Written by So as many of you know by now if you’ve been following this blog. I got a great new job recently, and as a congratulatory present Philippe just bought me the coolest thing on the planet! A travel set with Escoda VERSÀTIL brushes! So yeah… it’s official, I’m a lucky guy!
These brushes are amazing! Philippe took the recommendation of his favorite watercolor painter, Shari Blaukopf, and decided to try these. They’re synthetic versus sable, as he was worried about what happens to the little animals in order to retrieve their hair. But Shari had recommended these as an awesome sable alternative in her Craftsy course.
Philippe also picked up three regular Escoda VERSÀTIL brushes for himself (of course he did! We all know you’re supposed to buy yourself a present when you buy one for your spouse right?). Knowing I liked to keep things compact for my doodlewashing, he got me this fabulous little set of travel brushes!! The silver cases connect to the base to create a full short handle brush, so it’s particularly awesome!
This set is a bit spendy… don’t get me wrong. It’s not something I would recommend to anyone just starting out and nothing I would have ever purchased for myself. But that’s why gifts are so amazing, right?! When he gave it to me it came in a black box the size of a wallet and I assumed it was a wallet (I actually need one!). Opening it revealed… well… a leather wallet (albeit a tad odd for a money holder), so it took me a moment to realize it was actually… the best gift ever!
Okay, enough with the gushing, how well do these babies actually work? Incredibly well. They have an amazing pointed tip for fine details and wonderful absorption and water retention for big washes. Also, they more easily wash clean than the Princeton Snap! brushes I had been using (which I would still suggest when you’re starting out!). While they’re great for watercolor they can also be used for oil and acrylic painting.
Also, if you want to try these, I would recommend buying a couple individual brushes which you can get for a far-reduced price of $10-20 each on Amazon depending on the size. (and if you want this set… don’t buy it yourself. Instead, start dropping hints now to someone who loves you. Christmas is coming!).
Admittedly, I have yet to use them regularly so I’ll be able to review them properly in a few weeks. Okay… so yeah… you caught me. I was just so freaking excited to receive these I had to tell someone who would understand how cool this is! So thanks for listening friends and indulging me. Nobody in my family would be impressed as they don’t doodlewash. And they would probably still be wondering why he didn’t buy me a wallet.
All right Philippe! Lovely gift 🙂
I know right?! He’s kind of an awesome guy!
Very cool! I’m always looking for a great watercolor brush. Thanks Charlie! 😊😊😊
These are so good, Jill! 😃Let me know if you try them. Unless you don’t like them, in which case, we’ll blame Philippe. 😉
This is great! Big hugs to Phillipe…so sweet of him. Thrilling for you along with all the well wishes for the start of your new job. Always great to hear about good art tools and supplies, and even better coming from folks that use them. Thank you for sharing…they look awesome…and looking forward to wonderful paintings. ;D
Uh-oh…do the paintings have to be especially better now that I have cooled tools!? 😳hehe❤️😃Thanks Haunani!! It’s silly but these brushes make me want to paint more just to use them!! They’re awesome!! 😊😊
Congratulations, Charlie! I don’t have a set, but I bought one of the big brushes in this line for Shari’s craftsy class and I love it too! I switched from synthetic to sable awhile back, but they are really pricey and it was nice to find a terrific alternative. I’m so glad you’re loving these and I love the way they are packaged! Terrific gift, way to go, Phillippe (finally learning how to spell his name lol)! Enjoy them, Charlie!
Hehe…actually his name has only one “l”…it took me a year to learn to spell it right! Lol 😊😊But yes! The brushes are a great alternative. I wanted to try sable to see what they’re like, but so far Philippe hasn’t given the go ahead. He’s quite the animal lover. When we’re out driving, I have to tell him the squashed squirrels on the road are just “sleeping.”
Oops. I’m going back to calling him P then lol! I understand about the natural hair brushes. I think Shari’s is a great alternative, truly.
Haha! That’s awesome… Kind of cute! Call him that! 😉 I don’t have a problem with the natural ones, but P is sweet on animals. 😊Hehe
Congrats on the new job (where can I read about it? Missed reading many of your blogs due to classes) AND the new tools from Philipe with one L, Charlie! I have one–the Escoda Versatil #10 rigger (Angela Fehr’s preferred brush), and it’s been a challenge. But yours look sa-weet! And yes, now you’re held to a higher standard with regard to your paintings! Experimentation with new stuff is both frustrating and exhilarating. As for those squirrels? My husband bought me a DaVinci set of sables a 2 years ago. His reasoning? “… sables, minks, and squirrels, et al, only get their hair cut, just like sheep are sheared…” Yes, I live in a world of delusion and yet these brushes sit in my finest container like a still life on my painting table.
Enjoy your beautiful gift from Philippe (hard not to put in that 2nd L), and may 2020 be a might fine year for you on every front, Charlie!
Best wishes & joy–
Fanna Turano
Oh wow! This was one of my earliest posts from five years ago! hehe! 😃💕I had recently left my job at Hallmark and took the job I’ve had until today as an Executive Creative Director at Venn49 Creative Lab! I manage a packaging design studio now. And I’ve been using these brushes ever since! Hope you have the best 2020 ever, Fanna!
I’ve paid $25 for one brush before!! And it was so worth it. Ironically I also bought a brush at the Georgia O’Keefe museum which I paid $5 for and it is my current favorite.
Hehe…that’s awesome Beverly! So true…it really does come done to personal taste in the end! And it’s often not the most expensive tool we end up loving most!
Lucky you! 🙂 Happy Dancin’!
Oh dear, Jodi… you actually saw me happy dancing? Well this is awkward…😊
you were great! just like my happy dance 🙂
One day…we shall dance together! Lol 😉👍🏻
Nothing better than when someone you love gives you a gift that shows they really know your mind and heart! These look wonderful, and I too am looking forward to seeing what they help to produce. (K.)
Thanks Kerfe!! 😃It’s so true! And I can’t wait to really break them in! 😉
I am still chuckling over the “you’re supposed to buy yourself something when you buy a gift for someone else” idea! See, this is just one of the many reasons you are so awesome! Oh, Philippe is a keeper! What a darling to think of just the right gift for congratulating you. 🙂
He’s definitely a keeper! ❤️ But I really just meant buy yourself something when you buy a gift for your spouse…I guess “anyone” can work too! You just made it cooler!!! Yay!! Gifts all around! ❤️🎉🎁🎉🎁🎁🎁🎁
I’m gonna go with “anyone”…that’s my interpretation and I’m sticking with it (it’ll be our adult version of “one for you, one for me”…hahaha)! x
Perfect!! 😃
Enjoy, thoughtful and valuable gift
Yes! And thanks Cynthia! ❤️😃
Oooh this is a very special gift! I would much prefer these lovely brushes over a wallet. Have you set them out where you can keep looking at them and when you walk by you might just sweep your hand over them and sigh? Thats what I do with special gifts! You know Executive Creative Directors deserve beautiful travel brushes, Philippe is so smart and clever! What a perfect gift!
Thanks Cathe!! 😃And how did you know? That exactly what I do. I also sometimes pick it up to smell the leather. (Which is also from an animal but I’m not telling Philippe that!😊)
What a thoughtful gift! Indeed, you’re a lucky man!
I have travel brush envy…lol. What a great gift! Congrats on the great new job!
Hehe…yes…Philippe really is the best gifter in the world!! 😊😃😃
Wonderful!! 🙂
Yes!! I love these brushes!! Definitely recommend them!