What sort of watercolour brushes do I use?
Unlike with my choice of pigments, I am not nearly so fussy with my brushes. I am using very basic brushes made by Mont Marte®. These are the traditional watercolour mop brushes in sizes #0, #2 and #4. There are a few reasons why I prefer these brushes over more expensive brushes.
Firstly, they are not made of sable. I am against all forms of animal cruelty and sable brushes have a very poor reputation in this regard. I want nothing to do with it!
Mont Marte® watercolour mop brushes on the other hand are made of 50% pony hair and 50% taklon (a tapered synthetic fibre). They only cost about $10 each so I am able to get one for each colour that I am using in the artwork. This prevents waste as I don’t have to wash out the same brush all the time.
I have bought one or two squirrel brushes but I find these to be a bit too flexible and they are more difficult to control. I guess I have just gotten used to relatively stiff brushes. They work for me and so I’ll continue with them.
Lastly, it is a cost thing. I prefer to use a lot of brushes so that the colours remain purer, with less contamination. Over time I have accrued about two dozen or so brushes.
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