YasutomoNiji Waterbrush Large 7/32" x 5/8"

I was pleasantly surprised by all the brushes in the series. All the brushes behave basically the same so I'm reusing the review for each brush. Water flow is different between the round and flat brushes and I'll cover it last.From different reviews around the web my concerns were that the bristles would be too stiff, that the bristles would pull easily from the ferrule, and that the water would not flow at a comfortable rate.When they arrived I was most surprised by the flat brush. Instead of a flat ferrule the brush was actually a full round brush with a snap-off flat adapter. Without the adapter it is dense enough and long enough to act as a very effective mop brush. All the brushes have interchangeable water reservoir tubes; the flat has a purple handle, the rounds have long blue or short blue handles.All the brushes have soft white nylon bristles that spring back nicely. They were quite dense, with enough bristles that the brushes are easy to control in spite of the softness. When the water reservoir is full they have a good weight in my hand, and I can tell by balance when they start to run low. The brushes work well for all techniques I've used including lifting, splattering, dropping, glazing, and washing large areas.I've used the brushes for just over a month. They are still very supple and I haven't noticed any significant change to them over time. I have seen practically no shedding, which surprised me. They are very nearly as full and springy as the day they arrived in spite of my vigorous cleaning habits. They've held up much better than most of the inexpensive brushes I've ever purchased.I use them with Derwent watercolor pencils including their Inktense pencils that will set permanently after their first hydration. Because the brushes keep themselves moist I've found they stain less easily than my traditional nylon brushes. The tips are darkened from use but they are clean; I can soak the brush and rub it on white paper without making marks.Controlling the water flow on the round brushes was easy for me. With a full reservoir I can keep the brush dry enough to just barely hydrate the pencil so it would dry in seconds, if I want. With a mostly empty reservoir I can still keep the brush saturated to leave a heavy trail of water, if I want. It took only a few minutes of experimenting before I could keep the brush at any saturation level I wanted for any speed of stroke. I can keep the reservoir full with the lid on and water does not seep through.Controlling the water flow on the flat brush was a little more difficult. The gasket lets out water more easily than the rounds. It took about a half hour of experimenting before I got the feel of the flat brush's flow. I still sometimes put out more water than I expect. I use the brush as a mop or a wide flat rather than for detail work so this doesn't hurt, but it is a distraction when using it. Like the rounds, I can keep the reservoir full without flooding the lid.I love these brushes. I find myself using them almost exclusively instead of my traditional rounds. I can keep them full without needing to keep a cup of water on hand. They are not a replacement for traditional brushes; none of the brushes will replace a good liner or rigger. When I want a general brush for wetting my pencil work these are my new brush of choice.

I have the small sized brush in this series and it works amazing so I was excited to get this. Unfortunately it doesn't deliver the same performance my other niji does. The flow control isn't good it expels too much, I returned it.

There are so many things to like about this brush!Pros:- Easy to fill; I just squeeze it under running water or squeeze it upside down in a container, so it sucks water inside.- No leaks.- Great flow control, with no surprise water blobs occurring at random times.- Easy to clean; sure some pigments will stain the white bristles, but that's no big deal.- Good quality; this brush lasts a long time before needing replacing.- Good price; Amazon offers a good deal on this brush!- I have never had any slurping of water/paint back into the brush; water goes out, only.Cons:O.k., I can't think of any. It is a little stiff and doesn't come to a razor point, but that can't be expected with this kind of brush/bristles. It is extremely versatile, great for direct painting, washing water-soluble mediums, and wetting tips of water-soluble pencils/crayons.One tip: Although you won't need a water pot with this brush, you will need something to wipe it with, as it becomes loaded with colour, so that you can change colours or get clear water for a wash. Take paper towels or a napkin with you. Otherwise, you may have to use your clothes for wiping! Cotton socks are especially good, in a pinch...Great brush; I highly recommend it!

I keep a pencil case full of watercolor pencils, water soluble graphite, and Derwent Inktense pencils in my bag with one of these Niji waterbrushes and a block of watercolor postcard paper at all times.... "Don't leave home without it" -- that kind of kit.Makes a perfect sketching brush -- color blots out of the brush with just a kleenex or micro-fiber cloth. The bristles are held firm -- they don't splay out or break off, or come loose on your paper.There are at least 3 other companies making something like this, now -- and I've tried them all because they're all cheaper than the Niji brushes.... But as usual, you get what you pay for. Either the water barrel splits and leaks, or the brush falls out or just falls apart.... But not so with the Niji. I've got a couple I've been using for at least 10 years, and they're still in good condition!Couldn't live without them!-- They may a sm, med, lg, flat, and then a shorter length barrel -- all work well, but the flat doesn't do it for me -- I'd rather use the lg-round any day.

The big benefit to the Niji waterbrushes is that they have a LARGE water reservoir. I tend to go through water like crazy when I use waterbrushes, so having to keep refill them can be irritating. So I really appreciate that the Niji has such a BIG water reservoir when compared to others on the market.Another big benefit is the size of the brush- the large brush is perfect- while it's large enough to substantial area in just a few strokes, the tip of the brush is very fine and pointed, which allows for detail work, and for making very crisp, sharp edges.One negative thing about the Niji is I find they don't hold up to much abuse- the brush tip frays easily and doesn't always bounce back into a point after use. I try and keep it as conditioned as possible and try not to "scrub" too much with it. Both those things help.