KUM Watercolor Brush Faded Flat #12

The KUM Faded flat brush size 12 is a completely hand-crafted watercolour brush made from a blend of two different high-tech synthetic fibres. The flat brush shape with its wide, straight edge is particularly suited to large-scale work: backgrounds, washes and all subjects that demand even, angular strokes. The Faded is made in Germany – each brush crafted by hand.

Features

• Dual-fibre blend from high-tech synthetics: The softer fibre component consists of a mix of different fibre diameters – this ensures particularly high water and colour absorption capacity and releases the medium evenly and smoothly, without blotting or tearing. The stiffer fibre component is stabilised through a special hardening process and gives the brush noticeable elasticity and control with each stroke.
• Medium-soft firmness: The Faded is deliberately not designed as a natural hair imitation, but tailored to the practical needs of painting. The firmness level sits between soft and medium – the brush gives way but springs reliably back into shape. Particularly good for loose, expressive watercolour techniques.
• Flat shape, size 12: The wide, straight cutting edge of the flat brush produces rich, even colour coverage in a single stroke. With the narrow edge, you can draw clear lines and finer marks – ideal for brick textures, window frames, architectural details and geometric patterns.
• Matt black handle: The shaft has a matt black surface – simple, easy to grip and free from reflections while working.
• Vegan and easy to clean: Synthetic fibres absorb paint residue less deeply than natural hair and rinse out cleanly with water.
• Handmade in Germany: Every KUM Faded brush is hand-crafted in Germany.

Use & Tips

• Broad colour areas and backgrounds: With a size 12 brush well-loaded with water and colour, you can apply generous washes in one go – evenly and without visible transitions. Smooth, waterproof watercolour paper with adequate weight (from 300 g/m²) prevents buckling.
• Urban sketching and architecture: The straight edge of the flat brush is ideal for angular subjects: windows, brick rows, fences and building façades can be rendered with just a few precise strokes.
• Wet-on-wet technique: Thanks to its high water absorption capacity, the brush stays moist for longer – ideal for soft, blended colour transitions on pre-dampened paper.
• Botanical illustration: With the narrow edge of the flat brush, you can apply petals and leaves with a single, flowing motion.
• Gouache and water-based media: The medium-soft firmness makes the Faded well-suited to gouache – the fibres apply the thicker paint evenly without fraying.
• Care: After painting, rinse the brush thoroughly with clean, lukewarm water and dry it lying down or tip-up. Brush soap gently removes dried pigment residue.

For Watercolour Enthusiasts

The Faded was developed not as an approximation of a particular natural hair, but as an independent creation – developed in close collaboration with watercolour artists and based on the actual demands of modern painting techniques. The two fibre types in the brush head serve different roles: the fine, soft fibres with varying diameters form a capillary-like network that stores water and pigment in the hair mass and releases it evenly. The fibres stabilised through the hardening process ensure that the brush head returns to its shape after every stroke – even when applying large quantities of colour with force. For the flat brush size 12, this means: maximum colour capacity for broad washes, combined with a cutting edge that sits clean and unfrayed on the paper.

Technical Specifications