da Vinci SPIN-SYNTHETICS Series 488 French Round Watercolour Brush

da Vinci SPIN-SYNTHETICS Series 488 – round brush for watercolour and silk painting

The da Vinci SPIN-SYNTHETICS Series 488 French watercolour brush is a round artist's brush for fluid paints, especially watercolour and silk painting. The extra-fine, light brown synthetic fibres are very soft and springy. This lets you apply the paint evenly and with good control.

The fibres are made up in the French style and set in a plastic quill. The handle is made of natural-lacquered wood and is short. Besides watercolour and silk paints, you can also use the brush for ink. Choose the size from the options.

Working with the brush

Load the brush with plenty of diluted paint and do not let it run dry. Soft synthetic fibres hold the paint in the belly and release it evenly when you touch down. For glazes and soft transitions, work with the middle of the brush; for fine lines, use only the tip. On silk, apply the paint with light pressure so that it flows cleanly. After painting, rinse the brush thoroughly in clean water and reshape the tip. Leave it to dry lying flat, so that no water runs into the quill and attacks the lacquer on the handle.

Which size?

Series 488 is available in several sizes. As a rule of thumb, choose small numbers for details and fine lines, and larger ones for broader areas and glazes. If you already have brushes from other ranges, a synthetic round brush is a good complement to your natural-hair brushes when you want to paint fluid colours with a springy hair that holds its shape.

da Vinci SPIN-SYNTHETICS Series 488 product details

• Manufacturer: da Vinci, Series 488 SPIN-SYNTHETICS
• Brush type: round brush, French style
• Fibres: extra-fine, light brown synthetic fibres, very soft
• Ferrule: plastic quill
• Handle: wood, natural lacquer finish, short
• For fluid paints: watercolour, silk painting, ink

You will also need: water, watercolour paints or other fluid paints, suitable paper or silk