The hake brush is one of the most distinctive and useful tools in the watercolourist's kit — and one that many painters discover late, then wonder how they managed without it. Originally a Japanese tool for sumi-e ink painting, the hake has found a devoted following among Western watercolourists for its unmatched ability to lay large, even washes across paper with a softness and control that no conventional flat or round brush can replicate. The Osprey Hake Brush is made with finest quality goat hair stitched into a traditional flat wooden handle — a simple, time-honoured construction that works beautifully.
The goat hair is the key to what makes a hake brush perform differently from any other. The fine, extremely soft fibres hold an exceptional volume of water and pigment — considerably more than a brush of comparable size made from sable or synthetic filaments — releasing it in a smooth, even, controllable flow across the paper surface. The result is a wash with a quality of softness and evenness that is very difficult to achieve any other way. For wet-into-wet backgrounds, graded sky washes, wide landscape horizons, and the initial toning of large areas, the hake is simply the most efficient tool available.
Beyond laying washes, the hake has a particularly valued technique among experienced watercolourists — used dry, rather than loaded with paint, it can be dragged lightly over a damp wash to even it out, eliminate blooms and hard edges before they set, and gently blend adjacent colours while they are still workable. This dry-hake technique is one of the most useful corrective tools in watercolour painting and is impossible to replicate with any other brush type.
The Osprey Hake is also well suited to acrylic glazing, applying gesso and grounds, sizing and priming paper and canvas, and removing dust and eraser crumbs from drawing surfaces without disturbing the paper.
Some initial shedding of hairs is normal with hake brushes and is not a quality defect — simply remove loose hairs gently before the first use and the brush will settle quickly.
We stock four sizes: 1", 1.5", 2", and 3". Sold individually.
What is a hake brush used for? Primarily for laying large, even watercolour washes — sky washes, wet-into-wet backgrounds, and broad tonal areas where a soft, even coverage is needed. Used dry, it can also be dragged lightly over damp washes to even them out and eliminate blooms and hard edges. It is also used for acrylic glazing, applying gesso, and sizing paper and canvas.
Which size should I choose? The 1" is the most versatile for smaller-scale work and more controlled wash areas. The 1.5" suits A4 and A3 scale watercolour work well. The 2" is the most widely used all-purpose size for standard watercolour paper. The 3" is best suited to large-scale work, mural painting, and wide panoramic washes where the broadest possible coverage per stroke is needed.
Is it normal for the brush to shed hairs? Yes — some initial hair shedding is entirely normal with hake brushes and is not a quality defect. Remove any loose hairs gently before first use and the brush will settle into consistent use quickly.
How should a hake brush be cared for? Wash in cold water after use, reshape the bristles gently with your fingers, and lay flat to dry. Never leave a hake brush standing in a water container as this will damage the bristles and cause the handle to swell and split.
Can it be used with acrylic paint? Yes — the Osprey Hake is suitable for watercolour, acrylic washes and glazes, gesso application, and sizing. It is not suited to thick or impasto acrylic work where a stiffer brush is more appropriate.
