Synthetic Watercolor Brushes (What You Need to Know!)

I get a lot of requests for recommended synthetic watercolor brushes.

Whether this is because you prefer a vegan-friendly option, or you’re just looking for a cheaper alternative to those expensive sable brushes… Below I’ll explain all the differences you need to know 🙂

You’ll learn how synthetic brushes compare to traditional natural hair brushes, what to look for, and the different synthetic options available.

Ready?

The Rise of Synthetic Watercolor Brushes

Synthetic filaments for watercolor brushes were first developed in the 1970s. This innovation originated with the Dupont company in the USA.

In the early days these synthetic strands were made of nylon. This was tapered to a fine point to simulate natural bristle hairs. But nylon is very stiff, and not best suited to softer brushes like the ones needed for watercolor painting!

Furry Stuff!

It took artists centuries of trial and error to discover the best types of hair for watercolor painting. The delicate hairs of natural watercolor brushes have the capacity to make long, continuous, fluid brush marks…

There are many types of natural hair, such as sable, squirrel, and goat, each with unique qualities. Squirrel hair for example is incredibly soft and holds lots of water while sable has an elastic “snap” for better control.

So the challenge for man made fibers is to mimic these desirable characteristics. 

For the History Buffs – The Tech Behind the Bristles:

The real breakthrough for synthetic brushes came when Dupont developed a new process to taper polyester fibers, which are softer and more suitable for watercolor applications.

Dupont sold the patent to Japan’s Toray Industries, who collaborated with the Takamoto brush company to create “Taklon” fibers.  These synthetic hairs are designed to mimic the handling properties of natural sable.

Here’s where it gets confusing 

So Taklon is a specific type of polyester fiber developed by Toray to mimic sable hair. But not all Toray fibers are Taklon! 

The thing is, you’ll find both Toray and Taklon brushes claiming to replace sable hair. 

In my experience, there are 3 general categories of synthetic for watercolors:

• White fibers: Tend to be stiffer with more “snap.” Great for detail but with poor water retention.
• Gold-colored fibers: Softer and more absorbent, but still with some elastic snap. Mostly designed to mimic sable hair.
• Dark brown fibers: Very soft with less “spring.” Made to mimic squirrel mops.

For example, White Toray fibers are used in the Escoda Perla signature series selected by Joseph Zbukvic (Amazon link). These are typically stiffer and provide more control for detailed work, but they don’t hold as much water. 

On the other hand, brushes like the Princeton Aqua Elite range and Rosemary & Co Red Dot Collection use Taklon fibers for a softer, but elastic feel similar to sable. Escoda Versatil brushes are another good example, said to mimic kolinsky sable.

Other brushes use dark, soft strands that simulate squirrel hair, like the Rosemary & Co Sienna collection.

Why Synthetics are becoming popular

Sable hair has rocketed in price recently!  Suppliers are becoming fewer and farther between…

Also, if you live in the US, you may have noticed certain brushes are difficult to come by because of bans on importing sable hair. This means as natural hairs become more rare as a result of these supply/demand and regulatory issues they get more expensive.

So a lot of artists are opting for synthetics.

Natural vs Synthetic Watercolor Brushes

Today’s manufacturing processes do a pretty good job of simulating natural hair 🙂 But how do they stand up compared to the real thing?

Kolinsky brushes – the gold standard:

Kolinsky sable is considered the gold standard of all watercolor brushes! 

Why? Because of its unique natural characteristics:

• Fine tip that returns to a sharp point
• Stiff and elastic
• A good water-holding capacity and release
• Durability

Kolinsky hairs are naturally tapered at both ends, giving them a noticeable “belly” in the middle when gathered together in a watercolor brush. 

This belly helps it fan out in the middle. The fanning creates gaps between the hairs that hold water really well. This lets the brush hold a lot of water and release it smoothly when you paint.

When you wet the brush, water makes the hairs stick together. But the hairs also want to spread back out to their original shape. This push and pull between the water and the hairs creates a balance. This balance helps the brush hold its shape and keep water inside it.

The hairs’ springiness means they can bend and spread apart under pressure, then return to their original shape, which is great for smooth controlled brush strokes. 

Finally, Kolinsky hairs have tiny scales on the surface which help trap water, enhancing their ability to hold and release water gradually. 

All these qualities make them ideal for creating fine, controlled lines and smooth long brush strokes in watercolor painting.

How synthetic fibers mimic natural hair

So the ultimate goal is to imitate all these natural qualities… Different manufacturing techniques do this in a few different ways to give synthetic fibers their desired properties.

To replicate the tapered ends and noticeable belly of Kolinsky hair, synthetic fibers can be designed with fine points and a slight curve to create a paint-holding belly. This helps them hold and release water smoothly, similar to natural brushes.

Fibers can be treated through processes like etching, or even baking to achieve the right texture and flexibility. Etching adds a surface similar to the scales on natural hairs.

To mimic the springiness of natural hair, synthetic fibers can be made with varying levels of stiffness, providing the snap needed for smooth brush strokes. By blending different types of fibers in the same brush, manufacturers can create brushes that offer a painting experience comparable to natural hair brushes.

The Real Test: Comparing Water-Holding Capacity

To truly see how synthetic brushes measure up to their natural counterparts, I compared their water-holding capacity through a simple demonstration.

Below you can see how two similarly sized brush heads compare – one made of Kolinsky sable, the other synthetic Taklon:

This represents continuous brush strokes of a fully loaded brush. As you can see, in my experiments the water-holding capabilities of natural hair still surpass the ability of synthetic fibers. 

However, it should be said that in other respects, such as stiffness or elasticity, and the ability to keep a fine point, synthetic brushes cope very well.

Best Synthetic Watercolor Brushes – Choosing the Right Ones

For years I’ve painted with Kolinsky sable brushes. And the thing is, once you get accustomed to these natural brushes, it can be difficult to switch to anything else.

However, if you’re newer to watercolor painting, starting out with synthetic brushes can be a smart choice.

Synthetic brushes are often more affordable and durable, making them a practical option for beginners. They mimic many of the desirable qualities of natural hair brushes, but without the higher price tag. Plus, they’re easier to care for!

Here are my overall favorites. One of the best synthetic watercolor brushes I have tested is the Rosemary & Co Red Dot range:

• Rosemary & Co Red Dot Pointed round size 10

Another good alternative is The Princeton Aqua Elite range:

• Princeton Aqua Elite Round size 10

As you gain experience, you might find that you’re ready to experiment with Kolinsky sable or other natural options, but starting with synthetic brushes can provide a solid foundation and help you develop your skills without a huge investment 🙂

One day, thanks to new brush making technologies by manufacturers, synthetics might be just as good as natural hair!