I love that art supplies continue to seep into the crafting world. Last year, powdered watercolors hit the scene at CHA, and almost immediately our European readers asked, “Is this just like Brusho?” Well, since I’d never heard of it, I ordered a kit from Amazon to give it a go.
So let’s take a closer look!
From the website:
Brusho Crystal Colour is a unique, transparent, highly pigmented water colour ink powder available in a comprehensive range of 32 brilliant colours.
Available in 15g tubs, this versatile and intense paint powder can be applied to a variety of mediums including: watercolour, mixing with acrylics, simple sprinkling techniques and even wood staining!
Perfect for creating your own loose, impressionistic and vibrant artwork.
24 x 15gm Pots
For the purpose of this review, I’m going to use it solely as a watercolor. We’ll play with some mixed-media techniques soon!
First, I did a little swatch of Brusho on watercolor paper, mixing the colors so you can see how they look blended up.
Swatch of the 5 colors I got in my kit: Purple, Yellow, Leaf Green, Turquoise, and Brilliant Red
Of course, you can use more or less water to get different intensity. But the magic of Brusho is in the “sprinkle” and how it looks when you apply a mist of water.
I made this video so you could see it in action!
So now onto those photos:
From L-R: watercolor paper, 120 wt cardstock, Bristol Smooth paper
Brilliant colors on Watercolor paper!
And my most important take-aways:
- SPRINKLE the product carefully to try and keep it from going airborne.
- There will be some scattering even with misting.
- Use the finest mister you can
- Watercolor paper is optimal; use very heavy cardstock if you don’t have that. (120 lb or higher)
- You get very vibrant colors
- The more water, the more mixing you get
- It’s permanent after drying on porous surfaces.
- ((However, any crystals left on the surface can be re-activated.))
- Messy and spontaneous- and FUN!
I try not to discuss cost too much, because I know we have an international audience and availability and prices vary. I found my (affiliate link) 5-color set on Amazon for $20- a very reasonable cost in my opinion (and it came with a thickener, and I have NO IDEA what to do with that yet.) There are 36 colors in all, so you can really go wild with colors!
If you’d like more information on another brand of powdered watercolors, make sure you check out my Colorburst review and video, too.
I’d love to hear your thoughts – love? Hate? Indifferent? Leave me a comment and weigh in!
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I love the way they bleed. Messy yes, but it reminds me of fireworks! They look so pretty with the resist!
Thanks for the great video. I’ve had a pack of these sitting in my Amazon shopping cart for a while now- I just need to order them one of these days. Great tip about REALLY covering the work surface because I imagine that those crystals do spread pretty easily.
Ive been wanting these for a long time now. Thanks for reviewing them.
Those look like fun! Love the vibrant colors. Have you tried it on a gesso-ed canvas yet? would love to see how it acts on the gesso and any metal or wooden embellishments you may already have on the canvas. Great review!
I have not tried the Brushos yet but I am hopelessly addicted to Ken Oliver’s Color Bursts!! They are so much fun to use and are magical to watch! Thanks for the review!
Absolutely gorgeous Jenny!! I am going to give them a try, thanks for the great tips. 🙂
How do they compare to to Ken Oliver’ Color Bursts?
How interesting! I had never heard of these and didn’t know any watercolors were sold in the powder form! I have an art technique that I’ve been using for a few years that required powdered watercolor, but I had been making it myself from pan watercolors. I’ll definitely look into these as they seem like they might help me save some time!
I have had the full set of Brushos for a while. When I saw the intro of color bursts, I thought, “oh, Brushos”. Anyway, if you carefully use a nail and pierce a small hole in the top you can easily shake the Brushos out – I keep them in the original box and haven’t had any problems with spillage. They are great fun. Great video.
Love you NEW eye shadow and, incidentally, a good review of the powder watercolors Jenny.
Georgia
When I first used Brusho crystals, I used them with a mister to ge5 bursts of colors surrounding my florals. I now have come to use Brusho crystals as I would watercolors, rarely using water mists. I tap small amounts in pans and mix colors to get a variety of other colors. I can’t get enough of them! I so enjoy using the Brusho crystals this way.
Can I call them watercolors or must I call them Brusho paintings?
Can I call them watercolors or must I call them Brusho paintings?
Nope= brusho is watercolor.
Thanks for your response. I have been labeling them “watercolors” in shows I have entered but just want to be correct. Thanks again.