Yasutomo Niji Mini Waterbrush
Waterbrush with Medium Point
Made in Japan
The Zig Brush2o (which is the same brush as the Yasutomo Niji Mini, but with different colored plastic) is our very favorite waterbrush. The point is different from a traditional round watercolor brush in that it is more conical in shape. Brush head is made of synthetic filament bristles. Water is stored in the plastic handle. (Black plug needs to be removed to fill and then put back in place - I have good luck using my fingernail to remove it). Simply give the handle a squeeze to load the brush with more water. Water moves from the reservoir through an intermediary area with a sponge before reaching the brush tip; this causes a delay, so wait for a few seconds for the water to move from the handle to the tip after you squeeze.
Synthetic bristles do not last as long as natural hair bristles, even when you take excellent care of your brush. With use over time the tip of your brush will begin to fray. Some artists enjoy keeping a newer brush and an older frayed one as they have different mark-making effects.
Reasons we love this brush:
- Superior tip shape compared to other waterbrushes (others can be too long or splay)
- Convenience of storing water in handle when traveling, which eliminates the necessity of using a separate water cup that can be spilled.
- Naturally results in a different painting workflow by eliminating the stop at the water cup; the brush simply travels between palette and paper.
- Different sizes in different colors makes it easy to quickly grab the size you need.
- The cap! Having a cap on your brush makes them durable and so much easier and versatile to travel with
Why is the Yasutomo more expensive than the Zig? Not sure! There is a large disparity in the wholesale prices we pay for them. We carry this brush specifically for those of you who use multiple waterbrushes and want to have more color variety so that you may more quickly differentiate between your waterbrushes. The reservoir for this brush can be swapped out with the longer reservoir of the Yasutomo Flat so that it is the same length as the rest of your waterbrushes with a more easily distinguished handle color.
If you are curious to learn more about water brushes, I wrote a full blog post about them that you can view here. I include pros and cons, as well as brand comparisons.
These tools take a bit of practice to get the hang of. They will never be the same as using a traditional watercolor brush, but they are wonderfully convenient for a lightweight set-up and for quick sketches.
Hope you enjoy!
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