This blog post will contain results from my search for the perfect brushes for gouache, comparing and testing brushes, and all my insights into the process with video examples.
Each brush must adhere to my criteria:
- Must be under £20
- Must be synthetic (vegan)
- Must be flat
- Must be easily available where I live (highlands of Scotland, so mainly online UK art stores)
I will continue to update the results below as I test brushes. Bookmark this page and check back monthly.
Current Test List (click each name for my reviews):
My all-time favorite gouache brushes:
- Winsor & Newton Series 995 Flat Wash Brush /size 1/2″
- Princeton Series 4950 Wash / size 1/2″
- Silver Ultra Mini Lettering Brush Set
Brushes I’m currently testing:
- Davinci Casaneo Series 5898 Flat / size 16
- Pro Arte Prolene Plus One Stroke 008 / size 1/2″
- Handover Series 2107 One Stroke / size 1/2″
- Daler Rowney Aquafine Short Flat / size 1/2″
- Jackson’s Silverline Bright Series 988 / size 16
- Jackson’s Studio Synthetic Series / size 3/4″
- Royal & Langnickel 3pc Golden Taklon Wash Set
- Royal & Langnickel 4pc White Taklon Round Shader Set
Still to purchase based on your suggestions:
- Rosemary & Co brand
- Etchr gouache brushes
- Daler Rowney Graduate Sapphire
- Princeton Neptune
This post contains affiliate links which help support my blog! I receive a small portion from each purchase when you use my affiliate links.
Gouache Brush Reviews
Winsor & Newton Series 995 Flat Wash Brush (purchase here)
I’ve been using this brush for almost 6 years. The reason it is perfect for gouache is because it has just the right density and softness for my preferred way of working. Stiff enough to be able to push a larger amount of gouache around, get solid brush strokes, and yet soft enough so I can layer gouache without lifting the underlayer.
Price: £17 (As of July 2022, in the UK)
Brush hair type: Golden Taklon
Size most used: 1/2 inch
Pros:
- Durable to last several years of use
- Great hair density
- High absorbency
- Soft but springy hairs
- Plastic handle means no wood or lacquer than could crack or flake off. Plastic handle has a beveled tip for burnishing or scraping technique.
Cons:
- On the higher end of the price range…but they last!
See me use it in my videos:
Princeton Series 4950 Wash (purchase here)
Another staple brush for me, especially the larger 1″ version. I love this brush for my first layer or two because it holds lots of water and has the perfect balance of brush stiffness that allows me to push a big amount of paint around quickly. The hairs seem very durable, as I’ve been using it regularly for 4 years without any problems. Made with interlocked synthetic hairs for shape retention which means the hairs don’t wander and it allows for very precise marks.
Price: £19 for the 1/2″ (As of July 2022, in the UK)
Brush hair type: Proprietary synthetic
Size most used: 1 inch
Pros:
- Durable to last several years of use
- Medium absorbency
- Slightly stiffer hairs that hold their shape
- Versatile mark making options (big marks and tiny thin lines)
- Plastic handle means no wood or lacquer than could crack or flake off. Plastic handle has a beveled tip for burnishing or scraping technique.
Cons:
- On the higher end of the price range…but they last!
See me use it in my videos:
Silver Ultra Mini Lettering Brush Set (purchase here)
I discovered these more recently, but they quickly became my favorites for smaller gouache paintings, especially plein air painting. The Golden Taklon hairs are longer and softer than most brushes, yet hold their shape well. This makes sense, as their intended purpose is for lettering, which requires even, controlled lines. The softness allows for layering gouache without lifting the underpainting.
Price: £27.50 for all 4 – but are also available individually (As of July 2022, in the UK)
Brush hair type: Golden Taklon
Size I tested: all 4
Pros:
- Great hair density
- High absorbency
- Soft but springy hairs for precision
Cons:
- Not available in larger sizes.
See me use it in my videos:
- Pleinairpril Challenge (starting at day 09)
Davinci Casaneo Series 5898 Flat (purchase here)
A very soft absorbent brush, made primarily for watercolor but is useful for wet-into-wet technique for gouache as well. I liked it for the initial wash, but found it almost too soft for achieving dry-brush textures. The size 16 was too large for precision marks on a smaller painting, but could be ideal for people who like to work in a loose style.
Price: £10.40 (As of July 2022, in the UK)
Brush hair type: Synthetic Kazan squirrel hair
Size I tested: 16
Pros:
- Extra-high absorbency
- Very soft hairs allows for loose application
Cons:
- Hairs felt almost too soft for dry-brush technique or precision marks with gouache. Could possibly work around this by using a smaller size.
See me use it in my videos:
Pro Arte Prolene Plus One Stroke 008 (purchase here)
Quickly becoming one of my favorites. The Prolene Plus series are the softer versions by this brand and do not disappoint. I find the hair density to be nearly perfect. The soft yet springy hairs allow for versatile marks and easy layering without lifting the underlayer.
Price: £9.10 (As of July 2022, in the UK)
Brush hair type: Prolene synthetic filaments
Size I tested: 1/2 inch
Pros:
- Good absorbency
- Soft but springy hairs that keep their shape
- A great all-around brush for someone who likes to work with both wet washes and dry-brush technique.
Cons:
- I have their Polar White brush and it started to fray after a year. Only time will tell if this one is more durable.
See me use it in my videos:
Handover Series 2107 One Stroke (purchase here)
A cheap but great brush! I have been using this one outside lately and really love how versatile it is. The soft hairs hold enough water for nice washes or wet-into-wet technique. Dry-brush technique can also be achieved without much effort. Overall I’m very pleased with its performance, especially considering how cheap it is.
Price: £3.75 (As of July 2022, in the UK)
Brush hair type: Synthetic golden hair
Size I tested: 1/2 inch
Pros:
- Soft and springy hairs
- A great all-around brush for someone who likes to work with both wet washes and dry-brush technique
- Amazing performance at a low cost
Cons:
- Unsure how durable it is, time will tell!
See me use it in my videos:
Daler Rowney Aquafine Short Flat (purchase here)
A familiar brush that I’ve used for a few years for acrylic and gouache. It seems that the newer versions have slightly longer hairs, but they are still relatively short. The hairs are soft yet dense, and spring back into place.
Price: £6.30 (As of July 2022, in the UK)
Brush hair type: Synthetic sable hair
Size I tested: 1/2 inch
Pros:
- Short springy hairs
- Good for precision marks
- Holds a decent amount of water
Cons:
- In my experience (I have an older version), the hairs started to fray quite a bit after 6 months of use, but this might be because I am quite rough with them.
See me use it in my videos:
- Comparing and testing brushes for gouache
- Tests coming soon – subscribe and keep an eye out
Jackson’s Silverline Bright Series 988 (purchase here)
My first impression is that this brush is wonderfully soft and springy. The Toray hairs are known as some of the finest synthetics. I will need more time to review thoroughly.
Price: £8 (As of July 2022, in the UK)
Brush hair type: Synthetic Toray
Size I tested: 16
Pros:
- Very fine, soft and springy hairs
- Easy to control and get a wide variety of marks
Cons:
- I wish the hairs were slightly longer
- Unsure how durable it is, time will tell!
See me use it in my videos:
- Comparing and testing brushes for gouache
- Tests coming soon – subscribe and keep an eye out
Jackson’s Studio Synthetic Series (purchase here)
Compared to their Silverline, this one didn’t feel as “plush.” I found that it dried out quickly, which means the hairs are less absorbent or dense (?) and that can make water control difficult. More testing required.
Price: £10.10 (As of July 2022, in the UK)
Brush hair type: Synthetic golden hair
Size I tested: 1/2 inch
Pros:
- Soft and springy hairs
Cons:
- Hairs dried out more quickly than usual
See me use it in my videos:
- Comparing and testing brushes for gouache
- Tests coming soon – subscribe and keep an eye out
Royal & Langnickel 3pc Golden Taklon Wash Set (purchase here)
The cheapest brushes on my list, but by no means does that mean bad! I love golden Taklon hairs. They have great absorbency, and keep their shape (so far). However, the overall construction feels very flimsy.
Price: £3.90 for the whole set (As of July 2022, in the UK)
Brush hair type: Synthetic Golden Taklon
Size I tested: the whole set
Pros:
- Soft and springy hairs
- Amazing performance at a low cost, good starter set or for young painter.
Cons:
- Flimsy handles that can easily be snapped.
See me use it in my videos:
- Comparing and testing brushes for gouache
- Tests coming soon – subscribe and keep an eye out
Royal & Langnickel 4pc White Taklon Round Shader Set (purchase here)
Although this set is extremely cheap, the performance is high. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the white Taklon hairs more than the golden! They felt a bit more absorbent and easier to achieve the perfect water control. However, the overall construction feels very flimsy.
Price: £3.90 (As of July 2022, in the UK)
Brush hair type: Synthetic White Taklon
Size I tested: The whole set
Pros:
- Soft, absorbent and springy hairs
- Amazing performance at a low cost
Cons:
- Flimsy handles that can easily be snapped, good starter set or for young painter.
See me use it in my videos:
- Comparing and testing brushes for gouache
- Tests coming soon – subscribe and keep an eye out
Check back for more reviews over the summer and autumn of 2022. I’ll update this post as I use them.