Final yr we printed a overview of the brand new Da Vinci Colineo Watercolour Brushes and we had been requested to offer a comply with up overview, to present suggestions on their situation after a number of months use within the studio. Lisa Takahashi and Julie Caves examined the Da Vinci Colineo brushes to be used with watercolour, oil and acrylic and listed here are their ideas now.
Left: Lisa Takahashi’s Da Vinci Colineo Brushes
Proper: Julie Caves’ Da Vinci Colineo Brushes
Lisa Takahashi
I’ve owned a Da Vinci Colineo Spherical Dimension 8, Flat Dimension 12 and Flat Dimension 4 since final August, and have used them on a near-weekly foundation for watercolour portray. For a lot of this time I used to be operating a weekly watercolour class and doing the occasional demo, and located myself reaching for these brushes with rising frequency, particularly the flats.
Prime: Da Vinci Colineo Flat Dimension 12
Backside: Da Vinci Colineo Spherical Dimension 8
I’m liable to working with brushes lengthy after they’ve misplaced their crisp form, so these brushes have held big attraction, due to their actually sharp edges which assist to create a painted floor stuffed with vitality and dynamism. I really like layering sq. ended brush marks and seeing all of the crisp shapes conversing and intermingling with each other.
As with all my watercolour brushes, I are likely to rinse them in a jar of water all through a portray session (by no means leaving the comb within the jar), then on the finish of every week I’ll take them to a faucet and provides them wash with a brush cleaning soap. Taking a look at them just a little nearer now I see a number of the outer hairs are beginning to splay out a bit on the bigger flat, however I’ve used it closely (not only for gentle strokes but in addition for extra vigorous ‘scrubby’ marks throughout a sheet of tough watercolour paper) so I’d have anticipated them to have regarded extra worn to be sincere. The spherical continues to be in immaculate situation, with common however not heavy use after 6 or so months.
The Flat Dimension 4 is within the worst situation, and it is because I used it for an oil portray fee, and I wanted to finish the portray to satisfy a deadline however didn’t fairly have the precise dimension oil portray brush! I used to be rinsing the comb in Gamsol in a metallic brush washer, and the comb head could have made some contact with the bottom of the metallic pot when rinsing. Consequently the form of the comb was misplaced in an hour or so of utilizing it with oils.
So I’ve learnt my lesson; these brushes are greatest stored for watercolour solely and must be handled with light care. I’m a convert although and after I had the oil portray incident I did really feel compelled to purchase one other brush in precisely the identical make and dimension. I really like them not solely due to the crisp marks they’re able to but in addition as a result of the deal with may be very snug within the hand and appears lovely. It’s undoubtedly a top quality made brush.
Learn extra by Lisa Takahashi on Jackson’s Weblog
Julie Caves
Final yr I spent about 60 hours portray a 120 x 150 cm acrylic portray on stretched canvas, over a 3 week interval. I used a brush for the portray that I had by no means used earlier than.
If I’m portray in acrylics thickly like oil, I usually use oil brushes like Jackson’s Akoya. Generally I exploit a brush for acrylic paint like Jackson’s Shinku, Jackson’s Onyx, or Professional Arte Acrylix. If I’m portray in a extra fluid method, utilizing water and matt medium to make the paint fluid, so a bit extra like watercolour, then I normally use watercolour brushes. My two favorite brushes for this are Jackson’s Icon and Professional Arte Prolene Plus. For this massive portray I attempted a brand new brush, the Da Vinci Colineo. I used a Spherical Dimension 8 and a Flat Dimension 12.
Prime: Da Vinci Colineo Flat Dimension 12
Backside: Da Vinci Colineo Spherical Dimension 8
All the brushes I’ve talked about listed here are made with all artificial bristles besides the Icon which is a mix of particular artificial fibres with sable. The Colineo brush is designed as an artificial alternative for a sable brush. I feel it’s a bit too springy to really feel utterly like a sable, however it’s tender and a very good watercolour brush. A fast be aware concerning the dimension: the Flat Dimension 12 is 12 mm large, which is a Dimension 6 in some flat brushes and a ½ inch in some flat brushes. I consider a 12 as giant and this isn’t, so bear in mind.
The Colineo brushes had been a pleasure to color with, holding a lot of creamy, fluid acrylic paint, permitting me to color lengthy strains. The flat held its form effectively and allowed me to color alongside edges cleanly.
After 60 hours of portray on a high-quality/medium textured, acrylic gesso primed canvas, being left in water throughout every portray session, and being totally washed on the finish of every session, the brushes regarded fluffy and fewer shapely then they did after they had been new. However that was how they regarded after they had been dry, I used to be happy to see that they reshaped effectively when moist and I can nonetheless get crisp line and a easy end. They’ve held up effectively and significantly better than another brushes have carried out in related circumstances. The flat has not curled outward on the suggestions or splayed right into a wider form. The varnish on the handles didn’t break up after being left in water.
Although not meant particularly for acrylic portray, the DaVinci Colineo brushes labored effectively with fluid acrylic paint and have stored their form and spring after many hours of portray and plenty of washings. They’re good high quality brushes.
Learn extra by Julie Caves on Jackson’s Weblog
Additional Studying
Introducing Da Vinci Colineo: Vegan Brushes for Watercolour
How Da Vinci Watercolour Brushes Are Made
Why is a Da Vinci Brush a Nice Watercolour Journey Brush?
Testing Jackson’s Kite Brushes: How Synthetic Kolinsky Fibre Compares With Natural Sable Hair
Store Da Vinci Colineo Brushes on jacksonsart.com
