Silver Brush Limited WC-3124ST Black Velvet Voyage Master Travel Set for Watercolor, Gouache, Inks, & Dyes, Set of 4, Sizes 2, 4, 6, and 8 Round Paintbrushes, Short Handle

I have just started watercolors and these brushes were recommended by my teacher. Others in my class bought less expensive brushes and are not as happy with their results. My teacher said to always buy good brushes as they will last a lifetime. I bought the set with three brushes.

I love these brushes! I was a little nervous at first, because the oval wash brush had some hairs sticking out from the side on arrival, and I have never seen a high-quality brush do that unless it had been missed handled in an art store. I worried that maybe I had been sold knock off brushes. But I suspect that it might just be because of the way that thing “cat’s tongue“ style brush had been cut, and maybe it’s harder to keep every single hair stuck in place with with the gum Arabic binder. The other brushes and said in the set didn’t have this issue. Once I wet the oval wash brush and rinsed it out, it was fine, and when I shaped the brush into position before I let it dry afterward, it looked perfect after drying.The bushes held plenty of water, and using the old wash brush was a dream! Pairing this brush with some new high-quality engram watercolor paints and 140 pound, 100% cotton after color paper, I finally got the flowing, magical washes of color that I see on so many YouTube tutorials.I liked that the mix of real squirrel hair with synthetic Weslo I see so many YouTube tutorials.I liked that the mix of real squirrel hair with synthetic Risslon fibers Give me just the right blend of water dispersion and control. I didn’t think I would like to paint with real squirrel hair (and at this point I still haven’t), because I didn’t think I would like the floppiness of real squirrel, but I really wanted brushes that would hold a lot of water. This brush held it’s shape (without the strong “snap back” of a full synthetic, while delivering plenty of water. It was so wonderful that I now think I’d like a couple of 100% squirrel brushes, at least for washes.I will try to update the review with a little more on the performance of the brushes. But comparing them side to side to the Master’s Touch golden taklon brushes that I got at hobby lobby, which are a good price for the inexpensive price and came recommended by Steve on the “Mind of Watercolor” YouTube channel (as did these Silver Brush Black Velvet brushes, which are some of his favorite), the Black Velvet are so much better and totally worth the money.I would say even a new watercolor artist would be better off buying this set of three then to buy 20 of a nice-but-less-expensive brushes. And you can do most of the things you need with this set. In fact, the tips are so sharp on the wash and the number eight round brush that you almost don’t even need the liner brush. The tips are super pointy and amazing! Much better than any of the other brushes I have, including my less expensive liner brushes.I can understand if you are brand new to watercolor and aren’t sure if you will stay with it, you might not want to spend this much. In that case, I would recommend one or two Master’s Touch golden taklon brushes from Hobby Lobby to start. Their Masters Touch art supplies go on sale for 50% off at least once a month, wait until then. A round brush (#8 or #6 maybe) and a 3/4” or 1” oval wash. Start with those, and if you like watercolor, then get this set (the one with the oval wash, liner, and #8 round). But if you can afford this set, start with it. If you start with bad paper, paint, or brushes, you might give up, thinking that the problem is you when it’s actually your supplies, because that almost happened to me.

I really enjoy using Silver Brush Limited Black Velvet watercolor brushes for my projects. The four-piece set is reasonably priced for such a good quality product. The bristles are soft and are great for painting large and fine details. I highly recommend these brushes.

Love these brushes!

I love these watercolor brushes. The bristles on smallest brush weren't fully cut so I cut them apart with a small blade. Although pricey I didn't feel like returning them so I cut them myself and it works fine.

Lovely brushes. I am enjoying the nice points and water retention.

I have used these brushes many times now on watercolor and gouache paintings. They are some of the best detail brushes I have ever owned. They look a but scruffy when completely dry, but when wet, they have excellent points.

These brushes hold paints and the pigment flows from them like I know what I’m doing