Pornographic Brushes

It never fails. Shortly after a good design meeting, I begin visualizing the watercolor on the page and as a result, lusting over the brushes I cannot afford.

Jack Richeson Kolinsky Sable Brushes, how you tease!

The Round 14 is a mop of a watercolor brush. I am thrilled to own a 10, the slightly smaller sibling.

But, oh for a 14!

It does not seem to matter how much of a wash of paint I mix, the Kolinsky sucks my palette dry. Forced upon the page, the loaded brush oozes a swath of rich translucent color. Such thick vibrant strokes of color. I love how quickly I can fill an area with a hue...how easy it is to tease and manipulate the bristles to bend to my whims. Rinsing the brush off and quickly sucking it to a point again...the fine detail such a meaty brush can offer when handled with the lightest touch. (I'm pretty certain given my preference for natural pigments and my habit for sucking on my brushes I will die of cadmium poisoning)

Hmmm...smooth black handle. Blessedly short so I don't feel like I'm painting a mile away from the paper or about to poke myself in the eye with the length of the handle. Satin finish, and wood...not the cold plastic of many other brushes. With the delicate gold embossing on the side. So new. So pristine. So untainted.

Until I get my hands on it.

I will use it. I will abuse it. I will force the brush to work until stray bristles begin to peak out from its perfectly tapered head. Occasionally I will ignore it for another brush. Most days, I will gently clean it and cherish it. But a day will come when I let it linger too long in the rinse water. The feral will soak up too much water...the wetness will seep into the wood of the handle causing it to swell. The black paint will split. And for that defect I will use it and cherish it all the more.