The
square wash can produce varying shapes and widths, and often has a
short, "flat-footed" handle for scraping, burnishing, and
separating watercolor paper from blocks. A wash brush is useful for
laying in large areas of water or color, for wetting the surface, and
for absorbing excess media. The very popular square wash brushes offer
an extra tool in the beveled plastic handles. They are perfect for
separating the sheets of paper on watercolor blocks and for special
scraping and highlighting techniques.
Generally, these brushes are made from soft hairs and not bristles.
Natural fibers include sable, squirrel, ox hair, pony and goat.
Synthetic fiber brushes and synthetic/natural hair blended brushes have
recently gained acceptance. Of all natural fibers, square wash brushes
made from sable hair are universally recognized to be the best for
watercolor painting. Qualities which make sable hair ideal are its
needle-like point, its resilience, and its fine taper from the thicker
central part of the hair to the tip, which serves to hold a reservoir of
color.
