Affordable Watercolour Brushes - Jackson's Studio Synthetic
A watercolour painting of a rose I completed using Jackson's brand synthetic brushes
Are you looking for a good brush for watercolour that doesn't cost the earth?
Well keep reading because I found one.
Let me introduce you to Jackson's Studio synthetic brush, series 505.
A Good Brush for Watercolour
Jackson's brand Studio synthetic watercolor brushes, series 505
Jackson's sent me these synthetic brushes to try. I enjoy painting with natural hair brushes so let's just say that I was less than enthusiastic about trying them out.
Last week a friend of mine sent me a text message telling me that she had bought some, she had used them and she was very impressed with them.
So.......my curiosity was piqued! Out of the package they came and I used them to paint this rose from my garden and I have to say, I was impressed with them too!
Watercolour painting of a rose
Synthetic Watercolour Brushes
Synthetic brushes are made from synthetic fibres such as nylon, Taklon, or a blend of synthetic materials. They are vegan and cruelty-free, appealing to those who prefer not to use brushes made from natural hair. They may not hold water as well as natural hair brushes but with advancements in brush technology, synthetic brushes now have improved water retention. They are generally more affordable than natural hair brushes, so if you are a beginner or you are on a budget, synthetic brushes are a good choice.
As far as bristle shapes go- watercolour brushes vary. I mainly use round brushes when I am painting. I have a few flat brushes that I use for washes and applying water to the paper.
Brush Qualities to Look For in Round Brushes
Clean shape - Fine point
When choosing a round brush you want it to have a clean shape and I like them to have a fine point. You also don't want there to be any stray, fly away hairs when the brush is wet. The Jackson's studio brush series 505 didn't disappoint.
When I wet each brush they formed a beautiful fine point that allowed me to get into all the nooks and crannies of the rose that I painted. They kept their shape when I was painting with them. The bristles didn't separate, the point stayed together and after I washed them, they returned to their original shape easily.
Here, I'm using the little size 1 brush to paint some fine detail work along the edge of a petal.
Synthetic hair round watercolour brushes holding their shape when wet. I have a #1, #5, #8, #10 and #12.
Brush Capacity
A watercolour brush needs to be thirsty. It should hold generous amounts of paint and water because you don't want to have to keep reloading it in paint or water every few strokes.
Your brush also shouldn't drip excessively after you have rinsed it in your water container.
Larger brushes, hold more paint and water so the brush capacity will vary depending on the size of the brush you are using.
I found that the Jackson Studio series 505 brushes were comparable to my sable brushes in their capacity to hold paint and water.
Round watercolour brushes should be “thirsty” to pick up the paint.
The brushes didn't drip water excessively after I rinsed them in the water container.
Paint Release
When you are painting, you want your watercolour brush to consistently release the paint in an even flow.
When I tested one of the Jackson's Studio brushes in my journal, it released the paint evenly.
The paint application was smooth. I used the brush in different positions to create varied marks on the paper- including textured dry brush marks.
I painted a clean flat wash with the Jackson's Studio brush.
A round brush should also have the capacity to make different marks on the paper depending on how you hold the brush and apply the bristles to the paper.
The Jackson's Studio brush also painted a perfect flat wash on dry paper.
Layering Paint
When you work in watercolour you need to have the ability to layer paint. To do that, the watercolour brushes you use need to have soft bristles otherwise you risk disturbing the underlying layer, even after it has dried.
Painting one layer of paint over another that has dried.
The underlying layer was not disturbed in the process.
I was able to layer the paint easily without disturbing the underlying layers.
When I painted the rose, I found blending the colours to be effortless.
I tend to use round brushes for most of the painting I do.
Good Snap
You might hear some artists say a brush has 'good snap'. What that means is that the brush can quickly return to its original shape or point after being flexed or bent during use. It's a desirable quality in watercolour brushes, especially for techniques that involve varying pressure or quick, controlled strokes.
I found the Jackson's Studio brush to have 'good snap.'
It's important that round brushes have good snap.
The bristles spring back into shape quickly after releasing pressure.
Overall Feel and Comfort
Good quality brushes at an affordable price.
Ensuring that brushes feel comfortable in your hand, especially during extended painting sessions, is crucial. The brushes I typically use in my studio are already familiar to me, offering a comfortable and well-balanced grip. Transitioning to a new type of brush can be challenging, requiring an adjustment period for your hand to adapt to the new feel.
Surprisingly, these brushes required no such adjustment. They felt comfortable in my hand right from the start. They look good too with their black polished short handles. Their weight is just right for me —not too heavy, not too light — and the handles themselves maintain a comfortable thickness. I've used brushes with handles that are either too thick or too thin, but the Jackson's Studio brushes felt instantly familiar.
The handles look high quality to me, which is important.
There is nothing worse than painting with a brush that has flaking paint that exposes the wood of the handle.
This is an old, acrylic paint brush of mine that has flaking paint on the handle.
Lifespan of Synthetic Brushes
The lifespan of a synthetic watercolour brush can vary depending on several factors, including the frequency and intensity of use, the quality of the brush, and how well it's maintained.
It's hard to say how long these brushes will last. Typically, in my experience, the less expensive synthetic brushes I have used lasted about 6 to 12 months with regular use before the tips began to wear down and lose their shape.
Fortunately, these brushes are reasonably priced, making it less of a burden to replace them when necessary. Given their affordability and performance, I'll certainly recommend them to my beginner students in search of quality paint brushes that won't break the bank.
If you are interested in learning to paint in watercolour, I have over 170 online, voiced over watercolour tutorials for all skill levels.
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