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Size 0 is the round brush of da Vinci's MAESTRO Series 35 – the size most miniature painters settle on. Made in Nuremberg from pure Siberian Tobolsky Kolinsky red sable on a short black-polished hexagonal handle. The body measures 1.91 mm at the ferrule with 12.0 mm of visible hair, which is 5.0 mm more than the same size in Series 10. That extra length holds noticeably more paint, so a line finishes on one load.
Specifications
| Series | 35 (MAESTRO) |
| Size | 0 |
| Hair / fibre | Tobolsky Kolinsky red sable |
| Shape | round, extra long and pointedly shaped |
| Visible hair length | 12.0 mm |
| Brush body diameter | 1.91 mm |
| Total length | 184 mm |
| Length with protective cap | 190 mm |
| Handle | short wooden, black-polished, hexagonal |
| Ferrule | gold-coloured |
| Manufacturer | da Vinci Kunstlerpinselfabrik DEFET GmbH, Nuremberg |
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer code | VA-35_0 |
What it does on a miniature
- Face and eyes – 12.0 mm of hair on a 1.91 mm body – a point for the eye, a belly for the whole face. One brush for a complete head.
- Layering – The long hair holds enough thinned paint to pull the layer out while it is still wet – no tide marks.
- Glazing – Glazes and filters need a reservoir, not a thin point. The Series 35 size 0 has both.
- Freehand – Heraldry, eyes, teeth, strands of hair – everything you draw rather than paint.
Series 35 or Series 10?
Both are MAESTRO and both use pure Tobolsky Kolinsky sable. The difference is hair length. In size 0 the Series 35 has 12.0 mm of visible hair on a 1.91 mm body; the Series 10 has 7.0 mm on 1.10 mm. The 35 therefore holds noticeably more paint and pulls a longer line per load. The 10 gives tighter control of the point, because shorter hair flexes less.
Pick the Series 35 if you layer, glaze and do freehand — anything that needs a reservoir. Pick the Series 10 if you mostly place point detail and want the tip to answer instantly.
For a cheaper synthetic brush for metallics, washes and technical paints, see the da Vinci NOVA Series 1570. Keep the Kolinsky for paint that gets layered.
FAQ
Which Series 35 size should I use for eyes?
On 28–35 mm figures, size 000 or 00. Both have a body under 1.8 mm, so the point is pupil-sized, and with 10–11 mm of hair you finish the eye without reloading. Size 0 does eyes too and paints the whole face as well.
Can a Kolinsky brush be used with acrylics?
Yes. da Vinci lists watercolour, gouache, acrylic and oil for Series 35. With acrylics the rule is simple: never let paint dry in the ferrule. Rinse as you work and never stand the brush in water.
How is Series 35 different from Series 10?
In size 0 the Series 35 carries 12.0 mm of visible hair against 7.0 mm on the Series 10. The 35 holds more paint and suits layering and glazing; the 10 gives sharper control for point detail.
How do I make a Kolinsky brush last?
Keep paint out of the ferrule, wash with lukewarm water and brush soap (da Vinci makes one on a pure vegetable oil base), reshape the point with your fingers and dry it flat or tip-down. Never store it in water, and keep metallics and pigments off it — use synthetic for those.
Is this real Kolinsky or a blend?
Series 35 is pure Tobolsky Kolinsky Siberian red sable with no blended hair and no synthetic filler. It is made in Nuremberg and every brush is individually checked.
- price13.90 €
- price12.50 €
- price11.90 €
- price11.50 €
- price11.50 €
