HOW TO USE A WATER BRUSH & Why You May Need One

Рет қаралды 16,568

Жыл бұрын

Water brushes are inexpensive, versatile, easy to use, and fun to work with, so you may not "need" one, but after watching, you may just "want" one!
No matter which brand you look at, water brushes can enhance your painting skills, help develop an understanding of water control, and even make your experience with watercolor painting more fun than with traditional brushes.
Whether a beginner or a seasoned artist, water brushes are a valuable tool.
Brands like Sakura, Pentel, Caran D'ache, Tombow, Holbein, Derwent, Kuretake, Faber Castell, and even Barnes & Nobel each have a line of products. There are tons of private label brands like Arteza, Maike Depot, and Junreox, made in Asia and similar to more expensive brands. Some have unique features, like a push-button or body design that won't roll off your table.
For me, I use Pentel Aquash Water Brushes and have been enjoying them for years. Here, I talk about why they're perfect for travel, on-the-go, or when I have a few minutes to paint and don't want to pull out water and cups, paper towels or cloth, and my expensive brushes.
GEAR:
• Etchr cold-pressed 100% cotton sketchbook
• Sharpie fine & ultra-fine pens
• Pentel water brushes
• Daniel Smith watercolors
MUSIC:
“Still Fall” by M.D. Campbell © 2019 M.D. Campbell • All rights reserved
Blog: www.markdcampbell.com/the-9-li...
Instagram: mdcampbellart
Facebook: m.d. campbell
TikTok: @mdcampbellart
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The intent of my channel is to bring videos of useful content to help fellow artists and art students with insightful information, as well as bring consumers real-world reviews on the products we're likely to buy and use every day.
I'm always grateful for feedback to help improve my channel, so please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
Thank you for your time watching! Cheers! ~ Mark
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#waterbrush
#mdcampbellart
#watercolortutorial

Пікірлер: 80

@cw8758 Жыл бұрын

I agree, water brushes are fun. I travel to my couch to use them. 😊

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

LOL!!! Best comment ever! lol! Thank you, C W!!!

@TheTerrylwg 3 ай бұрын

OH. MY.GOSH! I never thought of filling my brushes with ink! Brilliant! I can't wait to get started! Thanks for the great idea!

@mariac4602 3 ай бұрын

Just bought my first water brushes and very excited to use them! Thanks for this tutorial :)

@MDCampbell 3 ай бұрын

Have fun! Thank you so much for checking it out! I love mine. They don't replace real brushes, but they're so fun for quick painting or travel. Enjoy!

@arcuda2001 Жыл бұрын

hi mark.. nora kag, here.. these water brushes have enabled me to do almost all my urban sketching, for the last six years( hundreds of sketches) .. they just make things so easy to deal with, as far as set up , clean up , and even more importantly for me, to not be so obvious as I paint and sketch.. I sketch in coffee shops, restaurants, waiting rooms , etc., and do not want anyone to really know lol.. which is the point of people sketching in real life situations .. I have a small palette , water brush, and fountain pen.. check check and check!!! lolol the easier the setup , the more i sketch and paint.. thanks for this video , Mark.. as always.. Norakag 😬😬👍👍

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and sharing your experience, Norakag! When I was young, I loved going to coffee shops, hotel lobbies, and anywhere I could sit and sketch without much notice. We didn't call it "urban sketching" back then - it was just sketching or maybe life sketching. I like the new term and there's a lot of that on KZfaq. _Teoh Yi Chei_ is the biggest proponent of urban sketching that I've seen on KZfaq. I think he's terrific and really enjoy his work. I wish they had water brushes back when I was young, but they just didn't exist. I remember finding out about them and being simply blown away that such a thing had been invented. I was not successful in finding a timeline of when they were first introduced, but I would love to know. And yes, the easier the set up, the more we can be creative! Love it! Take care and thank you again! ~ Mark

@1mulekicker 5 ай бұрын

Awesome tutorial! I'm glad I found this one. The one drawing looked a little like the cast of Big Bang Theory. lol

@Becca-UK 10 ай бұрын

Fantastic. I absolutely love your style of art in that little sketchbook. The colour choices are beautiful as well ❤ Subscribed

@gadamis 10 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for your expertise Steve! I've been really frustrated with my water brush recently. Can't believe I didn't think of using like a pencil!

@LanaGoesArt Жыл бұрын

Hi Mark! Thanks for another awesome video just at the right time. I was a bit curious about water brushes, because I was unhappy with the ones I had previously and wondered whether there were better ones out there. And your video gave just the right insights. I might go and try the Pentel ones. The goal is to create the simplest smallest travel kit that I can work with and who knows, maybe that's the solution :) Thank you so much!

@FaerieDust Жыл бұрын

I would love to see traditional brush maker make water brushes - imagine a water brush but with a proper, high quality brush tip, I'd be so into that.

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

Yes!! I would totally go for that!

@amysatterfield6763 6 ай бұрын

One of the best water brush tutorial I've seen. It makes me very excited.😊

@MDCampbell 6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for your kind words and I'm thrilled you enjoyed this one!

@pootlingalong8928 5 ай бұрын

Love the water brush. Mine has enabled me to travel with a tiny pallete of just six half pans, a small sketchbook, pencil and eraser. It is versatile enough to do flat washes and tiny details. What an invention!

@BeckyTregear Жыл бұрын

Waterbrushes are so handy and I always have a couple with me in my arty travel kit, including a Pentel one. Great idea putting ink in them! I like the custom palette you made, adding in pans of Daniel Smith paints. I’ve never tried the Koi paints, but that little travel box looks so cute!

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

Thank you for checking this one out, Becky! Always a treat to hear from you! I will admit, I would glad buy another Koi set just for the case. I just looked on Amazon and they are about $22.50 USD for the 24 color set. The paints themselves are just fine, though there's not a lot of info about lightfastness. The paint also tends to dry out and crack with certain colors, so that's another downside. But, for $22.50, I really think it's a great deal for the case - which is solid and well-made - and that it comes with a water brush, which is about $5-8 right there. I'm not sure, but I think I did a video where I gutted the whole thing and expanded the color palette with the Daniel Smith paints (if not, then I should do one!). Crazy thing is, I've been using that modified Koi palette for a long time and it continues to be my go-to travel kit, even now. Anyway, I'm rambling! lol! Thank you again and hoping all is going great! ~ Mark

@BeckyTregear Жыл бұрын

@@MDCampbell I just checked now at my local art shop online and it is AU35.50 which is about US23 so pretty much the same price! Our exchange rate right now....ugh. But anyway, I am taking my Art Toolkit pocket and demi palettes to Greece next month, all packed full of as much paint as I can fit into the micro pans. Hopefully they'll last the whole month, but I've also chucked in a backup palette of Holbein colours, just in case I need those too, lol!

@ismailabdelhamid7114 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this awesome video Mark. The most fun of watercolor is that each element is variable. Brush, papers and the colours. The fun dealing with those variable made us playing and success. Thanks Mark for sharing these important experiences.

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

I completely agree and in the journey, I've found such a beautiful and wonderful variety of elements that it makes the experience a huge part of my creative life! Thank you, as always! I'm happy you enjoyed this one.

@carolyndaughton3373 Жыл бұрын

Great demonstration! Thank you.

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

Thank you for taking your time to watch, Carolyn Daughton, and especially for the kind words! :)

@deborahrech7429 5 ай бұрын

Thank you for this excellent tutorial!

@MDCampbell 5 ай бұрын

Oh, no... thank you! I really appreciate your kind words! Stay well! ~ Mark

@marzibeast Жыл бұрын

I’ve used my 12 color Sakura set for many years. It’s so convenient with the water brush. :)

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

Same here. I remember exhausting my first set and literally driving over to AC Moore to buy a new one. Have been adoring them ever since! :)

@marydigioiabogin1426 6 ай бұрын

Excellent!

@MDCampbell 6 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@almas.2530 9 ай бұрын

Me encantan estos pinceles. Empecé a usarlos con mis lápices acuarelables, pero son tan cómodos que me he animado a probar también con la acuarela en pastillas (una técnica con la que antes no me atrevía). Reconozco que los pinceles tradicionales tienen más calidad, pero como no soy artista profesional ni aspiro a serlo, me resulta mucho más fácil y divertido usar estos.

@essietangle9931 Жыл бұрын

Never thought about cleaning them, I just rinse them when done. It would be great for you and your supplies to be at the urban sketchers gathering in New Zeland and see your art in your style. Hey we can dream.

@sailorfan86 Жыл бұрын

I got a few. I pretty much swore them off but after this I will give them another try. Got 2 tiny cute ones from Japan. I’ll use’em.

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

I hope they are worth revisiting for you. They are not for everyone, but they can offer a whole unique experience when painting. Best wishes! Let me know how it goes! :)

@gnostie 9 ай бұрын

Really enjoyed the sketchbook. And look at that cute little Pentel water brush! I'm so going to buy one once I work out what those shorter Pentels are called, so I can search for it online.

@skatedudecreator8419 Жыл бұрын

WOW… What an Amazing informative vid. So well done 👍

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@kayequinn7146 3 ай бұрын

Just found out aboutvwaterbrushes & started w/the small kit you showed. Looking forward to experimenting with them. I'll check out the Pentel ones later.

@MDCampbell 3 ай бұрын

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

@dianethoroughman9541 Жыл бұрын

Hi Mark, Thank you for this video. I do have some waterbrushes, including pentel. I have various brands, and some are cheaply made. Others are a little bit better. I admire your art style.

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Diane Thoroughman, for you kind words. Do you use them very often? Like other supplies, I often buy the cheap versions and then end up buying the better ones, later. I hope all is going well on your end! Cheers! ~ Mark

@RATTE1606 11 ай бұрын

my first waterbrush from a cheapest small watercolour ink set is for me the best in years, because this thing has a very fine precise tip & you can paint & draw very evenly with water. but not all other waterbrushes are so good like this thing. I have tryed out some from other brands with different tips - round, flat and so on ... I like my first waterbrush more then all these ...

@MDCampbell 11 ай бұрын

Thank you for taking the time to watch and share your thoughts, @RATTE1606. I understand what you mean and have been disappointed by some of the other brands out there - especially the expensive ones. I now rely on the same ones, over and over. In fact, last night I was painting in bed watching a movie (Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire) and had such fun using a medium-size Pentel waterbrush! Anyhow, thank you again and hoping all is well! ~ Mark

@LaLa_ArtGal Жыл бұрын

I didn't know that I should be cleaning my waterbrushes! Thanks!

@greekveteran2715 Жыл бұрын

Use common natural soap, no need to spend money on expensive soaps to clean your brushes, if you already have a natural soap at home. The less chemicals colors, aroma etc a soap has , the better it is for cleaning your natural hair brushes, if they are synthetic brushes, I guess that it doesn't have to be the most natural soap, to help cleaning them with water.

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

@@greekveteran2715 it's very true. I used to use Ivory soap, which was as basic as you can get. But, the more natural, the better. I use the Masters because 1. I have it, 2. it works exceptionally well, and 3. as a preserver, it's helped extend the life of my brushes far longer than just using soap. Also, someone once recommended using a dishwashing liquid soap from Whole Foods, but I can't recall the brand/name. Good food for thought and thank you for the tip, Greek Veteran! :)

@shadowguard3578 Жыл бұрын

I have some waterbrushes but I haven’t got used to using them. All is not lost I use a waterbrush to rewet my half and full pan watercolors. For a short period of time I was using a small spray bottle to rewet my watercolors but the water just went everywhere. However, with a waterbrush I can control the number of water drops. It’s neater and more precise.

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

That's actually a great idea! Never thought of that. I use my pipettes to drop water onto my paints (I also have a regular glass eye dropper, too). I remember seeing someone on KZfaq spraying their paints with a water bottle and I thought it was strange because it would wet _all_ the paints, including the ones I wasn't planning to use. Also, if you rush and spray too hard, it's possible to push the water on the paints into other pans if you spray more than once. I tried it, but wasn't a fan. I like your idea because I can use the water brush while I'm working, saving time and energy! Thanks for the tip, Shadow Guard! Stay well! ~ Mark

@shadowguard3578 Жыл бұрын

@@MDCampbell you’re welcome! The waterbrush acts as a pipette with a built in water reservoir. Thank you and you stay well too.

@RicheUK 7 ай бұрын

Great video. I must admit I do struggle with it. Taking the 'squishing the barrel' out of the equation, I believe water is still slowly feed to the tip. The rate of this feed makes it hard to control for me, I always ends up to wet on paper. Any Advice? :)

@diannemiddaugh2478 5 ай бұрын

Great video. Would you mind telling me what you are using to clean your water brush? Thank so much.

@MDCampbell 5 ай бұрын

Thank for for your kind words! I typically clean my waterbrushes after a few months, not after every use. There's no need, really. But, when I do, I use the same Masters Brush Cleaner / Preserver that I use on my nice traditional brushes. If you don't have that, you can use a basic bar of soap, too - as long as there's not a lot of harsh chemicals or fragrances, it should be fine. I recommend a bar of Ivory soap, which is what I used for years back in my younger days (cuz I could shower with it _and_ clean my brushes with it, too! lol!). I hope that's helpful and again, thank you! ~ Mark

@drendelous 3 ай бұрын

7:33 💚

@amyharris8177 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the great video! What type of ink do you use in your brushes? Do you dilute it with water at all?

@MDCampbell 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for checking this one out, amyharris8177!! Typically I use 100% india ink for black, but then I started using red Higgins ink and Windsor & Newton gray ink for shading - it's really wonderful. When I'm done using a waterbrush with ink, I take the brush head off and put it on another body that is filled with water. I squeeze it and flush out the ink. When it's clean, I place it back on the ink-filled body and store it upright (with the brush head at the top). This keeps the ink away from the head until I'm ready to use it again; when I use it again, I give it a shake and test it on a swatch pad to get the flow right. It's so much fun! Best wishes! (and no, I don't dilute with water, BUT you CAN also fill the body with watercolor paint, too! Just another way to use them!) Cheers!

@brentharris4320 2 күн бұрын

What type of ink was the gray?

@murmulefy Ай бұрын

❤

@sharonsciandra816 4 ай бұрын

A...pentel... classy

@BurningtunaDC 6 ай бұрын

Great video and awesome artwork. I'm not sure that Mr. Bezos needs free plugs. Get know the folks in your local art supply shop.

@MDCampbell 5 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words, BurningtunaDC. I agree about Mr. B... for sure! But, funny thing about my local art supply shop. Last year I went in to purchase a large supply of Daniel Smith granulating watercolors and I asked permission from the store manager if it would be okay to record their display and the items I was buying, and she actually said no, that recording was not permitted in the store. I spent almost $300 on paint that day and when I was checking out, I noticed that there were a couple of teens taking selfies by their seasonal table. I commented to the manager, "I thought that wasn't permitted?" and they said, "oh please, they're just kids." I nearly returned everything I bought (but didn't because I spent too much time putting it all together). I should note that their prices were at least $5-10 per tube higher than on Amazon. Sadly, I haven't been back there since. It's a good store and I like the staff, but I was a bit put off with the manager's attitude. Cheers to you and hope all is well on your end! ~ Mark

@BurningtunaDC 5 ай бұрын

@@MDCampbell Let's face it. Not every mom and pop shop are owned by saints but at their best they are places where they can better advise their customers what they need and don't need. I can remember Falls Camera in Falls Church, VA as a photographer's hang out. We'd gather with coffee to talk shop and photography. The owner enjoyed us hanging in his shop and was made even happier when I'd brought him coffee. The survival of local retail should be a priority of everyone.

@MDCampbell 5 ай бұрын

@@BurningtunaDC I can't argue with you on that. I absolutely LOVE to set up at the locally owned coffee shop, where my kids went to school with the owner's kids, and sit there for two hours and paint in my sketchbook. I could easily do it at Starbucks, but it seems so impersonal, even though I want to support the local folk that work there, too. But, again, you're right - it is a priority to support those local retailers. It's a challenging dichotomy when you stand in beliefs with David, yet you can get what you need for less money from Goliath. Okay... poor analogy, but you get my drift! lol! Cheers!

@Karen-i5z8o 5 күн бұрын

I have a couple of water brushes but I can't open them because the barrel is stuck. Do you have any tips for getting the brush apart? Thank you.

@MDCampbell 4 күн бұрын

Try tightening it first. Give it a good twist like you are tightening it (but don't break it). Then, try to untighten it again and it may become loosened. If not, you can use two pairs of pliers to gently pull them apart. If that doesn't work, perhaps consider a new one. :)

@dawnm78 7 ай бұрын

New to this, but i was expecting the black pen lines to run. Any tips on avoiding that? Is it down to the type of pen used? Or allowing it to dry for a certain amount of time before painting? Thanks

@MDCampbell 7 ай бұрын

Hi darnm78! Welcome and thank you for checking this video out. If you are referring to the inked lines that I had pre-drawn, well, they will only run if the ink being used is activated by water. For example, gel pens almost always activate when used with water. Some fineliner pens (like Staedtler or Arteza) also activate when used with water. This can actually be a really neat effect, if that's what's intended. However, if you want to be able to paint right over black lines, pens like Sharpies, Micron pens, Copic multiliners, Posca, and many types of india inks for dip pens dry thoroughly and resist activating with water. I draw a lot with basic Sharpie pens for this exact reason. I hope that was helpful for you. Cheers! ~ Mark

@dawnm78 7 ай бұрын

@@MDCampbell thanks so much for the detailed reply! Really helpful - especially as we have sharpies

@greekveteran2715 Жыл бұрын

Please, do the Pentel Water Brush, has any advantage to a Da Vinci Nova Synthetics, when it comes to home use? I definitely get one, if it has any performance advantage, I haven't got one yet, because I thought that these where meant for traveling, painting outdoors etc. Can anybody clear this out please?

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Greek Veteran, for asking. nothing is better than a good, well-made traditional paint brush. Obviously, natural brushes have advantages over synthetic, where synthetic offers different advantages over natural. I have several DaVinci travel brushes (the type that unscrews and separates so the brush tip is stored inside the handle), but in the end they are traditional brushes. The entire benefit of the water brush is that the handle holds the water. Are the bristles of the brush better than, say DaVinci or other synthetic brushes? Probably not. But in my opinion, the portability, versatility, and functionality of the Pentel water brush is so good, that once the user understands how the water flow works and can control it, then they might find the Pentel is the perfect travel brush to use outdoors, indoors, or anywhere. I am fond of using mine on airplanes and trains. I sit in bed and paint with the Pentel. I've even painted on a boat (you can see that video here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bpmIi7uop5mukqM.html ), as well! Like anything, water brushes are not for everyone, but they are a wonderful tool indoors, outdoors, at home, traveling, or wherever you enjoy painting. However, they will never replace the true functionality of a very good traditional paint brush. I hope that was helpful! Cheers! ~ Mark

@greekveteran2715 Жыл бұрын

@@MDCampbell It was very helpful! I never got one, because I thought these where a bit of a gimmick! I'll get the Medium asap! Thank you very much for all the feedback, I really appreciate it!!

@julianblake8385 6 күн бұрын

Maaaaaaaaaaan, I just got one and I'm hating it! I come from traditional Sable brushes, I find these water brushes so hard to control. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I mix my colours on the palette, I try to get some colour on the bristles, but they seem to suck all the pigment in (not in the water reservoir tho), and when I put it on the paper, there is not much pigment saturation. I mix some more, and then I press to get some more water, and all the pigment suddendly comes out, so it gets too saturated and mostly ruins my paintings. What am I doing wrong?

@MDCampbell 4 күн бұрын

It's hard to tell, not being there. But, for me, I always keep a folder paper towel in my kit to use with the waterbrush. It is an essential - _essential_ - tool to use with this kind of brush. The key, for me, is to ensure the brush tip is dried before pulling in color. It's not like a regular or traditional brush... it's a different "animal." It may be just that it's not your thing. However, with practice and learning how much water to use and how much NOT to use can be the key. I have several types of these and enjoy them all; however, some can drive me crazy because they're designed differently than others. The Pentel water brushes have been good. Still, in the end, there is nothing better than a traditional brush to get the best results. Just my thoughts. I hope you grow to find a technique that works for you. Keep going! Cheers! ~ Mark

@moma-b Жыл бұрын

The most annoying thing happened to me was discovering mold in the bristles of my waterbrush. 😕

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

Oh my!! I’ve never come across that before! When i apply the preserver, like in the video, i usually let them sit out to dry for a couple of nights. But honestly, never dawned on me that mold might form.

@moma-b Жыл бұрын

@@MDCampbell I stored it in my travel bag, filled with water, for a long period of time because I forgot about it. ☹

@ralphanderson2603 3 ай бұрын

Why so many colors when one canuse, say 6 & mix?

@MDCampbell 3 ай бұрын

Convenience, my friend, convenience! (that's why they're called "convenience colors," so you don't have to mix).

@anncorsaro224 Жыл бұрын

Hello Mr. Campbell: First of all I am so glad you have survived your brain tumor.👍. Second, because of your brain tumor and the 10% that was left behind, how do you reconcile using a Sharpee in your artwork? I am highly allergic to industrial toxins due to my past work in costuming (acetone, industrial strength glues, and NO MASK!!☹️🥴) I can’t handle a Sharpee because of the odor and fear of the fumes. What have you found out about Sharpee? Thank you for the videos. Very informative and you’re a wonderful artist. God Bless✝️

@MDCampbell Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your very kind words, Ann Corsaro. I think I'm fortunate because the Sharpie odor doesn't bother me too much, though I don't use them for extended periods of time, either. If I work to long or closely with them, they definitely give me a sinus headache. I cannot work with acetone or harsh epoxy glues, either. There are a lot of products out there I avoid now, and not just with regard to art: cleaning products, building materials, etc. I used to use spray fixative, now I don't go near it. As for Sharpie, they contain *xylene* (can affect skin irritation, respiration & cardiovascular),* diacetone alcohol* (can cause eye irritation, chest pain, or narcosis), *n-butanol* (can cause irritation of the ENT system (eyes, ears, & throat)), *cresol* can cause skin irritation, lung damage if inhaled, ENT issues, or contact dermatitis), and *n-propanol* (can cause eye irritation, ENT issues, etc). Of course, this would only be with prolonged, extensive exposure in high quantities with no ventilation; using a Sharpie as a casual drawing tool should not pose any major health issues, unless they are pre-existing or exacerbated by these chemicals. Of course, I'm not a doctor or expert. This is just from what I've read over the years. Cheers!

@anncorsaro224 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your reply and that information Mr. Campbell. You may not be a doctor but your own experience with your brain tumor history and the people you’ve connected with because of your ministry makes you VERY educated about the subject. Keep up the good work.