I am new to Calligraphy and purchased a beginner kit which turned out to be more of a novelty than anything useful. The brushes were poor. So I went to an art store and purchased a calligraphy brush made by Yasutomo not realizing that these "store items" were cheaply made plastic brushes with cheap hair and tips. My learning suffered and I didn't know if it was me or the brushes. They were mushy and shapeless and hard to work with. So I found BHA and purchased this brush and all I can say is WOW! I'm still a beginner and know very little but learning will be easier now and I already found that I can actually do some of the strokes...it was just poor brushes before. Let me also mention BHA itself as the delivery was seamless and quick and they were very helpful also. I'm happy. Beautiful brush and I love it. And after use very easily back to a point!
Really happy with this brush. Releases liquid much more evenly than my expensive synthetic brush (Escoda Versatil). I can get great width variation on this brush while still having really even ink dispersal. If I had to use just one brush for watercolor/ink painting, this would be well-rounded enough to handle it.
In comparison, I have a cheap calligraphy brush from Yasutomo ("cheap" as in $5, so not actually that much cheaper) that is so dang thirsty that I can't lay down intense colors because it won't let go the water. Also, the Yasutomo brush is really soft and always splits (not necessarily a bad thing, but that makes it far less versatile), while this brush holds a point just fine.
I bought this brush years ago and always liked it and amazed at its low price. I just bought another one recently and it was as good. This brush has an amazing tip and makes it easy to make elegant beginnings and endings of each stroke or connections between strokes.
The thicker core of this combination brush REALLY helps! This is an astounding brush, very high quality, one to buy three or more of.... awesome brush, great, full shapes, fine lines, everything in between...this is a masterful tool I am proud to own.
