Jackson’s Artificial Squirrel Journey Brush Set accommodates 4 prime quality, vegan, retractable brushes for watercolour portray, every with a lid. On this evaluate, I’m making an attempt them in motion. First, in a collection of mark-making workouts to discover their loading capability, lifting efficiency, level retention, and basic really feel. Then, portray a easy semi-abstract panorama wet-on-wet to check the brushes in an actual portray setting. I may also use them portray on the seaside, testing their practicality in an actual plein air scenario.
Artist Overview of Jackson’s Artificial Squirrel Journey Brush Set
by Sandrine Maugy
As summer time is coming and the seaside is beckoning, I’m getting ready my summer time plein air portray set. As an individual who tends to convey the kitchen sink wherever I am going, travelling gentle with my artwork package is sort of the problem. I like my brushes to be in glorious situation, as I have a tendency to color numerous particulars and a pointy level is important. Holding conventional paint brushes in fine condition in a small bag that will get carried in every single place, and results in the sand, may be difficult. A small set of retractable brushes with protecting lids looks as if a fantastic choice.
Bodily Traits of Jackson’s Artificial Squirrel Journey Brush Set
The brushes have a nickel-plated deal with and a head of artificial squirrel hair. They really feel tender and fluffy, promising an excellent color loading capability. The picket a part of the deal with is matt black and the metallic is gunmetal colored. They arrive in an artificial leather-based pouch. With the lid on they measure 10 cm. The lid turns right into a deal with, giving an prolonged measurement of 18 cm. The set accommodates 4 sizes: 2, 4, 6, and eight.
Mark-Making with the Artificial Squirrel Brushes
My first check is to attempt the brushes’ efficiency in a easy mark-making train. I’m trying on the level of the brushes, how far the paint load goes earlier than working out, and the way straightforward it’s to manoeuvre the brushes in curves with out lifting from the paper.
The biggest brush carries numerous paint and I’m able to cowl numerous paper earlier than it runs out. Nevertheless, the purpose is just a little fluffy and wouldn’t paint sharp particulars.
The opposite three have a greater level and the sizes 2 and 4 permit me to color tiny particulars whereas barely touching the paper, which is one thing I like to do when portray wet-on-wet. All of them supply nice manoeuvrability because of good stability and tender bristles.
Utilizing the Artificial Squirrel Brushes Moist-on-wet
Utilizing a semi-abstract panorama for the demonstration, I’m portray the primary wash wet-on-wet in a single wash throughout the web page. For this, I’m utilizing the quantity 8, because it carries essentially the most paint. The fake squirrel head carries numerous paint, and due to its softness, permits me to color a easy wash with out displaying brush marks. Its absorbency potential is helpful when mopping up the surplus water on the backside of the web page (as I’m engaged on a slope), and in addition for lifting some highlights.
Layering with the Brushes
Within the second wash I wish to see if I can layer with out lifting the primary wash, nonetheless utilizing the quantity 8 as I’m nonetheless engaged on a big space. The second layer goes on easily and the comb is tender sufficient to not carry the primary one. As these brushes are fake squirrel, that is precisely what they need to do.
Portray Moist-on-wet Particulars
Now I’m loading a smaller brush with black paint so as to add the small print within the panorama, nonetheless portray wet-on-wet. Ideally, the color ought to unfold within the water in order that the tree line within the distance paints itself on high of the horizon, and the reflection spreads within the lake beneath the horizon line. This works fantastically. The comb carries sufficient paint to supply an excellent quantity of paint unfold. I’m additionally impressed with the way in which the small brush permits me to color wet-on-wet particulars that don’t unfold too far if I load it with thicker paint. Not all brushes can try this, particularly the softer ones, so that is an sudden and nice characteristic.
Portray Dry Brush Particulars
I’m including a layer of paint on dry paper, giving extra definition to the tree line and to the grasses within the foreground. Due to their good factors, the smaller brushes are additionally good with these dry brush particulars. The quantity 8’s level is just too fluffy and gained’t work as effectively.
Practicality of the Jackson’s Artificial Squirrel Journey Brush Set
Once I first opened the brushes, I had difficulties unscrewing the caps. I should watch out after I put them away to not push the caps all the way in which, or I gained’t be capable to open them once more simply. I perceive the rationale behind it: if the caps had been too free, the paintbrushes could be wobbly when the caps are used as handles.
The caps shield the bristles effectively within the paint bag. They have to be put again on whereas the brushes are damp and the bristles are effectively formed, or some hairs will bend backwards when coated and the top may very well be badly broken within the course of.
The brushes have an excellent weight and so they really feel balanced within the hand. So long as I don’t put the caps again on too far, I’ve no hassle unscrewing them and turning them right into a deal with, giving a full-size brush. They produce clear, sharp strokes when loaded with paint and so they carry an excellent quantity because of their absorbent bristles. They carry out effectively wet-on-wet and are simply nearly as good on dry paper. The bigger brush’s level was a bit fluffy, so I gave it a little bit of a trim with embroidery scissors. The opposite three brushes had good factors.
The set is available in a sensible artificial leather-based pouch that’s sufficiently small to slot in my plein air portray package after I intend to journey gentle. They now have secured their place within the entrance pocket of my artwork bag.
About Sandrine Maugy SBI SFBI
Sandrine Maugy is a fellow member of the Society of Botanical Artists and the French Society of Botanical Illustration. Her work hangs in collections in Europe, Australia and the USA. Sandrine runs an artwork weblog, YouTube channel Atelier Sandrine Maugy and a Patreon website, with college students from all around the world. Sandrine’s first e book Colors of Nature was printed in 2013 and her second e book Botanical Watercolours by way of the Seasons in July 2022. She additionally writes articles for Artists & Illustrators Journal. In 2023 Daniel Smith Watercolors launched the Sandrine Maugy Palette.
Comply with Sandrine on Instagram
Additional Studying
Brush Cleansing Ideas for Painters
Understanding Brush Form Names, Hair, and Functions
Introducing Da Vinci Colineo: Vegan Brushes for Watercolour
Overview of Jackson’s Procryl Brushes
Store Jackson’s Artificial Squirrel Journey Brush Set on jacksonsart.com
