For artists who love to travel or work in compact spaces, finding the right art supplies can be a game-changer. Princeton Artist Brush Co. offers two compelling options in their NextGen line: the Neptune synthetic squirrel Travel Brushes and the Aqua Elite synthetic Kolinsky Sable travel brushes. Having had the chance to test these travel brush sets, I can share a detailed look at their features and performance, perfect for artists considering portable painting solutions.
Princeton travel brush cases
Image: Princeton Neptune and Aqua Elite travel brush sets in closed cases, showcasing their compact and portable design, ideal for artists on the move.
Both the Neptune and Aqua Elite travel brush sets come with four round brushes in sizes 10, 8, 6, and 4. Each set is neatly packed in a carrying case that secures with a magnet, making them incredibly convenient for travel. The compact size of these cases makes them easy to hold and store, whether you’re painting on location or simply working in a limited studio space at home. They are also great for painting sessions in unconventional spots, like comfortably painting in a recliner.
Size reference of Princeton travel brush case
Image: A hand holding a Princeton travel brush case to illustrate its portable and hand-friendly size, emphasizing ease of carrying for travel artists.
These travel brushes are part of Princeton’s NextGen series, which aims to combine the best qualities of both natural and synthetic fibers. They are designed to offer the exceptional water-holding capacity of natural hair along with the durability and affordability that synthetic brushes are known for.
First Impressions: Design and Handling of Travel Brushes
The Princeton Neptune and Aqua Elite travel brushes maintain the aesthetic of their standard counterparts while incorporating metallic elements for a touch of elegance. The Neptune features a warm wood tone with copper accents, while the Aqua Elite sports a sophisticated dark gray with brushed silver.
Princeton travel Aqua Elite And Neptune brushes
Image: Princeton Neptune and Aqua Elite travel brushes displayed side-by-side, highlighting the distinct color palettes and metallic accents that differentiate the two brush types.
The innovative design of these travel brushes allows the handle to separate into two parts. For storage, the brush end is inserted into the handle, creating a protective capsule. This capsule design, common in travel brushes, requires careful handling to avoid damaging the brush hairs. It’s advisable to clean and shape the brush tip while damp, ensuring all hairs are aligned before recapping. Allowing them to air dry in shape can also prevent moisture buildup within the ferrule.
Closed in case Elite and Neptune travel brushes
Image: Close-up of Princeton Neptune and Aqua Elite travel brushes in their closed, capsule form, emphasizing the protection and compact storage offered by the design.
In their capsule form, these travel brushes measure approximately 4 to 4.5 inches (10.6 cm to 11.43 cm). When ready to paint, attaching the brush end to the opposite end of the handle creates a full-sized brush, ranging from about 6.75 to 8 inches (17.145 cm to 20.32 cm). This ingenious convertible design ensures that portability doesn’t compromise usability.
Two travel brush sets in cases by Princeton
Image: Princeton travel brush sets open and displayed in their cases, illustrating how the cases serve as both storage and display for the brushes.
The cases themselves are thoughtfully designed. They can lay flat for easy access and also fold back to create a stand, offering a convenient way to keep your travel brushes organized and accessible while painting.
Princeton travel brush cases lay flat
Image: Princeton travel brush cases shown laying flat, highlighting the ease of access and organized presentation of the brushes within the case.
Princeton travel brush cases can be folded back to create a stand for brushes
Image: Princeton travel brush cases folded into a stand, demonstrating the dual functionality of the case as both a storage unit and a practical stand for brushes during painting sessions.
Performance in Practice: Neptune vs. Aqua Elite Travel Brushes
The key question for any artist is how these travel brushes perform compared to standard brushes, and how the Neptune and Aqua Elite sets compare against each other. While the brush heads maintain the same hair and performance characteristics as their full-sized counterparts, the balance is slightly different due to the metal handles. However, the lightweight metal ensures a near-perfect balance in hand for most painting techniques. Extremely specialized techniques requiring holding the brush far up the handle might be slightly more challenging but are rarely necessary.
When considering synthetic versus natural hair brushes, natural hair traditionally holds an edge in performance and longevity with proper care, but they come at a higher cost and raise ethical concerns for some artists. A quality brush, whether natural or synthetic, should resist shedding, have a securely fitted ferrule, and effectively hold and release water and pigment.
Both the Neptune and Aqua Elite travel brushes excel as high-quality synthetic options and are considered top choices among synthetic brushes. Let’s delve into their specific characteristics to help you determine if they might be the right fit for your artistic needs, especially when considering travel brushes.
Neptune and Elite travel brush sets showing open case of brushes
Image: Princeton Neptune and Aqua Elite travel brush sets opened to display the arrangement of brushes inside, allowing a clear view of the brush sizes and set composition.
Stiffness
Princeton rates the Neptune brush stiffness at 1, recommending it primarily for watercolor. The Aqua Elite is rated 2, making it suitable for watercolor and acceptable for oil paints. Stiffness in a brush affects its snap and spring, influencing shape retention during painting and hair control when manipulating the brush.
Personal preference for brush stiffness varies. Many artists prefer softer brushes, though stiffer brushes can be useful for fine details.
Snap
Snap is tested by gently bending the dry brush hairs to see how quickly they return to their original shape. The Neptune exhibits very little snap, similar to brushes used in Chinese brush painting. Conversely, the Aqua Elite has significant snap, snapping back into shape almost instantly.
Brush tips of Princeton travel brushes
Image: Close-up of the brush tips of Princeton travel brushes demonstrating the snap test, visually comparing the resilience and shape recovery of Neptune and Aqua Elite brush hairs.
Snap provides an initial indication of brush behavior, but spring is even more crucial for painting performance.
Spring
Spring refers to how well brush hairs maintain their shape when wet and in use. This characteristic is a major differentiator between natural and synthetic brushes.
The Neptune shows good spring, holding its shape well under light, consistent pressure. When hairs separate, they tend to clump, but they return to shape when pressure is reduced, as long as the brush remains wet.
Image: Visual demonstration of the spring characteristic of the Aqua Elite brush, showing how the brush hairs respond to pressure and maintain shape during painting with water.
The Aqua Elite also has good spring. However, when it splays, the hairs fan out more distinctly. This difference in splay pattern is a key distinction between the two brushes. Like the Neptune, the Aqua Elite hairs quickly return to shape when pressure is eased, but the mark it creates is different from the Neptune. Practice with pressure and brush handling is essential to manage splaying and even use it for unique effects.
Wicking
Wicking, or ‘thirst’, describes a brush’s capacity to absorb water or paint. A brush with good wicking will draw in color when dipped into wet paint, useful for lightening colors but potentially problematic when layering color.
Image: Illustration of the wicking capability of the Neptune brush, demonstrating how the brush absorbs and holds water, which influences its paint loading and release properties.
The Aqua Elite exhibits good wicking. The Neptune is Princeton’s most ‘thirsty’ brush, meaning it absorbs even more color. In testing, both brushes showed similar color absorption, but the Neptune generally picks up a greater volume.
Carrying Capacity and Release
Both brush sets demonstrate excellent carrying capacity, though the Neptune holds slightly more water due to its hair type. Release refers to how evenly the brush dispenses the absorbed water and pigment. Both sets offer good release, but pressure changes can affect the consistency of water flow. Uneven pressure during painting can lead to uneven color application.
Final Verdict on Princeton Travel Brush Sets
The Princeton Neptune and Aqua Elite Travel sets both provide a set of four round brushes (sizes 10, 8, 6, and 4). Their metal handles cleverly convert for both full-length use and compact storage. The included leather-like cases with magnetic closures are practical and can even function as brush stands.
The Neptune travel brush behaves much like a traditional Chinese painting brush. Achieving fine details and very dark colors may be challenging, but it excels at soft blends, flowing washes, and luminous transparency. Conversely, the Aqua Elite travel brush offers better detail and darker color capabilities. While it can also produce soft blends and transparent washes, it requires slightly more finesse than the Neptune for these effects. For artists new to watercolor or exploring a wider range of techniques, the Aqua Elite might be a more versatile starting point among travel brushes.
Ultimately, both sets are well-designed, elegant, and ready to accompany you on any artistic journey.
Painting on Location: Real Examples
During a trip to the Oregon Coast, these travel brushes proved their worth. A vibrant sunset over Neskowin Beach, with its striking orange and blue hues, became the perfect subject. Despite the challenge of complementary colors (orange and blue can easily turn to mud when mixed) and fading light, the travel brushes performed admirably. The need for scraping to add highlights was easily met by using the handle end of the travel brush – a handy feature in a travel set.
watercolor sunset painted by Sandra Strait with travel brushes
Image: Watercolor painting of a sunset over Neskowin Beach, Oregon, created using Princeton travel brushes, demonstrating the brushes’ capability to capture vibrant and dynamic scenes while traveling.
Watercolor Sunset by Sandra Strait
Image: Another view of the watercolor sunset painting, emphasizing the glowing colors and blended washes achieved with Princeton travel brushes in a travel art setting.
Another painting session indoors, from memory, used the Neptune set again to capture a different subject.
Watercolor painting of monkey by Sandra Strait
Image: Watercolor painting of a Mandrill monkey created on a rough watercolor postcard using Princeton travel brushes, showcasing the brushes’ versatility in depicting varied textures and subjects.
For a Mandrill portrait on a rough watercolor postcard, the Aqua Elite brush was ideal for rendering the wiry hair texture, highlighting the brush’s suitability for detailed and textural work even in a travel format.
Tools for Travel Artists
Princeton travel brushes are essential tools for artists who need portability without sacrificing quality. Whether you choose the Neptune for its exceptional water-holding and blending capabilities or the Aqua Elite for its versatility and detail precision, these travel brush sets are excellent companions for any painting adventure.
