I first heard about the Escoda Último Evolution a couple of years ago and was intrigued enough to search for one while I was in Barcelona. Either the art shops I visited didn’t stock it or it had already sold out, so I eventually gave up and forgot about it.
Then, at the Urban Sketchers Symposium marketplace in Toulouse, there it was among a wonderful display of Escoda brushes. After searching unsuccessfully for it in Spain a couple of years earlier, I wasn’t going to leave it behind a second time.
So having used it now for almost a month, these are my current thoughts.
The Último Evolution is a travel mop brush made with Escoda’s very soft Tendo synthetic squirrel fibre. What makes it unusual is its perforated ferrule, which Escoda says allows the brush to absorb and retain up to 50 per cent more water than a standard Último mop.
The protective metallic cap fits over the brush for travelling, then attaches to the end to create a full-length handle when it is in use. I haven’t been able to establish exactly which metal the casing is made from but, whatever it is, it is beautifully light and feels lovely in the hand.
I bought the size 16, which initially looks like quite a lot of brush. As I usually work in an A4 sketchbook, I wanted something that would carry enough water and pigment for larger washes without constantly returning to the palette.
Until now, mop brushes have never been part of my regular kit. I have generally preferred round brushes, flats and liners, and the few mops I had tried were great for large washes but that was about all.
Escoda’s claim that the Último Evolution holds a great amount of water and pigment has certainly proved to be true. It allows me to cover a large area or make long, continuous washes without constantly returning to the palette.
The water-holding capacity is impressive but the beautiful point is what has made this brush so useful to me. Despite it being a size 16 mop, I am using it not only for large washes but for all my finer lines and even the tiniest areas of a sketch. I have simply stopped reaching for another brush. That level of control is something I never expected.
The Tendo fibre is soft, moves easily across the paper and releases the colour smoothly. Despite its softness, I have found the brush surprisingly easy to control.
I bought mine at the Urban Sketchers Symposium art market in Toulouse from Arte Miranda, who were offering a discount, and paid around €51. The usual price is around €63. It is certainly not an inexpensive brush but I have bought many brushes over the years and have never been as happy with one as I am with this. It has currently replaced all my other brushes and is an absolute joy to use.
I may eventually also carry a 1/8-inch flat brush for brick textures but the jury is still out on that one.
Disclosure: I am mor sponsored or affiliated with Escoda in any way and I purchased the brush
