Mercurius Cat Tongue Paintbrush – Natural Cow Hair, FSC Wood Handle

Natural Cat Tongue Paintbrush for Watercolor, Washes, and Detail Work

This cat tongue watercolor brush with natural cow hair bristles combines broad wash capability with precise control, making it a versatile tool for both expressive strokes and refined detail.

The Mercurius Art Makes Sense Cat Tongue Paintbrush is a plastic-free, Waldorf-preferred brush designed for fluid watercolor work. Its softly tapered, rounded edge allows the brush to shift naturally between wide, flowing strokes and more controlled lines, supporting a wide range of painting techniques. The high-quality cow hair bristles hold water and pigment well, enabling smooth blending, layered color, and responsive movement across the page.

Made in Germany, this brush is widely used in upper primary, middle school, and high school classrooms, as well as by artists and in art therapy settings. Its unique shape offers a natural transition between flat and round brushwork, making it especially useful for painters who want flexibility without switching brushes.

Why Artists Choose This

• Natural cow hair bristles for soft, absorbent, responsive painting
• Cat tongue shape blends broad washes with controlled edges
• Holds water and pigment for smooth, even color application
• Supports both expressive strokes and detailed work
• FSC-certified wooden handle with durable nickel-plated ferrule
• Plastic-free construction, made in Germany

Best Uses

• Wet-on-wet watercolor painting
• Broad washes with softened edges
• Controlled lines and transitions
• Veiling and layered color work
• Aquarelle techniques

Material Suitability

• Aquarelle – good
• Wet-on-wet – good
• Veiling – good
• Dry paints – moderate

Brush Sizes & Dimensions

Sizes vary by width, supporting both broad washes and finer detail work:

• No. 4 – 4 mm width · 29.5 cm length (0.16", 11.61")
• No. 6 – 6 mm width · 30 cm length (0.24", 11.81")
• No. 8 – 8 mm width · 30 cm length (0.31", 11.81")
• No. 10 – 10 mm width · 30 cm length (0.39", 11.81")
• No. 12 – 12 mm width · 30.5 cm length (0.47", 12.01")
• No. 14 – 14 mm width · 30.5 cm length (0.55", 12.01")
• No. 16 – 16 mm width · 30.5 cm length (0.63", 12.01")
• No. 18 – 18 mm width · 31.5 cm length (0.71", 12.40")
• No. 20 – 20 mm width · 31.5 cm length (0.79", 12.40")
• No. 22 – 22 mm width · 31.5 cm length (0.87", 12.40")
• No. 24 – 24 mm width · 32.5 cm length (0.94", 12.80")

Product Details

• Brand: Mercurius – Art Makes Sense
• Origin: Germany
• Bristles: High-quality natural cow hair
• Shape: Cat tongue
• Ferrule: Nickel-plated
• Handle: FSC-certified wood, plastic-free
• Use: Watercolor, wet-on-wet, veiling, washes, and detail work

Care

To ensure the longevity of your natural cow hair brush:

• Rinse paint from bristles immediately after use with warm water
• Clean with a gentle, low-sudsing soap such as our pure olive oil soap
• Dry with bristles facing downward
• Avoid drying flat or bristles-up
• Do not leave brushes soaking in water

Proper care helps maintain softness, responsiveness, and long-term durability.