Description
The Raphaël 803 Lavis Pointed Mop is one of Raphaël’s most traditional and versatile watercolour brushes. It’s a natural squirrel hair wash (mop) brush designed to hold huge amounts of water and pigment while still forming a fine, tapered point for controlled strokes. This makes it a go-to brush for both broad washes and detail work in watercolour painting.
- Pure Kazan squirrel hair (Petit-Gris) – This is one of the softest and most absorbent natural hairs used in art brushes, known for exceptional water and paint holding capacity.
- Hand-wired quill or ferrule – Each brush head is traditionally hand-tied and secured with wire into the metal ferrule and wood handle, preserving the supple natural hair structure.
- Short wooden handle – Typical of many specialist watercolour brushes, the short handle gives excellent control for both fine work and washes.
- Exceptionally high liquid capacity – The soft squirrel fibres soak up water and pigment effortlessly, enabling long, continuous strokes without returning to the palette.
- Fine tapered point – Even though it’s a mop brush, it still forms a distinct, precise point, which helps when you need to switch from washes to finer marks without changing brush.
- Soft, fluid feel – The natural hair gives a gentle, expressive stroke that’s ideal for nuanced watercolour techniques like wet-on-wet, glazes, atmospheric washes and delicate line work.
- Versatile performance – Because it combines both high capacity and a fine point, this brush works well across a wide range of watercolour styles, from big backgrounds to smaller shapes.
The Raphaël 803 Lavis Pointed Mop is a great all-round brush for watercolour artists, especially when you want:
- Large fluid washes – lay down smooth, even layers of colour.
- Soft gradients and atmospheric effects – excellent for skies or subtle blends.
- Details without switching tools – the pointed mop still handles small strokes well.
- Long continuous lines – the generous paint load means fewer interruptions.
This brush is a favourite for artists who want one tool that can do both big washes and refined work without compromise. The Raphaël Lavis “Pointed Mop” Series 803 is a classic watercolour wash brush made with ultra-soft Petit-Gris squirrel hair that holds enormous amounts of water and pigment while still forming a fine point for precision work. It’s a versatile, reliable choice for washes, glazes and detail – an essential tool in any serious watercolourist’s kit.
Raphaël Lavis “Pointed Cat’s Tongue” Series 903 – Classic Squirrel Hair Watercolour Brush
The Raphaël 903 Lavis Pointed Cat’s Tongue is a traditional natural squirrel hair watercolour brush that combines the generous paint-holding capacity of a mop brush with the distinctive shape of a cat’s tongue. Its rounded body tapers to a soft point, allowing artists to create broad washes, controlled strokes and refined details with a single brush. This versatile design makes it ideal for expressive watercolour painting, where smooth paint flow and subtle control are equally important.
- Pure Kazan squirrel hair (Petit-Gris) – Exceptionally soft natural squirrel hair renowned for its outstanding ability to hold water and pigment, allowing long, uninterrupted brushstrokes.
- Pointed Cat’s Tongue shape – The rounded profile with a tapered point combines the coverage of a flat brush with the precision of a round brush, making it highly versatile.
- Traditional hand-crafted construction – The natural hair is carefully assembled and secured into a quality ferrule with a polished wooden handle for lasting performance.
- Short wooden handle – Offers excellent balance and precise control, ideal for watercolour techniques performed close to the paper.
- Exceptional liquid capacity – Holds generous amounts of water and colour, reducing the need for frequent reloading.
- Smooth, even paint release – The soft squirrel hair delivers consistent, streak-free washes with beautifully controlled colour flow.
- Soft tapered point – Allows seamless transitions from broad strokes to finer details without changing brushes.
- Gentle, expressive performance – The supple natural fibres glide effortlessly across the paper, making them ideal for delicate washes, glazing and atmospheric effects.
The Raphaël 903 Lavis Pointed Cat’s Tongue excels when you want:
- Broad washes with added control – Cover larger areas while maintaining the ability to shape edges and contours.
- Rounded shapes and organic forms – Perfect for painting petals, leaves, clouds and other natural subjects.
- Soft blends and graduated washes – Creates smooth transitions and subtle tonal changes with ease.
- Details without changing brushes – The pointed tip handles smaller marks, soft edges and finishing touches while the full body carries plenty of colour.
- Expressive watercolour techniques – Ideal for wet-on-wet painting, glazing and fluid, gestural brushwork.
The Raphaël Lavis “Pointed Cat’s Tongue” Series 903 is a beautifully crafted squirrel hair watercolour brush that combines exceptional water-holding capacity with the versatility of a pointed cat’s tongue shape. Equally suited to broad washes, organic forms and delicate details, it offers the smooth, responsive performance that has made Raphaël’s Lavis brushes favourites among watercolour artists for generations.
Care Tips for Longevity
Natural squirrel hair is soft and delicate, so proper care helps this brush last a long time:
- Rinse thoroughly right after use to remove pigments and prevent build‑up.
- Use mild soap if needed to clean thoroughly, especially after darker pigments.
- Reshape the point while still damp so the fibres dry to a sharp tip.
- Store upright or flat so the delicate hairs aren’t bent or crushed.
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