What No One Is Telling You About Calligraphy Brushes and Watercolour
Part of my collection of Calligraphy Brushes I use on a daily basis.
What No One Is Telling You About Calligraphy Brushes and Watercolour
If you’ve been painting with watercolour for a while, you’ve probably heard about sable brushes, mop brushes, and all the big-name brands artists love. But there’s one brush that flies under the radar—quietly delivering beautiful results—and it’s not even made for watercolor.
I'm talking about calligraphy brushes.
Yep. The ones traditionally used in Chinese or Japanese calligraphy. Long, tapered bristles. Slim, elegant handles. And a surprisingly affordable price tag.
And here’s the thing: these brushes are absolute magic for watercolor artists.
Let me tell you why.
Why Calligraphy Brushes Work So Well With Watercolor
While they're designed for ink, calligraphy brushes are actually made to hold water—lots of it. That’s already a big win for watercolor artists. But their magic goes beyond that:
They’re ultra-flexible. The fine, tapered bristles allow you to go from hair-thin lines to broad strokes in one motion. Perfect for expressive marks, loose washes, and quick sketches.
They hold a surprising amount of pigment. These brushes are made to last through full calligraphy scrolls, so they can carry loads of paint without constant re-dipping.
They’re perfect for both flow and control. It might take a little practice, but once you get used to their responsiveness, you’ll love how intuitively they move.
They’re affordable. Like really affordable. You can often find a good quality calligraphy brush for under £5. That’s a fraction of what you’d pay for a professional watercolor brush.
They’re widely available. Whether you’re browsing art shops or checking online, these brushes are easy to find. Look under “sumi-e,” “ink,” or “calligraphy brushes” and you’ll discover plenty of beautiful options.
2 of my favourite Calligraphy Brushes quietly sitting on the background.
Why I Keep One in My Studio at All Times
Calligraphy brushes have become a staple in my studio—not because they’re fancy, but because they offer something different. They encourage play.
When I need to unwind and paint mindlessly (my version of art therapy), a calligraphy brush gives me the freedom to let go of rules and flow with the moment. They’re perfect for expressive washes, flowing lines, and even fine detailing if used with care.
And while they’re not labeled “watercolor brushes,” they’re a hidden gem every artist should try at least once.
A Tool for Artists of Every Level
If you’re a beginner, these brushes can help you explore without the fear of “ruining” an expensive brush. If you’re more advanced, you’ll love the freedom and expressiveness they bring to your practice.
Whether you’re painting seascapes, mountains, or abstract backgrounds, the soft flow and elegant line quality of a calligraphy brush is something you just have to experience.
Final Thoughts
Art supplies don’t have to be expensive to be powerful. Sometimes the most joyful discoveries come from thinking outside the box - or outside the art aisle.
So if you’re curious, give a calligraphy brush a try. You might just fall in love with the way it moves.
Have you tried one before?
Let me know in the comments - I’d love to hear how you’re using it in your creative practice.
Here are the links to few of my favourite Calligraphy Brushes with links if you are interested to try some.*
You can find the same brushes on a variety of sites. I personally enjoy shopping from Amazon, because of the quick turnaround and the effortless returns if there is a problem with my order, hence I have listed the link to Amazon UK.
Trio Thin and long bristle Calligraphy Brushes. Those are perfect for details, but still hold a lot of water and you can use them for a long time without reloading your brush with paint. Tap here to shop.
Closeup of the brushes. Tap here to Shop.
This is a Chinese Brush Set of Calligraphy Brushes with Wolf Hair. I love wolf hair brushes as my work horses. They hold just the right amount of water, hold a sharp point and can also be super versatile on brush making. You can spread them around and create a variety of strokes, which is super fun for me and I love using them in my daily life.
Closeup of the Wolf Hair Brushes. Tap here to Shop.
3PC Chinese Japanese Calligraphy Brushes Set. In this set they say that they use Wolf hair, but usually the white ones are with goat hair which hold lots of water and are very soft and versatile. Those are some of the most popular Calligraphy Brushes. They are great for softening edges and adding big amounts of water to your paper, as their holding capacity is very good. Shop them here.
Closeup of the white hair Calligraphy Brushes. Shop here.
Those are Hake Brushes with intricate Wooden Handles. They are perfect for moistening your paper on both sided super quick and effortless. You can also use them for painting big expressive brush strokes flufing out some of the edges of your brush strokes if they run too far away. I have shown you how to do that in several of my art classes. Shop Here.
If you are interested in trying multiple of those brushes at once I highly recommend you to get a 10 Pcs Calligraphy Brush, Chinese Calligraphy Set Mixed Sizes Chinese Calligraphy Brush with Brush Bag. They include a large wash brush, medium detailed brushes and super fine small size bristle brushes. Check them out here.
This graph is showing you the different thickness of the brush strokes that each of those brushes is creating. Shop them here.
2 fragments from some of the paintings that I have painted with my Chinese Calligraphy Brushes.
* All of the links above are affiliate links. If you use them for shopping they will bring me a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Have you tried Chinese Calligraphy Brushes before?
Let me know in the comments below- I’d love to hear how you’re using them in your creative practice and is there any other brush set that you may like better. Share your thoughts below, so we can learn from each other.
