they apply is vibrant and exciting with the small number of strokes. The variety of sizes means a variety of watercolor effects, so they're great for artists of every level.
13. Escoda : Optimo : Kolinsky : Series 1210 : Set of 5
Pros:
- Synthetic hair that’s intended to mimic the characteristics of real sable hair
- Natural ingredients to keep the hair clean to avoid bacteria and mold growth
- Paint brush lasts for 3 to 5 years with proper use
- It has a round handle with short bristles
- Professional quality brush
Cons:
- More expensive than natural brushes
- Not recommended for beginners
- You may need to buff the brush several times
If you’re looking for a top-quality brush, you’ll really appreciate the Escoda Optimo Kolinsky. They’re designed to mimic the characteristics of a typical Kolinsky sable brush, thanks to the natural ingredients in the hair. These shapes are ideal for areas of high detail in your painting.
You can use the Escoda Optimo brushes on all kinds of paints, but only when they’re completely dry. They’re not recommended for use with oily paints and might require some extra care.
Handling these brushes will require the use of a brush holder or a strainer to keep the hair dry when you’re not using them. You may also need to wash and condition them to make them last longer and become more flexible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What type of brush is best for watercolor?
It's easy to get overwhelmed by the number of different types of brushes that exist for different purposes. However, if you're a beginner, we recommend that you stick to just a few types and learn how to use them effectively.
The first type that you should consider is a round watercolor brush. These usually come in packs of 10 or 20 and range in size from 0 to 10. These are ideal for starting out because they can produce a nice, bold strokes. 6-10 are the most versatile, so you can use them in smaller areas or implement them as a larger stroke if you wanted.
It can be frustrating to buy a brush and not know how to use it. Luckily, there are a number of websites that provide you with tips and tricks, but not all of them cater to the beginner or novice.
What are the best paint brushes for artists?
A good set of paint brushes is an important tool that every artist needs. Whether you are an aspiring artist, or a seasoned veteran, you need a paint brush set that will allow you to create your masterpieces.
Paint brushes come in a large selection of shapes, sizes, and materials. They are also very affordable and easy to find, regardless of your skill.
A good artist knows that the paint brushes can be the key to creating a masterpiece. A cheap set of brushes can cause issues such as splotches, breakage, and stiff bristles. An expensive set of brushes may not ne necessary, but can enhance your ability to paint and make a difference in the final product.
Since each brush style is unique, it is important to pay attention to what works best for you. It is recommended to start with a basic set and add more brushes when you have more money and the need arises.
Which Princeton brushes are best for watercolor?
The Princeton series of brushes are a great addition to any artist’s arsenal, particularly for watercolorists. These brushes are specifically designed to cater to the needs of the artist. However, they aren’t just for watercolor artists and can be great for acrylic and oil painters alike.
These brushes are only available in a limited selection. Not all of them are being offered, but the range is comprehensive enough.
Is there a difference between watercolor brushes and acrylic brushes?
You want a brush that is smooth and yet firm so that it keeps its shape but also does not shed too much. When it comes to bristles, the more delicate is the better. Art paint brushes are made of softer materials like synthetic sable or the precious goat’s hair.
Either will work but it is impossible to get a real sharp line with a natural fiber. If that’s what you’re looking for, then take the stick and poke your canvas. or even better, get the Acrylic brushes with nylon bristles because they are softer and have more control.
Conclusion
Even the most experienced artist will find value in this comparison.
Our team of volunteers went out and found and tested the best cheap watercolor brushes on the market. We evaluated them based on the following criteria: reputation, watercolor brush types, ease of use, longevity, and comfort.
Although options like paint shakers and watercolor palettes are certainly important, we felt that our main focus had to be on our desire to recommend a high-quality paintbrush to paintists of all skill levels.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Artist Paint Brush Set Professional 15pc Best Art Supplies Paintbrushes | Best Overall | |
| Sakura 38550 4-ml Tank Koi Water Color Brush | Budget Pick | |
| da Vinci Watercolor Maestro Kolinsky Red Sable Brush Set 5500-3 Brush Set | Upgrade Pick | |