🎨 Raphaël SoftAqua Series 805
Professional synthetic watercolour brush that mimics natural squirrel hair
What Makes This Brush Different
The SoftAqua 805 uses patented synthetic fibres developed by Raphaël's R&D department. Unlike standard synthetic brushes that can feel stiff or hold less water, these fibres have a wavy structure that creates microscopic spaces — essentially tiny reservoirs that trap water and pigment.
💧 Key advantage: The fibres hold up to twice as much fluid as standard synthetic bristles, giving you longer strokes without needing to reload your brush constantly.
The goal was simple: replicate the softness, spring, and water capacity of natural Petit Gris squirrel hair, but without using animal fur. If you've worked with natural squirrel brushes before, you'll recognize the familiar feel — that gentle give and excellent water retention.
⚙️ Technical Specifications
The Pointed Mop (also called Quill) shape looks like a light bulb — a full belly tapering to a fine point. This gives you:
- Wide washes using the belly of the brush
- Precise lines and details using the tip
- Smooth gradients thanks to consistent water flow
- Good spring that returns the brush to its original shape
Available Sizes
| Size | Diameter | Hair Length | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/0 | 5mm | 19mm | Fine details, delicate lines, botanical illustrations |
| 0 | 7mm | 23mm | Small washes, lettering, miniature work |
| 2 | 9mm | 28mm | General purpose, medium washes, versatile everyday use |
| 4 | 11mm | 34mm | Larger surfaces, portrait work, landscape elements |
| 6 | 14mm | 38mm | Big backgrounds, sky washes, loose painting |
| 8 | 17mm | 42mm | Full-page washes, large format work, atmospheric effects |
🖌️ Handle design: Short black matte handle provides excellent balance and control. The shorter length keeps your hand closer to the paper, giving you better precision — especially useful for detailed watercolour work where you need fine control.
🎨 What You Can Actually Do With It
💙 Watercolour Painting
This is where the brush really shines. Use it for:
- Large sky washes that need to stay wet
- Wet-in-wet techniques (the water capacity helps here)
- Detailed foreground work with the tip
- Smooth colour gradients from dark to light
🖋️ Ink & Indian Ink
Works brilliantly with liquid inks:
- Controlled ink flow without flooding
- Consistent line weight in calligraphy
- Ink washes for comic art or illustration
- Mixed media combining ink and watercolour
🌈 Gouache
Stays soft even with opaque paint:
- Smooth flat washes without streaking
- Poster work and graphic design
- Layering opaque colours
- Maintains shape with thicker consistency
🎭 Silk Painting & Aquatint
Even application of coloured films:
- Fabric dyeing with silk paints
- Aquatint techniques in printmaking
- Applying liquid resists
- Thin glazes and transparent layers
🖼️ Diluted Acrylics
For lighter acrylic techniques:
- Thin glazes and transparent layers
- Watercolour-style acrylic painting
- Acrylic inks and liquid acrylics
- Underpainting and initial washes
⚠️ What this brush isn't designed for:
Heavy-bodied acrylics or oils straight from the tube. The soft bristles are meant for watery media. If you're working with thick, undiluted acrylics, you'd be better off with something like the Raphaël Kaërell series which has stiffer synthetic fibres.
🧼 How to Look After It
Synthetic brushes last longer than natural hair if you care for them properly. Here's what actually matters:
After Each Session
- Rinse in lukewarm water immediately after use. Don't let paint dry in the bristles — it's harder to remove later and can damage the fibres.
- Use gentle soap if needed. Marseille soap works well, or any mild brush soap designed for synthetics. Avoid harsh detergents.
- Reshape the tip gently with your fingers while the brush is still wet. This helps it maintain its point.
- Dry bristles-down or flat. This prevents water from seeping into the ferrule (the metal bit) where it can loosen the glue.
🚫 Don't do this:
- Never leave the brush standing in water — it bends the bristles and loosens the ferrule
- Avoid submerging the metal ferrule in solvents or hot water
- Don't use strong detergents or hot water — both can damage synthetic fibres
- Skip the dishwasher (yes, some people try this)
Storage
Keep your brushes in a dry, well-ventilated spot. A brush roll or standing upright in a jar works fine. Just make sure they're completely dry first to avoid mildew.
❓ Questions People Actually Ask
Does the tip split or fray over time?
No — the SoftAqua fibres are specifically engineered to snap back to shape after each stroke. You won't get the splaying that happens with cheaper synthetics. As long as you're not scrubbing hard surfaces or using it with thick paint, the tip should stay sharp for years.
Can I use this with acrylics or tempera?
Yes, but only if you dilute them with water. Think thin glazes or watercolour-style acrylics. For thick, straight-from-the-tube acrylics, you'll want something with stiffer bristles like the Raphaël Kaërell series — those are built for heavy-bodied paint.
How does this compare to real Petit Gris squirrel brushes?
The water capacity is comparable, and the softness is very close. The main difference: synthetic is more durable. Natural squirrel hair is delicate and can shed over time. With the SoftAqua, you get similar performance but with better longevity and no risk of bristles falling out.
Which size should I start with?
If you're painting on standard watercolour paper (A4 or smaller), size 2 or 4 is a solid all-rounder. Size 2 handles details and medium washes. Size 4 gives you more coverage for larger areas while still being controllable. You can always add smaller or larger sizes later.
Is this suitable for beginners?
Absolutely. The brush is very forgiving — it holds plenty of water (so fewer trips back to your palette), maintains its shape (so you're not fighting with splayed bristles), and the soft fibres won't damage paper. It's professional-grade quality that's easy to use, which is ideal when you're learning.
📦 Buying from Hobby Heaven
We're an authorised Raphaël stockist, which means you're getting genuine products direct from the official UK distributor — no grey market imports or questionable sourcing.
Same-Day Dispatch
Order on a working day and we'll send it out via Royal Mail 24 the same day
30-Day Returns
Changed your mind? Full refund within 30 days, no hidden fees
Family-Run Support
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✅ The Bottom Line
The Raphaël SoftAqua 805 is a professional-quality watercolour brush that combines traditional craftsmanship with modern fibre technology. You get the soft handling and water capacity of natural squirrel hair, but with better durability and no ethical concerns about animal sourcing.
This brush works best for:
- Watercolourists who want a reliable workhorse brush
- Anyone working with inks, gouache, or diluted acrylics
- Artists who prefer cruelty-free materials
- Painters who value precision and control
- Students learning proper watercolour technique
Whether you're painting loose landscapes, detailed botanical work, or anything in between, the pointed mop shape and excellent water retention make this brush incredibly versatile. It's the kind of tool that just gets out of your way and lets you focus on painting.