Your cart is empty.
Your cart is empty.4.3 out of 5 stars
- #241,658 in Arts, Crafts & Sewing (See Top 100 in Arts, Crafts & Sewing)
- #36 in Pointed-Round Art Paintbrushes
The Escoda Series 1214 Reserve Travel Brushes are made from a custom blend using only the best male kolinsky hair from the Tajmyr region in Northern Siberia. Considered the elite brush series for watercolorists, the Reserve series are 100% pure kolinsky sable, beautifully designed, have a perfect point with exceptional liquid retention. Escoda brushes continue to be made by hand by the Escoda family as they were since 1933. This is a #4 pointed round brush with a silver brush extender handle that also acts as a cap to covers the bristles for transport.
Customer
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2022
This Escoda reserva 8 pointed round is easily the most expensive and lowest quality brush I've ever purchased. It shed some hairs as soon as I began rinsing out the sizing. It feels loosely packed into the ferrule, and while the snap (returning to a point as you lift it off the page at the end of a brush stroke) is kind of okay, it has basically no spring (bristles should stay together as you paint a brush stroke of mild to moderate pressure, but these separate and go all over the place). I've attached three pictures. The first is the brush tip after painting one fully loaded brush stroke. The bristles should have come back together into a nice sharp point and it should appear smooth on the outside. Instead, there's almost a hole in the middle where the bristles have separated. I've also attached the painting tests I was running. The paper is the Strathmore 500 series mixed media sketchbook, fairly lightweight and smooth, and makes frequent run backs, but as you can see, the Escoda marks could not handle a basic loop test but separated and left hairy looking marks. By contrast, the Isabey red sable size 6 left lovely smooth loops with great spring and snap. I also tested fuumuui travel brushes from Amazon that are advertised to be Kolinsky sable but were much less expensive. They don't match the quality of the Isabey, but they are vastly superior to this Escoda and three of them together cost a third of the price of this brush.I think this brush is defective and I've asked for a replacement. For what it's worth, I also own an Escoda Versatil #10 rigger and it's a fantastic brush, so the brand is NOT a terrible brand...but this reserva brush is the pits. So disappointed. I'll update if the replacement turns out to be the kolinsky sable brush of my dreams.
Meg
Reviewed in Canada on May 6, 2020
So nice, holds water, forms a point, handy for a travel kit. I use it more than my other brushes. I think the size is what you’d expect for round 8. The handle jiggles a TINY bit sometimes, and is a bit long for my preference, but I have small fussy hands.
Tigerlillian
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2019
This is one of three pocket brushes that I use for my watercolor travel kit (the others are an Escoda Perla round size 12, and a Rosemary & Co. R12 1/4" sable/nylon blend dagger). This Reserva size 4 round is the one I use the most. It was also the first Escoda brush I purchased and in my inexperience with the brand, it was a little smaller than anticipated but I find that I still use it more over others when travelling as it suits my small books and style of painting. Escoda's sizing convention runs a little smaller than other brands so be sure to check the measurements and don't go just by the numerical size.Using this brush is such a treat. Besides looking like a piece of jewelry, it performs with precision and holds more paint than other brushes its size. It has plenty of spring and holds its point extremely well.The cap posts onto the end of the brush providing length and good balance. If you're arting outdoors, after you've rinsed your brush and capped it, the hole at the top of the cap allows your wet brush to breathe until you can get home to wash and dry thoroughly uncapped.This Kolinsky-tajmyr sable is the finest watercolor brush I've used. It's ability to hold paint is outstanding. It's soft without being a wet noodle, very responsive with good control, and liberating the best characteristics of watercolor paint. As well as watercolor, I also use it for ink washing with pH balanced fountain pen inks. I can paint as loose or as tight as I want with this little round pointed brush. (Flower painting was done using a vintage nib for the drawing as well as the Reserva for ink washing)I've since added some full size Escoda brushes to my studio for oil painting too, and find that this company is one of the best in its consistently high quality and performance.
Philip Corlis
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2019
I understand these Escoda Reserva brushes run about one size smaller than other sable size 8 sable brushes. Regardless, this is a fine brush that holds a ton of water. It delivers watercolor with a smooth even consistent flow. Put the brush in the handle, tip first, and you’ve got a go-anywhere brush that easily fits in pocket or purse. I love mine.
MJ Smith
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2019
I paint a lot on the road, in the US and overseas. I have fallen in love with these Escoda travel brushes. The way they break apart and fit inside the metal handle protects the brush and makes them small and packable. But most importantly, these sable brushes hold a surprising amount of paint, so you are not constantly dipping your brush as much as lesser quality brushes. The sable also gives you a lot of control to make a fine line or a thicker, all based on how lightly you press the brush against the paper.This number 2 size is very nice for making a fine line, particular for creating branches or outlining finer shadow lines. I now carry three sizes of Escoda for out in the field, the number 8, 6 and 2. I know everyone has there own personal preferences. This is mine. But, I think this number 2 size is a very nice one for when you really want to do fine work. And the Escoda quality is exceptional.
Corsair
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2016
While synthetic brushes continue to improve, natural sable hair brushes remain superior. Points well, holds more water - well worth the extra money out to about a size eight. Beyond that, the price escalates rapidly and you may wish to compromise a bit and get the Versatil or Prado (according to an Escoda representative, the Versatil is softer, the Prado stiffer and points a little better). The handle encases the brush for travel, and posts firmly for painting. While it does hair a small hole at the end of the case to let the brush breathe and dry, it is best to uncover it after you get home and let it dry quicker and fuller. The main caveat is that like many continental European brush manufacturers, the brushes run on the small side, so consider the next size up if you are not used to this.
Lise Gauthier
Reviewed in Canada on November 13, 2015
I have to return the brush no 4 because it was wrong
curly
Reviewed in Canada on October 24, 2015
Love these brushes..
Quilter
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2015
It was a present for my husband and he was very pleased with it.
Thomas B. Flynn
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2014
I bought this brush to use on holiday.I found it was easy to use and produced results that were as good as the regularbrushes I use.
Recommended Products
