Evaluation of Escoda Último Evolution 1933 Watercolour Brush
6 min read
It isn’t on daily basis you discover a watercolour brush that carries the legacy of three generations of artisans together with it. Nevertheless, the Escoda Último Evolution 1933 is one such brush. With its intensive water-holding capability to cowl giant, sweeping washes and its sharp, outlined tip that simply handles crisp traces and advantageous element, it was clear from the second I picked up the Último Evolution that this was no easy, odd paintbrush; however that it was additionally a rare piece of advantageous artwork tools.

Escoda Último Evolution 1933 Watercolour Brush
In regards to the Último Evolution 1933 Brush
The Último Evolution artificial watercolour brush has been designed in collaboration with famend artist Joan Coch, and it’s simple to see the hand of a grasp in each side of this brush’s design. The artificial bristles of this spherical mop have been designed to imitate the water-carrying capability of the extra conventional squirrel hair watercolour brushes, and the distinctive ferrule design with its intricate gap sample permits much more water to be absorbed and retained by the comb; as much as 50% greater than a normal Escoda Último Spherical Mop Brush, which is spectacular to say the least. The deal with is crafted from birch wooden and is gentle, elegant, and ergonomically designed to relaxation simply within the hand. There’s additionally a small, flattened edge on one aspect to permit the comb to be positioned on a flat floor with out rolling: a considerate contact.
About Escoda
The top quality of this brush ought to come as no shock to these already aware of the Escoda model. In accordance with their firm internet web page, their legacy started within the autumn of 1933, with their founder Josep Escoda Roig; and now, 85 years later, this Barcelona-based firm has amassed an enormous wealth of historical past in the case of producing top quality advantageous artwork supplies. The primary technology established the enterprise foundations with the creation of a machine to grasp the grooving of the comb’s ferrule. The second technology improved the method through the use of its world-renowned triple groove course of, and the third technology launched one thing totally new: the gorgeous and sensible perforated ferrule we discover on the Último Evolution. So, what higher title for this new brush than the 1933; a brush that carries the mixed legacy of three generations of creators?
My First Impressions of the Escoda Último Evolution 1933 Brush
The Último Evolution arrived thoughtfully packaged to forestall injury in transit, and elegantly offered in a wise white cardboard field with useful info printed on the reverse about each the comb and the model. I used to be attempting out the dimensions #20 brush, and regardless of its dimension I discovered it remarkably gentle. I did fear at first that I’d discover it unwieldy, nonetheless I quickly turned accustomed to the ergonomic deal with design and located the flat edge an extremely helpful function for the instances once I needed to put the comb down with the intention to change my water. The picket deal with is comparatively quick and a wealthy, burnished black-brown color. The silver ferrule with its gap sample is each enticing and purposeful, with the bristles sure in place by a triple crimp; and in all honesty, I merely couldn’t wait to familiarize yourself with it.
Testing the Escoda Último Evolution 1933 Brush
For my first experiment, I made a decision to attempt a couple of easy traces and washes. The normal rounded mop form mixed with the tight level promised glorious versatility, and I used to be excited to check the Último Evolution’s water-carrying capability. I already personal a few common Escoda Último Spherical Artificial Mop Brushes and use them recurrently in my day-to-day portray observe, so I used to be to see how this new one would evaluate.
The Último Evolution held and delivered loads of paint and water in a managed method, simply creating broad swathes of color. I need to admit to being totally impressed by the water-carrying skills of the artificial bristles, and regardless of being unable to quantify exactly how a lot further water this brush may carry, I discovered that it was capable of retain much more paint than each of my common artificial mops, and much more than my pure squirrel-hair brush. I used to be capable of paint in lengthy, sweeping strokes with out having to repeatedly return to my palette to gather extra paint. This can be a very helpful high quality in a watercolour brush, as I discovered it gave me extra management over the richness of paint in my washes; as a result of I wasn’t regularly needing to dip again into my paint and water, and subsequently I wasn’t risking altering the color and readability of my wash by doubtlessly introducing completely different concentrations of paint.
The advantageous element level on this watercolour brush didn’t disappoint both. When used with care, the Último Evolution delivered the paint in a managed, exact method from the pointed tip, permitting me to create lovely calligraphic marks in addition to flat areas of color. This got here as a shock to me, as I’d ordinarily swap to a smaller dimension of brush to put element into my work; nonetheless, the Último Evolution dealt with delicate work with a precision I didn’t count on. This was one other big plus level for me, as I dislike having to modify between completely different sized brushes whereas attempting to color rapidly and loosely in watercolour.
Additional Ideas on Makes use of and Mark-Making
A lot as you’d count on from a conventional squirrel-hair brush, the bristles of this artificial mop brush are very delicate and lack spring, which at instances could make it a little bit awkward to regulate. Nevertheless, the delicate bristles are additionally excellently versatile, and the exact tip mixed with the rounded stomach is a formidably versatile mixture, because it gives the person the flexibility to create all kinds of shapes in a single stroke.
This capability for various mark-making implies that the Último Evolution is suited to all kinds of portray types. I can attest that it’s supreme for unfastened panorama painters, with its giant water carrying capability, and would even recommend that its versatility would make this brush a perfect addition to a plein air portray package. When it comes to merely being a very glorious, helpful watercolour brush, I imagine the Último Evolution would excel when utilized in most types of watercolour portray, together with botanicals and portraits; I’d additionally recommend that it might be particularly helpful to the summary artist as properly, the place the flexibility to maneuver seamlessly between a large stroke and a advantageous, crisp line could be a fantastic benefit.
In actual fact, I solely had one problem with this brush, which occurred once I tried to color from my small set of half-pan watercolour paints. The dimensions of the comb’s stomach meant that once I went to select up color from one pan, I sometimes ended up selecting up a contact of the neighbouring color as properly – clearly, this isn’t supreme! Nevertheless, after noticing this problem, I started to take extra care when pulling color from my half-pans, and I discovered that once I slowed my tempo, and focussed on utilizing the comb tip greater than the big stomach, I had no extra points with this; so, it appears doubtless this downside was extra right down to person error than any high quality of the comb itself. I additionally examined the comb with my watercolour tube paints squeezed onto a palette and had no bother selecting up my desired colors.
I liked the flexibility of this brush. It was a joyous factor to make use of, and I discovered myself getting fairly carried away whereas testing it; a lot so, that for a short time I forgot that I used to be presupposed to be conducting a evaluate, and easily spent a while merrily portray. To me, that’s the greatest signal of all; the Último Evolution felt like a pure extension of my hand. The artificial fibres which have been designed to mimic pure squirrel hair are greater than as much as their job, carrying a formidable quantity of water and paint, with a good looking softness that makes portray with this brush a clean and satisfying expertise.
Additional Studying
The Improvement of Artificial Brushes
A Household Matter: Handcrafting Brushes
Evaluation of Michael Harding Skilled Watercolours
Brush Cleansing Suggestions for Painters
Store Escoda Último Evolution 1933 Watercolour Brush on jacksonsart.com