Raphael Soft Aqua Brushes - Quills - Size 6

I have had it for several years now and perhaps my expectations were just too high from how others raved about it. Or maybe I just got a bad one? I didn't say anything for a long time because I thought maybe I was using it wrong. Who knows, maybe there is some technique I just cannot grasp. Regardless my brush arrived looking thrown together. Paint peeling back under the plastic wrap. That was off-putting but I thought maybe I just was being too precious. However, thus brush has zero snap. Its as limp and flacid as, well... Nevermind. Suffice it to say, it just flops over. It does hold a ton of water and pigment. However the only way I have found to really release that pignent is to squeeze it out. Never had to do that with another brush before. Its very thirsty, which is good, it just doesn't allow for any more control than if I were dragging a limp rag full of paint across the paper. I occasionally use the brush as a mop but only to force myself to try and make friends with it. Again, maybe I am just not getting it. Probably so. Suffice to say I will never buy a Raphael brush again. I know people love these. I want to love this brush. It just hasn't behaved very loveably for me. I am not giving up on quill brushes yet, but the one I got is garbage.

Great size. Holds its shape. Now my favorite brush

Great for washes. Using to lay down sky, water, and sand. Good quality.

I love them..

a charm