Artwork – Watercolor on Hahnemühle YouTangle tile. Brush: Jane Davenport Travel Watercolor Brush Collapsible Mini Paint Brush
I was playing around with the new Jane Davenport collapsible travel watercolor brush. I decided not to do a full review on it because I think it has as many con’s and it does pro’s. But I thought I’d tell you a little about it.
Sorry. I made a really short video, but I can’t get it to work.
Rather than having a cap that you take off and on, the brush collapses. You pull on the handle, and the bristles appear. Push it back and the bristles are covered and safe from damage. But if you aren’t careful, it will collapse while you are painting.

It’s small, even at full size, which is nice for travel. But, it’s almost too small and I have a small hand. Plus, it’s easy to mislay. I’ve had to search for it twice already.

The brush is metal, and it’s bullet shape makes it sturdy. The mechanism works smoothly.
The bristles are small – they are bristles, not a fiber tip – and come to a fine point. They hold the point well while you’re painting. I like a larger brush but this size is fine for traveling.
When folded down, the opening is covered so nothing gets in.

The brush holds a fair amount of water for a synthetic.
Overall, I prefer this to a water brush, though it does mean a separate container for water. Most of my dislikes are due to my preferences, the size of both bristles and handle, and the amount of water it holds. The only thing that I think might be off-putting for most is the cost and the fact that the brush can collapse while you are painting with it.
I have this brush but can never remember to use it. I do like to play with it, though.
Does yours collapse on you? It doesn’t happen constantly, but of the three paintings I’ve done so far, it has partially collapsed at least once each time.
I need to get mine out! Thanks for the reminder and your review.
Many thanks, Lori! Do you have trouble with yours collapsing while you paint? I’m wondering if it’s a design ‘feature’ or I just got one that I should return for another.
I finally found mine yesterday. I’ll give it a try this morning and let you know!
I’d appreciate it!