da Vinci Artissimo Series 428 Sable Quill

Quill mops in general are versatile brushes for watercolor. DaVinci's Artissimo Sable Quill are the most versatile brushes I own. With a large belly they hold an almost unlimited supply of paint. The extra fine point combined with sable's superior snap allows for extremely fine detail. I often complete an entire painting with only one sable quill.

If you are just looking for an excellent mop without the extra spring, DaVinci's squirrel quills are much less expensive and are excellent for extended washes.

I already had Artissimo series 44 #2 and was more than happy with it. size 2 (about equivalent to size 10-12 in rounds) was the biggest back then and I wanted bigger - which #3 S428 is (about size 12-14 in rounds). Unfortunately it is not significantly bigger as I hoped for. I should have bought #4.
Anyhow, the tuft has huge capacity, snap is perfect and the point is very sharp. At less than half the price compared to any good brand round equivalent - this one i a bargain (even though it would be even cheaper in Germany - but German online stores are a nightmare to order from, and they only send via UPS, DHL and alike which is far more complicated and more expensive in comparison to Royal Mail).
The quill is plastic, but the good news is - it does not crack!
I would strongly recommend the brush to anyone who wants the first class kolinsky quill mop!

I paint in watercolor, gouache, casein, and egg tempera. The da Vinci artissamo sable quill is the brush I use the most. It works like a big mop wedded to a fine detail round. The body holds a tremendous amount of paint, and the point can be used like a calligraphy brush, with varied pressure, or for painting long lines. It is very expressive and very well balanced. The quality of materials is top notch, and the construction is solid and meant for years of use.

I also have the same brushes in squirrel hair. I prefer the sable for its spring, however, the squirrel is perfect if your main use is for large washes. I have also used da Vinci Kolinsky sable rounds and they compare favorably to the usual top brands.

One note, this brush has become very hard to find here in the US, and I don't know why. Ken Bromley was one of the only retailers in the UK who ship to the US who had then in stock.