Hi again. No matter the make, a dud brush is a horrible thing. Thats very clever that youve got the tip sharper with use, Ive not heard of that before, except from people who slash at their brushes with scalpels. Ive not tried the Kolinsky or sable in Da Vinci, but I reckon theyd certainly be worth a try.

Hi Max

Yeah, I recycle the elements of my brushes too. Its tricky isnt it? Youre either a good eco-person but damage animals, or you’re good and animal friendly but damage the environment with waste brushes. Ive tended to stick to my series 7s. From time to time I get duds too, not much fun after such an outlay. Mostly theyre great though. So many people love Rosemary and co, Im really glad they work for you as well. Thanks for the comment, it’s always interesting to hear what other people think, and use.

G’day Steve-

As I commented further up the page your experience with the WN series 7 was what I’d expected. It didn’t happen. The brush I bought in 2020 (a #2 round) simply doesn’t have the crisp point. My Isabey travel brush #6 didn’t have a great point to start with, but after a lot of active use is now starting to resemble the #2 point’s condition when the series 7 was brand new. (And probably now as I just don’t like the pointlessness of a pointless brush.) Mates that got series 7 after I did have also had the same experience but not to the same degree. For a $50-100 AUD brush in the #2 or #4 sizes if buying in March 2025 there’s better kolinsky out there.

I can’t recommend Rosemary and Co higher. I don’t know anyone that recommends the Da Vinci but I’m going to try one of those next.

Annnnd THAT’S why I use natural hair paintbrushes- disposal.

If you’ve ever done a clean up of bushland or even beaches… or seen how wildlife go after tangling with our rubbish… natural all the way.

I saved for months to get a WN series 7 in a plain (round) #2 and have never been so disappointed in a brush. That was 2020. Word of mouth I went with Rosemary and Co and will never go back. Compared my #2 with mates who’d had theirs 10 years or so and mine was so different (thinner/shorter from the jump) so just no. About 3 years later heard there was a dud batch of the series 7, maybe I had bought one too, but why they were never recalled is beyond me.

I’ll use a brush to death and then dismantle it. (Metal can be recycled here the rest is for compost or rubbish.) I’ve not had to do that just yet but two’re getting close.

Ps thanks for the review work. Know I’m late to the comment party.

Hi Holly, I hadnt seen that brand, but am glad to know of them. Thankyou.

Hi Catherine

Exciting! Let me know how you get on. There are new brushes coming out all the time. I need to make a follow up film and blog, there’s lots more on the market than when I did my research. But the Rosemary series do seem to be universally approved of. Hope they work for you, too. X

Hiya Bayu. Many thanks for this (and for the flattery!) That’s a good question. No, I don’t there is is one specifically. I know I use the paint really thick, especially for the first layers when I’m putting down midtones and sorting out the lights and darks. So the consistency is something like thick cream, and stuffed full of pigment. I apply it pretty dry too, some people have said I use my paint more like gouache or a dry brush technique. SO have a go at using it much thicker than you would for traditional watercolour. You lose some of the ethereal quality of the paint, and some of that lovely effect on the sharp edges, but you do get a kick of colour.