New vs Worn Kolinsky Watercolour Brush (Da Vinci)

My new Da Vinci Maestro travel brush is here. Both the brushes in the photo above are size 6.

I had bought a new one to replace my worn one. The new one's on top, and bottom's the one I've been using for three years. I had actually reviewed the Maestro travel brush before.

The worn one is starting to get fray ends. But when wet with water, it still manages to taper but not to a sharp point as the new brush. Below's how the two compare.

Even though the brush is quite worn, it's still a very decent watercolour brush. Just that it's not as good at detailed work as it was brand new. On the right side, you can see the hatching lines are much thiner from the new brush.

Generally speaking, I prefer Da Vinci's watercolour Kolinsky brushes because I feel that they are a bit more firm. The equivalent for Escoda would be the Reserva series.

I also bought a new size 10 brush. This is the sticker on the body. Even though the collapsible brush has a ventilation hole, that's not enough to dry the brush. You should always dry the brush outside completely before storing it away. Otherwise, mould might grow!

I bought these from Jackson's Art Supplies and they are much cheaper than Dick Blick (US) or many other places. Jackson's Art Supplies have free shipping for brush purchases above £20.