Customer Reviews

Piston Filler Waterbrush/water Brush Pen with Metal Cap - Set of 2

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First i'd probably point out that these are not traditional Chinese brushes, though they look like they are. These are much more resilient than a traditional Chinese natural hair brush. They snap back to their original shape, more like an American round watercolor brush, only even more resilient, but still very soft. The point is excellent for drawing a lively line. You get very nice thin and thick according to pressure. Perfect for a sketch book with light washes, and great for travel. I have clear water in one and ink or watercolor in the other so that i can draw and wash.

Another important thing that might be obvious: To load the brush, screw the plunger all the way down toward the brush. immerse in ink or water color deep enough to cover the the brush, and retract screw plunger. it will vacuum your medium into the container, much like a classic ink pen with a plunger well.

The only thing i don't know is how long one could go without use. Drying with ink would, obviously, be detrimental to the brush. The cap seems to fit tightly, but it is not a watertight seal, so i can't comment on that, but i'm wondering about it. i've only been using them a short time.

This fountain pen-like product is excellent for traveling with a small sketch book such as the plain page Moleskine. You should know that a lot of DaVinci sketches you see printed were really quite small. You can make a quick sketch lightly outlining with dry Derwent Burnt Sienna, raw Sienna, and Umber pencils from your pocket. Then shade your sketch-- or erase and blot --with the water in the waterbrush to give a DaVinci-like shaded picture, max 3-4 values. The point of the brush is surprisingly fine. If you want to get a little fancier, after the sketch has dried, also carry a white Caran D'Ach crayon to emphasize the high lights--bridge of the nose, cheek bones, edge of the ear, etc. No need to carry a whole art box, and very little time to hold up a partner or tour party. I find my quicker sketches are the best. With the waterbrush I can also pay attention to folds of clothing. If you prefer pure black and white, carry an ordinary fountain pen with black ink, outline, let it dry (depending on the effect you want), then shade with the waterbrush. Like the end result? Photo it, blow it up, mat and frame.

These brushes are available separately from Blue Heron Arts, and I just bought the smallest one. The brush is nice and comes to a fine point, but the cap's fit is loose and wobbly, and the brush pen itself seems rather fragile.

This is an excellent product. Chinese brushes are justifiably world - renowned, and these do not disappoint! The piston mechanism allow for complete control over the exact amount of water released to the bristles of the brush - ideal if needing to work fairly 'dry' in a journal.
My only complaint on first using the product was with the design of the cap, and I had some problems. However, I decided to contact the suppliers, who told me that his company have been introducing design improvements. They have supplied me with replacement caps, which are better.

These brush pens are great, I love having a real brush & ink in my pocket at all times. The caps to these pens dont seal quite the way I'd like (theres no stopping point, you can push the cap down until the brush hits the top of the cap), but I have yet to have a problem with it.

Super fast shipping, I love these & am going to order some more, as I cant find brush pens like this anywhere else.

As soon as I put the cap on the back end it broke so that it no longer stays on - since (for me) the point of the brush pen was portability, this pretty much spoils it.

I like the brush for its size, look, and filling capacity. If I had one negative thing to say about it is that it bleeds a bit.

the brush is good for the price. the piston is good, a good overall feel but i don't like the cap.

I was pretty excited to get this product. But it does not work. I cannot get the reservoir to fill up. I noticed when I was cleaning it that there is a hole in mine were the brush goes into the pen. I am guessing that is not allowing the plunger to get enough pressure to pull ink into the pen. The brush itself works well, but I have to constantly dip it into ink.

This pen works well. Simple to fill with a simple mechanism. The cap however does not seal the pen thoroughly. It seals it only adequately. As a consequence, the tip can dry out within a day. not dry out solid mind you but enough where you spend a lot of time getting the ink to flow. I figured i would just use a brush and ink from now on. This pen is handy if you don't have a brush?