Water Brush Pens: How to Use a Water Brush for Watercolour

A water brush is a brush with a hollow handle that holds water, so you can paint with watercolour anywhere without a water jar. This guide explains how to use a water brush, how to fill and clean it, which tip size to choose, and what to use it with.

What is a water brush?

A water brush has a soft synthetic tip and a plastic barrel that you fill with clean water. Squeezing the barrel gently pushes water into the tip. It is popular for travel sketching, urban sketching, journals, and blending watercolour pencils, because everything fits in a small bag.

The Sakura water brush

We stock the Sakura Water Brush from Japanese brand Sakura, in three tip sizes, each marked with a coloured dot:

• Small (red dot): for fine lines, details and small sketchbooks.
• Medium (green dot): a good all-round size and the best first choice.
• Large (orange dot): for washes, skies and larger areas.

Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price. Browse all brushes for watercolour.

How to use a water brush, step by step

1. Fill: unscrew the barrel from the tip, fill it with clean water, then screw it back on firmly.
2. Prime: squeeze the barrel gently over a tissue until the tip is evenly wet.
3. Pick up colour: touch the wet tip to a watercolour pan or cake, or to an area of watercolour pencil on your paper.
4. Paint: squeeze lightly for more water and lighter washes; squeeze less for stronger colour and finer lines.
5. Clean between colours: squeeze a little water and wipe the tip on a tissue until it runs clear. No water jar needed.

What to use with a water brush

• Watercolour pans and cakes: compact sets such as Art Nation Solid Watercolour 12 or Camel Watercolour Cakes 12 are perfect partners. See our watercolour paints guide.
• Watercolour pencils: draw dry, then blend with the water brush. See our watercolour pencils guide.
• Paper: a small watercolour pad such as the Art Nation Watercolour Pad A5 handles water without buckling.
• Line work: waterproof pens such as Sakura Pigma Micron won’t run when you paint over them once dry.

Care tips

• After each session, squeeze clean water through the tip until it runs clear, then reshape the tip.
• Dry the brush with the tip facing up or lying flat; never rest it on its tip.
• Empty the barrel before long storage to keep it fresh.
• Use your water brush only for water-based paints such as watercolour, and keep separate brushes for other paints.

Frequently asked questions

Can a water brush replace normal watercolour brushes?

For sketching, travel and small work, yes. For big, very wet washes, a large normal brush and a water jar are easier.

Why is my water brush leaking?

The barrel may not be screwed on firmly, or you may be squeezing too hard. Tighten it and use gentle pressure.

Which size water brush should I buy first?

Medium (green dot) is the most versatile. Add a small for details or a large for washes later.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you choose the right water brush.

More Haanz Art Guides

Soft Pastels for Beginners: Paper, Blending and FixingRead the guide →Sakura Pigma Micron Pen Sizes Explained: Which Tip to ChooseRead the guide →Watercolour Paints for Beginners: Tubes vs Cakes and Best SetsRead the guide →Air Dry Clay for Beginners: Types, Drying Tips and PaintingRead the guide →

See all Haanz Art Guides