Switch between fine lines and broader colour areas in a watercolour sketch with this set of six Meeden water brushes. The translucent reservoirs show how much water remains. Water travels from the reservoir to the tip, so you do not need to keep dipping into a separate water pot as you paint.
Six tips for different marks
The set contains three round, pointed tips in fine, medium and broad, plus three flat tips of 4, 7 and 10 mm. Each brush has a 7 ml reservoir and a cap. Choose a round tip for outlines, dots and curved lines. Flat tips make broader strokes; their narrow edge can also make a thinner mark. Use a smaller flat for small areas and a wider one for fuller shapes.
Fill and release water
Unscrew the brush tip. Fill the reservoir with water, for example by squeezing the empty reservoir, holding the opening in water and releasing it. Screw the tip back on. Gently press the reservoir and test the flow on a sample first. Start with little water and adjust pressure and pace to your paper. The 7 ml is reservoir capacity, not a measurement for a paint or mixing ratio.
Watercolour and water-soluble colour
Pick up watercolour with the damp tip, or spread water-soluble pencil, crayon and marker colour on the paper. Compare a round tip with the face and edge of a flat tip to make lines, patches and transitions. Choose colour materials that can be worked with water; a permanent marker will not simply dissolve. Add your own paint, paper and container of filling water.
Clean and carry
Rinse the tip between colours to limit unwanted mixing. After use, clean the tip and reservoir with water, gently reshape the hairs and let the parts dry. Put on the cap without bending the tip. Before carrying the brushes, check that the tip and cap are properly fitted.
Compare brush shapes for your watercolour work
