The Geek Within: Escoda Prado watercolour brush for sale in Australia!

I wanted to introduce you to the Escoda Prado line of brushes.. Part of me feels silly for even doing so- they are so famously excellent, it almost feels like a blasphemy to suggest that they need a review. Just a quick google shows that everyone who uses them loves them. People are always going on about how they are "my work horses" or a "pleasure to use time and time again.." etc

(Prado is the bottom-most)

A bit about Escoda:
They are a family owned company in Spain who have been in business for just over 80 years. 80 years of HANDMAKING brushes! That is A LOT of experience. They have a unique design (triple crimp on the ferrule) and curing process (simultaneously ironing and drying the brush hair) that ensures each hair is locked in place for a lifetime.

(L-R: Prado #10, Versatil #10, Versatil #8, Isabey 6228 Kolinsky #8, Winsor & Newton Series 7 #7)

From personal experience, they have wonderful customer service. They emailed me to explain a possible delay in delivery, what they were doing about it and when I would expect to receive the product.

A bit about Prado brushes:
They are not sable. This is important if you are struggling with the ethics of killing a poor little animal for his tail to paint cute furry animals.
They are cheaper than sable. This is important if you don't treat your brushes well. Certain styles of painting involve trashing your paint brushes- digging into pans for example, or dramatically sloshing paint around the paper.
They are beautiful brushes with comfortable to hold burgundy handles. The quality of the handle and ferrule are the same as Escoda's top-tier 1212 Reserva kolinsky sable line, the only difference being the hair used.

(Prado is the bottom-most)

The fibres are a combination of three different diameters and three lengths of Tame synthetic, which imitates sable hair in color, spring and absorption of liquids. The brushstroke's result is claimed to be the same as one made of natural hair. They have nice water holding capacity and spring back nicely. Note Escoda sizes run small.

(L-R: Prado #10, Versatil #10, Versatil #8, Isabey 6228 Kolinsky #8, Winsor & Newton Series 7 #7)

Alvaro Castagnet, David Taylor and Fabio Cembranelli endorses them in the form of signature brush sets sold by the company. If these are the tools of their magic, and you are able to procure them, there is no reason you can't also do this:
Alvaro Castagnet