Attempting the Da Vinci Kolinsky Colineo Brushes, from their new vary of artificial Kolinsky sable watercolour brushes, was very interesting as a result of few issues pique my curiosity greater than new watercolour brushes. For a while now, I, like many others, have been intrigued by the rising collection of artificial equivalents and alternate options to conventional animal-hair brushes. There’s presently a big, and rising, market in animal-free/vegan artwork supplies, for causes together with way of life alternative, sustainability points, and affordability.
For many watercolour artists, the so-called Holy Grail of brushes has been these constituted of the uncommon and expensive Siberian Kolinsky Pink Sable. Constituted of the guard hairs from the tail of a uncommon species of Siberian weasel, these particular hairs are mentioned to price 3 times the value of gold, weight for weight. Understandably, the watercolour brush business has been investing appreciable time, cash, and sources into arising with an artificial different to those pricey supplies; one thing which correctly imitates the particular properties of Siberian Kolinsky Pink Sable. So, when Da Vinci declare to have achieved this lofty aim with their new Colineo vary, I used to be eager to strive the brushes out, and take a look at these claims.
First Impressions
I’m making an attempt out a pair of matched brushes comprising of a quantity 8 spherical brush, and a quantity 12 flat brush. My first impression is that they give the impression of being extremely modern and stylish. The silver steel ferrules are double-crimped, in a similar way to the famed Winsor & Newton Sequence 7 Kolinsky Sable brushes. That is to make sure the comb head gained’t come free. The handles are lengthy, gentle, ergonomically formed, and really feel well-balanced within the hand, with a gorgeous lime-washed wooden impact. Irrespective of the place you maintain the brushes the steadiness feels nice: whether or not you maintain them near the ferrule for detailed work reminiscent of botanicals and illustration, or in direction of the top for a looser, extra expressive model of portray. The comb heads look similar to their sable counterparts, with gentle reddish-brown fibres. The spherical brush is delightfully plump with a superb level, and the flat can also be comparatively plump with what seems to be a superb, flat chisel edge.
Testing the Da Vinci Colineo Dimension 8 Spherical Watercolour Brush
The very best sable brushes are well-made and maintain loads of paint, releasing it slowly and evenly onto the paper. They need to even be versatile, springing readily again into form in order that the artist can transfer easily from massive washes to superb brushwork with a single, fluid movement. The Da Vinci Quantity 8 spherical didn’t disappoint. Upon testing, I used to be in a position to rapidly and evenly create stunning but assorted traces and washes, carrying loads of paint and water, with the tip offering some extremely superb traces. The spherical is commonly seen as one of many key ‘work horse’ brushes for many kinds and genres of watercolour portray; and this brush appears greater than able to doing something an animal-hair brush can do, each when it comes to spring/flexibility, paint/water retaining skills, and preserving a superb level for its measurement, in addition to its versatility in creating all kinds of marks.
Attempting the Da Vinci Colineo Dimension 12 Flat Watercolour Brush
This smaller brush nonetheless manages to carry a formidable quantity of paint/water for its measurement, whereas concurrently sustaining a razor-sharp chisel edge. It is a nice attribute in any flat, which permits the supply not solely of some very superb, even traces, however permits correct exhausting edges and blocks to be created too, when the stomach of the comb is pressed fairly firmly towards the paper for the brushstroke. It holds sufficient paint to finish most duties with out having to reload the comb, which regularly results in a cleaner, brisker end. I discovered the measurement 12 flat an extremely environment friendly and straightforward to make use of ‘one-stroke’ brush; nonetheless, I do have a tendency in direction of utilizing greater brushes for my very own work; so, I’ll actually be ordering one of many bigger sizes of flat so as to add to my private assortment.
Portray a Vase of Flowers, Utilizing Solely the Two-Brush Set
I made a decision an excellent trial of those brushes could be to strive a small portray utilizing solely this pairing, to correctly take a look at their efficiency and flexibility. I sketched out a easy, free vase of flowers on a bit of Arches chilly pressed watercolour paper. I started by portray in a pale, washy, wet-in-wet background utilizing the spherical brush, leaving the destructive house unpainted for the flowers. As soon as dry, I moved between the flat and the spherical so as to add the flowers, leaves, and accents.
I discovered each brushes very comfy to make use of, effectively carrying the paint and water so I might ship it in precisely the best way I needed – with both the purpose or the stomach of the comb – working rapidly and intuitively into the moist and dry components of the paper, creating a wide range of gentle and exhausting edges. I balanced the softer, washy marks with robust darks, then added particulars rapidly with the chisel fringe of the flat brush. As I anticipated, the spherical brush did many of the work for this portray. I swapped to the flat for some centered, sharp areas of darkish, to negatively paint the vase and raise just a few highlights, in addition to putting some essential geometric dry-brush glazes to finish the portray.
As I painted, I in a short time grew to become misplaced within the course of. I used to be thrilled with the number of marks and washes I might create utilizing solely these two brushes and ended up fully forgetting that I used to be testing new brushes for the primary time. This, to me, is an indication of excellence; they really feel like a pure extension of your hand and artistic ideas immediately, with out an ungainly ‘settling in’ interval.
For my part, Da Vinci has succeeded in creating a formidable artificial different to the traditional Kolinsky Sable. There’s a exceptional magnificence on this pair of Da Vinci Colineo brushes: the mix of straight and wavy artificial fibres works completely to ship the looks, spring, flexibility, and water-carrying capabilities of the perfect sables. The felt like tried-and-true brushes from the second I started to work with them, comfy and lightweight. The elegantly formed handles assist ship an financial system of motion and are completely balanced, regardless of whether or not you might be engaged on superb element, or bigger and looser work. Total, I used to be impressed. I had excessive hopes for these brushes from the start, and I personally consider that Da Vinci has made good on their promise: to ship a phenomenal, high-quality, artificial different to the traditional Kolinsky Sable.
Additional Studying
The Vegan Watercolourist: Sandrine Maugy
How Da Vinci Watercolour Brushes are Made
Two Painters Take a look at Jackson’s Watercolour Brushes
Watercolour Portray for Freshmen: What You Have to get Began
Why is a Da Vinci Brush a Nice Watercolour Journey Brush?
Evaluating Two High Sable Watercolour Brushes
See extra da Vinci watercolour brushes right here
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