16 Best Watercolor Mop Brush (2022 Updated)

I’ve painted with watercolours my whole life, and mostly use sable brushes. My favourite brushes are a pair of sable brushes given to me by my grandfather, but they are small rounds and don’t retain the volume of water I would need for large washes.

While watching some YouTube videos, I came across this style of brush. I’ve used Chinese brushes, rounds, flats of all compositions, and regular mops, and haven’t been able to find something like this.

The #6 is rapidly becoming my go-to. I haven’t used any other quill mops, but I may try the Princeton line to get a feel for the partially synthetic fibres.

I adore the brush already, its so soft and holds plenty of water. I was hoping for a finer point at its tip for the size I bought but it is still wonderful. I only docked a star because of that and more so because it already came with several hairs that stick out instead of conforming to the shape its supposed to.

(I’ll have to try using a brush shaper conditioner treatment on it to see if it resolves that but brand new I wouldn’t have expected to have such unruly poking out strands. ).

Because I primarily work in sketchbooks on relatively smaller surfaces, initially I thought I really did not need mop brushes that hold a lot of water. Before my Raphael brushes, I could never manage an even wash, and I did not understand it.

Now I know how important to have at least a couple of mops for those larger juicy washes. Raphaels also have the best point that allows for the finest, best controlled lines and details. Since I purchased my size 0 and size 2 Raphael mop brushes, I very rarely need other brushes.

I am so happy with them!.

Ok I need to get this out first. I ordered an 4, 8, 12 pointed rounds to try and they are over half the size smaller so my 8 was like a 4 and my 4 maybe even less than a 2. The 12 was laughable so maybe I overpaid.

The tips look great. Oh and I ordered a mop brush size 2 which actually has a beautiful point and holds a lot of water and pigment. But I was expecting the sizes to be comparable to others and these are not.

But they feel good in my hand and I will let you know when the point wears out. Double your size for ordering. I am planning to use the very pointy mop and compare it to my full belly size 5 Isabey to see how comparable the loading and dispersing is.

I have to remember that synthetics do like to dump their load at the beginning compared to a sable which is more consistent so just for kicks I will check back. I see nothing wrong with these and I actually needed another couple of tiny ones.

#sweepstakes.

Block sent me one, freebie trial, I tried it and used and used it, then wanted smaller sizes. I use them exclusively now!!! I bought 3 sets of 4 sizes so I have one to share. LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! Water retention, ease of application of paint, pick-ip, release.

ALLLLLLLLLL.

Blick sent me a size 0 in the 805 series for free a few months ago with a large and expensive order. I’d been a lifelong snob about natural bristles-mainly because I’d never found a brush with synthetic bristles which performed as beautifully with water-based media-fluid acrylic, watercolor, etc.

-as the Raphael and Isabey squirrel brushes. Both of those series gave me all the intuitive delight I could handle. I looked at this brush with disdain, decided to try it and was blown away by how gorgeously it handled paint.

And it seems to keep its shape better than, say, the Isabey 6234 series I’ve been a fan of for decades. I’m in awe.

I have heard these brushes whispered in hushed tones with reverence as “THEE QUILL” brush. I don’t buy in to the hype too often. I have been painting now for a few years and have started to really appreciate the qualities between various materials.

I decided to give one of these a go. I have to admit, it lived up to the hype, while it is very soft and extra thirsty it lays down washes with amazing control. As I was looking for a way to give more movement to my compositions I found this delivered a kind of wonderful energy and I could paint nearly a full section with out any need to reload.

The brush came to a surprisingly sharp point, allowing for detailing and shading around facial features with a softness that other brushes just can’t give me. Blick delivered at a good price, especially due to the slow times right now for importing from EU makers.

I ended up picking up a few more for smaller work.

So far Isabey produces the best squirrel mops I have tried. The squirrel hair is extra soft, and they overstuff the brush. It has a lot more hair for the same size brush as compared to other brands. It holds a surprising amount of water, has a nice tear drop shape with a sharp point, and is limp, all qualities I expect from high quality squirrel.

I tried other brands because Isabey is expensive but I was really disappointed, so I’ll be returning back to Isabey for all my squirrel brush needs.

I purchased a large set of this brush, having loved my old Isabey mop quills for over twenty years. I bought all they had in the store and the store ordered several more for me. The wires popped off at the first use.

The bundles fell apart as I quickly tried to resolve the issue. I use the largest ones they made to some simply large ones. I was out about a grand, and as I failed to test them all out before a month had passed even though many were not opened at all, Blick refused to refund me.

I wrote Isabey but they never replied. I also believe the largest ones are not squirrel, they do not hold the dye at all, they hold less than my smaller brushes. I paint with dye, no additional vehicle, they don’t even need to be cleaned and should hold up for decades, This batch did not hold up a day each piece.

Now that one cannot simply go out and buy things in person, it is even more imperative to know the quality fail these are.

I appreciate the size range mostly for larger projects, but at least one fine-pointed brush would have been good to have in each package as well. The brushes will last for a while, I believe.

the price is great, not the best quality out there but great for student watercolors

Every age group benefits from the finer motor control needed with small brushes.

i began using waterbrushes quite a while ago to use with watercolor pencils while keeping a travel journal on our camping trips. the first ones i tried were cheaper models i found at my local craft stores.

then i found the niji. the rest is history. these are the best by far of all the waterbrushes i have ever used. i use the brushes now with a watercolor palette i created for my travels and nature journaling.

my method is now simple and completely enjoyable. in fact, because of the simplicity i now do nature journalling as well as keep a travel journal. i have all the sizes of the brushes, but find the medium one my ‘go to’ brush and would recommend that one to start with if you are unsure of which one to get.

also, i suggest not wasting your money on cheaper brushes, but go for the niji. after about four years of use, my brushes are still going strong! one did clog up on me this summer while we were out camping, but i carefully took it apart and discovered a very small permeable plug inside the brush, which, i think controls the water flow.

i carefully poked the plug a couple of times with a needle and got it working perfectly again. what a great product! i love it!.

The large, flat Niji Waterbrush was a great addition to my set of 4 Pentel Aquabrushes. I wanted a larger flat brush than was available with the Pentel set. The Niji works well. It can however be more of a challenge to fill than the Pentel.

Some people pry the black internal cap out and fill the barrel directly, then replace the cap. The internal cap has a small hole in it, but it is too small to use with an applicator tipped bottle to refill.

Others use the insert into cup of water and squeeze to suck up the water method. This works but it is difficult to completely fill the water reservoir this way. The Brush works well and I rate it a 5.

The filling mechanism caused me to lower the overall rating to a 4. It is a good brush, just wish it was as easy to fill as the Pentel Aquabrushes.

My paintings are large watercolors, but of highly detailed flowers. Many of the details-stamens, pistils, etc-are done with #1 and #2 sable watercolor brushes. The waterbrushes add a new element of control to the work, making it possible paint longer fine lines without going back to the water source.

They are also useful in making small preliminary sketches which have a lot of charm themselves. A helpful addition to the painter’s supplybox.

The pointed rounds are surprisingly versatile and a great value. The number twos are great for doing repetitive detail work like leaves, grass or hair and hold a decent amount of paint. I’ve started expanding sizes and will be trying on larger work.

I recommend, you can’t really beat it for the price. I’m a bit of a brush hoarder & have a variety of handmade, excellent brushes. I am finding myself buying more of these as they are little workhorses.

Very nice brush. Super soft. I totally used this wrong though. I ended up tangling the middle hairs so much I needed a comb to straighten the brush out again. It left hairs on my painting after the comb out unfortunately.

This all happened the day I bought the brush. Should the brush been used properly, there would not have been any issues.

got 2 fan brushes 10/0 and size 2. the size 2 one is synthetic despite the brush being named “natural” obviously something’s wrong with Princeton’s decision here. usable, but alot less friction and alot more regularity and evenness from the spacing, clumps like a synthetic brush would.

I didnt notice this until the products arrived (size 2 is smooth and plasticy and transparent), but I came back and checked the picture Blick has for size 2 fan, you can actually tell it’s different from other bristle brushes.

What is there to say? This is pretty much my go-to brand for a lot of brushes and my go-to brand for the various mediums I use, from watercolor to acrylic to alcohol ink. It holds enough product, and the filbert brush itself is pretty versatile to begin with.

The bristles are also easy to reshape (boiled water) if you’re like me and accidentally leave your brushes in paint water overnight.

I got a couple of the round Zen watercolor brushes. They are surprisingly good. They hold watercolor paint well and have nice points that stay pointy. Not too stiff and not too soft for painting. They rival other more expensive brands.

Excellent value for money. I will buy more of these for sure. #sweepstakes.

Used for watercolor painting. The handles are very nice and feel good in the hand, perhaps a tiny bit shorter than what I’m used to. The beveled and it quite useful for various techniques to add texture.

The brush itself is quite soft, flexible. Doesn’t hold as much water as expected but that could just be my getting used to it.

These are the poorest quality brushes I have seen in 40 years of painting. As soon as I took it out of the package, the #12 round ferrule fell off the handle. The flags of the other brushes appeared damaged and frayed.

The brushes with points will not come to a point but make shredded looking marks. The swords will not come together but splay haphazardly. Of a wide assortment, only the scrubbers are useable. I am happy to say I’ve never run into brushes this bad, and Blick packed them very carefully so it isn’t shipping damage that led to these results.

I am concerned these brushes will fall apart, and because of appalling quality, I’m throwing them out. Life is to short to use brushes like this. I’ll stick with Simmons from now on.

I got size 24 wash brush for watercolor. It is very well made brush. The handle is thick and long for a short handle but that is easy to get used too. So far I used it twice and each time it lost one hair, which I find to be normal.

I am sure it will stop after more uses. I do not agree with reviews criticizing that it does not spring back. It is a soft brush for a purpose and it is not suppose to spring back. Hair is really thick, 1/4″ from the side.

My disappointment is that it is not a blue squirrel hair but a combination of squirrel and synthetic, which I found out as I was about to write this review. So it lost a star. One always have to read every word about a product not just the name of it.

I really wanted 100% squirrel hair, so I got it instead of Silver Velvet which is also a mix but 30% less expensive and has a square wash. I would recommend Silver Velvet instead. If you do not care about the price, Da Vinci is a beautiful brush, holds a lot of pigment, great for washes, glazing.

I think I just talked myself to keep it.

absolutely love this brush. i started with a size 2, and then picked up this 00 and a 6 with my following purchase. i honestly feel like these are the brushes that will follow me throughout my life. the flow and control of these brushes is fantastic, hold so much water and pigment without dripping, and the fact they always go back to their point blows my mind.

make sure to break in these brushes first before use! run under cool water with low pressure and then stroke the brush on the back of your hand until the disolvable glue rinses off (you’ll see that your brush relaxes as it washes away).

the quality of performance these brushes bring is phenomenal. i even prefer them over the winsor + newton series 7.

#sweepstakes I’m used to red sable for my watercolors, but I thought I’d give squirrel a try when I saw the quill shaped brush (I was looking for something that could handle large areas and still get into sharp points and little places, something a flat can’t always do).

Squirrel is very different from sable–it’s very soft, holds A LOT of water and A LOT of paint and is definitely true to the product description of being good for area work. I usually do manga illustrations, but after running squirrel across a handful of papers, I find it really shines on 100% cotton paper and isn’t the tone I’m looking for on illustrations where I need something that stands out less.

I imagine it will be really good for the landscapes I’m going to try, since it lays the color down in a really beautiful way in large areas. Definitely well made–way to go, Da Vinci!.

I have a lot of brushes that I enjoy and these are in my top five. Two years ago a local watercolor artist recommended these to me and swore they would become my new workhorse sable brushes. He was right.

I have every shape and am particularly fond of the round #5 #rigger and the flat brushes. I have only had one issue with one brush I purchased a #4 round and it has some bristles that are overly stiff for sable.

Not a big deal I use it for textures areas such as grass. #sweepstakes.

These are the absolute worst sable brushes I’ve ever used. I purchased these about a year ago. I wanted to purchase good sable watercolor brushes at a mid-grade budget price and these kept coming up in my extensive researching and reading of product reviews.

When they arrived, beautifully packaged by blick and in seemingly perfect condition, I was so excited to add them to my watercolor brush collection and try them out. Unfortunately, much to my dismay, once I gave them a good clean and carefully removed the gum Arabic to use them, I was so disappointed to find that these did not hold any point whatsoever.

Whenever I use these brushes, I feel like I’m fighting with them. I’m only sorry that I got rid of the paper receipt that came along with the packaging and the email confirmation of my order a little too preemptively in thinking that these were going to be amazing.

I feel angry whenever I look at these brushes. what most upsets me is that I wasted precious dollars and have had to hold on to these pieces of junk ever since I made the error of purchasing them. I don’t have the heart to throw them out and insult the precious creatures who’s hair was utilized so poorly to create these unusable brushes.

Over the last year, I’ve done everything to try to reshape these brush bristles, but nothing works to help them hold any kind of a point. I write this all knowing that it is much too late for a refund or exchange from Blick, but I want to warn potential buyers to look elsewhere for good quality sable brushes because these are not it.

In fact, Blick is not to blame at all, but the manufacturers for making such a terrible product.

These brushes are a gamble, while you may get a good brush that points nicely, you might also get one that will never hold a point. If you are willing to take the chance get them. They are extraordinary cheap for a Kolinsky Sable, and if you are lucky to get a good brush it will hold great quantities of liquid and point nicely.

The sable is lower quality so they are quite soft and have less spring than higher end brushes. Do not compare them with Series 7, these are a completely different thing.

Since using them for over a week, the brushes bristles shread alot. Not very good to paint as you have the bristles of your brush shreading onto your paper. The brush tips are refined or pointed to get a finer ink onto paper.

I wanted to like them but they just did not work for me- the quality not good.

Really disappointed with these. Opened after Christmas to do some water Colour painting in a journal and the brushes shed bristles everywhere

The brushes shed hairs on my work. Not very good.

I love how much water and pigment this brush holds and how the point really holds its shape. I use it for florals. It makes a great leaf shape and it is easy to manipulate to do the petals. I recommend it.

These brushes are amazing. I use them for watercolor, but they would also work great for gouache, ink, etc. The brush is very well made, the handle has a gorgeous finish on it, and the casing around the hair is one piece, making the brush very durable.

It holds a tremendous amount of water for its size (mine is size two) and the bristles do not stain. The only thing that bothers me a bit is that the wire securing the casing sticks out just a bit so when I go to wipe off excess water the wire end gets caught on the towel.

This doesn’t effect the brush performance, just something I noticed. Overall, a very nice high quality brush. Worth the money!.

My first Series 7 brush (but not my first Sable brush). I bought the size 4. The first issue I have is that the protective cover that came on the brush was not properly placed and pushed about 5 hairs out.

I am thinking this caused permanent damage. (I am not factoring this in to my rating because accidents happen, and as long as it isn’t the norm, I can forgive the manufacturer). Besides the 5 wonky hairs, the overall brush just doesn’t hold shape well at all.

It holds water nicely, has a nice bounce, but I find the point to be almost impossible to keep. which is crazy since it is such a small brush. It acts more like an old abused brush with broken hairs.

I MUCH prefer the Blick Master stroke. My size 8 holds a much better point than this Series 7, despite having it for years. And the overall finish of the Masterstroke feels more lux.

I started oil painting several years ago after not painting since college 45 years ago. I had an old series 7 #2 from that vintage and my the first new painting I did entirely with this brush. I was so happy with it that I ordered a set.

I did not call it “best in its category” because I have not even tried another brand! But for some comparison, I gave a friend who has been oil painting for many years a set for her birthday and her response was “I am in brush bliss!” (thus the title).

A word to those who cannot keep a point. It is very important to clean these very gently and immediately after using!!! I do not let the sun set on a dirty brush. (the only brush I had that lost its point lost it after not cleaning it for 24 hrs.

) Also after cleaning l dip them in some lard oil and then wipe it off, a tip from an old rosemaling book.

I am getting more hard-core into watercolors, and decided I wanted to buy some brushes they would hopefully last. And boy did these not disappoint! They hold SO much water in them, despite being so small.

On one hand, I really love that. However, sometimes they absorb so much water (and so quickly, I might add), that they loose their point. This is of course solved by simply brushing out some of the water, though.

The application with these is so smooth as well. I highly reccomend. #sweepstakes.

I’m thinking I should have got the next couple of sizes up as I think that the size of the mop brush (00) is a tad smaller than what I thought it would be. The bristles are soft but spikey, so I think this particular brush would be good for small washes and or split brush techniques in watercolour.

Not my favourite of the brushes I brought, but it is nice all the same.

This is one of the smaller mop brushes sized at 3/0. I chose this because I paint mainly on A3 paper. The brush still holds lots of colour or water for small to medium washes or close detail. Recommend.