Dagger, Sword Brush Spontaneous Landscape Playtime in Watercolor. 

I’m in a very sad and depressing period of my life, but as always you, your art and your kind spirit, makes me calmer and I feel a bit comforted and inspired. Thank you.

I wish I could add a thumbs up for every time I rewatch your videos, Steve. I always learn something new. Thanks so much for making these available.

Would love to see more spontaneous seascape paintings with rocks and ocean

Using a princess bride clip? 😍😍😍 you rock exponentially more now.

Steve: First of all, YOU are the one who taught me how to paint in watercolors and I want to thank you. My Silver Black Velvet dagger has turned out to be my favorite brush and is perfect for my personal painting style, so your video was especially wonderful. I like to paint diminutive (5x7) loose landscapes with only a dagger and an oval wash. I also find this brush invaluable for wet on dry feather studies. Perfect for those long thin lines along with a touch of wispiness that I have found can only be created with this brush.

Just finished painting a palm tree on a beach using my dagger brush. I'm not a good artist but that dagger brush really did a great job on the leaves and the water. I was amazed.🙂

I hope you realise what a lovely calming influence you are having on some people that are clearly struggling as well as providing wonderful tutorials for us budding watercolourists. Thank you

Thank you for the “umbrella “ method. I really like your landscapes.

Just wanted to say I’m a new viewer and subscriber. I am trying watercoloring to combat severe depression especially here around the holidays. Your videos are so uplifting and I felt I needed to tell you that. Thank you!

Your spontaneous landscapes never fail to inspire and open my eyes again and and again to the limitless possibilities watercolor allows, no matter the brush. Thank you, as always Steve, for sharing your time and talent. Blessings.

Thank you for that, it was lovely, I'm going to try it.

wonderful, instructive and fun. Love your work

awesome landscapes. very interesting...

These are my favorite 😍😍😍

I’m sure it is challenging to do but having your palette in frame conveys a ton of useful information to a beginner like me. Hope you will consider more videos on mixing and palette skills. Love the spontaneous painting you do.

As for me......well? I’m always in a happier mood and ready for more adventures in art after watching you. Thank you for the smiles you give me and the new ways you teach us to explore.🤗

This makes me so happy because you rarely see people do tutorials/features on dagger brushes. I love them for landscapes, doing shorelines and ripples on water. Great video

Forty-five years ago a Loew-Cornell watercolor dagger sitting in a glass cabinet (yes they were super valuable back then) called to me and I fell in love during the first dance. They discontinued it sometime while I was working in other mediums so when I returned to watercolor I went on a search for a duplicate in another brand. Long story short: Creative Mark Beste I found at Jerry's is the closest I've found and have since locked my single LC dagger in a vault. LOL I abuse daggers by often using the long side straight down mashing it so I'm protecting my last LC one. I spent so much money over the years trying to find a replacement and found they differ so much from brand to brand and I don't care for swords/sabers at all... too long and usually not enough spring. I like more control than it affords. I wish someone would start up a gently used art supply store like they have for books. I pretty much use daggers exclusively and super long riggers when something finer/longer line is required. There is no way I can explain how I use the dagger but after learning what it will do which took time no other brush does it for me and I do use it for all subjects including portraits where double loading for a smooth blend is part of my style. I think the main thing is that, with the exception of a long rigger, it does everything and I only need one brush for the whole piece. For instance, in my view and in other mediums also there is nothing better for both short and long grasses when used on its side and flicked upward (on dry paper paper for WC) and the same way dryer and sideways for glistening water. When I learned to use it that way, I got it in other fibers/lengths for other mediums. Oh, I better stop... sorry... I love a good dagger brush.

I bought a smaller dagger for the line and side sweep mostly to create simple sea oats but I've also used it for tiny branches, distant faint palms, grasses and rocks. I honestly don't reach for it often. Perhaps if I bought the larger size, I would. The brush requires some practice and I love the way you used your dagger when painting the larger tree shapes, allowing the tip to dance around. This is a beautiful landscape "experiment". Enjoyed your dueling 🗡 fights!

Of all your videos, I look forward to the "spontaneous" landscapes. It amazes me to watch you tease scenery out of the "blob" with which you begin. Happy Holidays to you and your family (and Reese)!

Thank you, Steve, for reminding me how much fun a sword brush can be. Many years ago, I watched Terry Harrison's you tubes as he demonstrated his own brands of a sword brushes. He demonstrated his Golden sword brush. So, I bought one. The hairs are quite long and the handle is fairly short...about 5" from the farrel to the end of the handle. I believe it is squirrel, or a mixture of squirrel and sable. It holds a boatload of water. I'm going to try some spontaneous paintings and see what I come up with.

I’ve been using my dagger brush for flowers and I love it, but you’ve given a whole new challenge . Thank you this has been exciting.

I've had a dagger for three years, completely unemployed! Your great video has given me the push - tomorrow out it comes and back to work. I realize it won't be easy ( all your amazing videos makes watercolour look easy ) and takes getting used to but I've had fun with your spontaneous painting before so looking forward to it. Thanks Steve.

You inspired me to get out my dagger brush that I've had for years. I'm loving it. Thanks for the inspiration.

Thanks Steve for you artful inspiration! Your running commentary of what your thinking while in the process of creating a painting helps so much!

I have painted for 55 years an i have every size there is an i love ❤️ to paint wirh them an you can do anything you want after using them. An you or just a good artist you will be a winner .An You a God Send articles ❤

As always, I love your experience -sharing vids! It’s like looking over your shoulder ~ thanks so much, Steve!

Reading a few of the comments below and knowing how difficult the holidays can be, I can't help but be reminded of the healing and most definitely the expressive qualities of watercolor. Steve, your spontaneous watercolors are always a highlight for me and really enjoyed watching you find new life to your beautiful painting with the dagger brush. Your channel is a safe place for so many to enjoy your mindful content and your kind and genuine spirit. May you be blessed as you bless others. Best wishes to you and your family this Thanksgiving.

I also love the dagger brush-especially the smaller one. I’ve used it for grass shapes.

I bought a sword liner and was looking inspiration to use and came across your video here. Fabulous! Sending God's blessings from Northern Ireland this St Patrick's week.

I wondered why it took me so long to use my dagger, too. This summer I had some great effects with splatter and flinging paint with the dagger. Wonderful for foreground grasses!

Love your use of the sword brush - had mine for years and never appreciated it so much. Thanks.

Just got home Friday from having my third (and hoping my last) back surgery, and I have to tell you, Steve, that these spontaneous landscapes always cheer me hugely. Thanks so much for this one. I own 3 different daggers, take them out, look at them, fondle them, and then put them back. You have given me the courage to actually use them. Have a wonderful holiday with your family. Best, Samantha

I love daggers. If I had to use just one brush, it would probably be a dagger because it can emulate a rigger (using the point), a round (by pressing down and tilting at a slight angle) and the straight edge of a flat (by using just the knife edge to create thin straight lines). Also you can create a flat broad stroke like a flat does (by stroking sideways). And it's a lot of fun! Great to see how you use this for landscapes/foliage. Thanks for the upload. :)

I love my striper dagger brush! My FAV! Incredible range of possibilities with mark making. Like party on paper. Loved this demo... so glad you finally removed the wrapping... enjoy 😁🎉

The red tree looks very tropical. Love it.

You never fail to teach us something spectacular and unusual with your spontaneous, expressive style! Daggers are on my shopping list! BLESSINGS! 🥰🥰🥰

This is absolutely the best example of organic watercolor landscape painting I have ever seen! Excellent color s and technique! The painting breathes so much life, light, and energy! Awesome! 👍😍💖👏👏👏Wow!

I found the difference between the dagger and sword is the edge on the dagger forms a bit more of an angle with the tip due to the flatness of the edge as the sword tapers to the point without that break in the line as a result of the slightly sharper angle of the dagger! Just what I noticed with my brushes🙏🏻

Muchas gracias!!! es una maravilla!

I love this! I bought a set of Loose Goose daggers awhile back and haven’t used them, yet. I’m encouraged to try them out, now. (Btw, I always look forward to see what scripture you choose for the end of your videos.)

I find the sword great for leaves,grasses,roses and like a rigger The smaller one , the dagger , is just as great but to do smaller flowers and leaves. I am not as good as I would like , but it is great fun making different patterns , I am surprised that you have not used them before .

Recently discovered daggers as well! They're great! Was getting frustrated with the uniform marks from rounds and the daggers made it a little easier to get more expressiveness. Also a lot easier to get a tapered line for tree trunks and branches.

Hello Steve You Have A Fantastic Channel and Great Video of your Watercolor Painting Artwork Just Amazing Thank You and Take Care Have A Good weekend Just A Friend From Glasgow Scotland UK

I ended up with three of the Neptune 1/4" daggers (long story), and each is very different. One will cut very fine lines, the others are wonderful for "smooshing" to make curved or leaf shapes. Daggers are brushes that you might want to buy at a store so you can inspect them individually -- or just order online and see what you get. I can make cool leaf shapes with the larger size and my daughters think I'm some kind of magician. Fun brush and another wonderful video.

I'm in love with all my daggers..Scroggy's Loose Goose is fantastic for dry brushing, and random mark making. The tighter bristled daggers I have are such a joy for leaves and unusual marks as well. Thanks for showing the dagger, as I think many would find these very useful and fun to own.

I have 2 dagger/sword brushes. I love to use them for whiskers on animals, hair, leaves and flowers. I will experiment more after watching this.

They or great for roads❤

Fate! I’ve just gotten two daggers. Of different sizes!! How amazing and inspiring this video is!! Thank you!

Hi there, loved this video about dagger and sword brushes. I have 4 in different sizes two of which are the Neptune and Aqua Elite. I really enjoy using them. I also have a 1/2” on that has 2” long brush section! Talk about no control! But it holds so much water it is good for large washes also. Most fun in doing a tangled spiky field of flowers. I sort of learned but just messing around with them but they are some of my favorites. Thanks Steve for all we learn from you! To the ppl that are sad, I always say painting is my “happy place”. I put on Christian music and paint!!

I love to use these brushes. I use a Silver Black Velvet stripper and love it. Angela Fehr uses them a lot.

Love your work ,the intro made me laugh with the sword brush fighting lol , great videos, I’ve never used a dagger brush ,I may have to invest in one now 😊

Great demonstration...adding this brush to my Christmas list.

Wow, I do have a dagger brush and I AM going to go play with it -- Thanks for demonstrating how one my use it more effectively!

Definitely getting a dagger! I'm sure it will inhance my landscapes. Thank you

I’m really late to the party on this, but in my (limited) experience and from other artists I’ve watched, my favorite way of using a dagger brush is for buildings. You get this great loose, expressive stroke for windows or rooftops that are great for a dilapidated shed or something in a landscape and fantastic for cityscapes.

saw the title and thumbnail for this vid and grabbed my dagger.

What fun! You have reminded me to use mine again!!

You had me at 'fatal blow'! 😀

Thank you for your help in painting trees!

Gorgeous!

Ooh my goodness! I love that 🥰

Thank you for yet another great tutorial. The dagger is one of my favorite brushes, so I’m really looking forward to trying a complete landscape with this brush.

That is beautiful! Thank you.

Thanks so much for this video, Steve! I have had a Silver Black Velvet dagger brush for a good two years and have hardly used it. You helped me see the possibilities. Can’t wait to experiment!

These brushes are right up my alley as my favorite brush (right now) is the angle brush. I can see by your video that these brushes are a MUST for me! Thank you!

The first 7 second is the best part of the video.

I am having fun doing this type of work and loving it

Excellent demonstration and commentary. Dagger looks like a lot of fun. I do florals mostly and have just started experimenting with expressive brush strokes in that subject. It makes a nice change from tight botanical illustration and improves brush skills. Gotta get a dagger now!

Hi Steve! Your landscape painting is so lovely. I love your contrast between loose, painterly work and detail you achieved with your new dagger brush. I hear you about the contrast between a round and a dagger in mark making- I agree those angular shapes are a great addition, and letting that dagger dance and work like a rigger is a great trick. Brilliant, Steve!!

Just love it!!!!!

So fun and helpful. Like the results.🖌🖌🖌🖌

I can see how these brushes can help to paint loosely Thanks, Steve

I actually have 2 of those brushes. Upon opening the shipping envelope with kitchen shears, I inadvertently snipped the tip right off!!!! Aaaagh!!! Needless to say, that one no longer has a sharp point! Thanx for the demo!👍😊

Have a blessed holiday Steve and thank you again for a great lesson.

I have found that a chinese brush makes the greatest variety of marks - partly because of the way it is traditionally held (like a chopstick).

Good instructions ......

Inspiring, educational, funny, so very enjoyable; I just wish you were a tutor over here, in the not so sunny UK! You are the best tutor I have found and you've inspired me to go back and try again with water colour. And you know what? I think I'm getting there......thanks to your inspiration

Admire the vision you have while looking at a blank page. I struggle with layering, always start too dark as I can't imagine beyond the top layer. Beautiful result and that brush looked so versatile. Thanks for sharing your techniques.

As always, I'm impressed with your level of skill, talent and just how you embrace this medium. I'm always inspired in getting better in watercolor and you are the best teacher I've found! Thank you so much. Love from Brazil!

I have a black velvet dagger. Its my favorite brush I've ever owned.

Thanks for all your efforts in making these videos. I've learned a lot and my desire for art supplies has grown tremendously.

Thank you so much! Bought a set of 3 daggers of good quality and now I feel I'll know better how to use them.

Your picture is awesome! I'm definitely going to try this. And I must have a dagger!

Great video, informative and inspiring 😀

Great looking painting! I have used the dagger for pine trees and I love how it makes everything NOT the same.

It looks so cool

I discovered my Pro=Arte dagger about a year ago and I love it! I use it mostly in landscapes and organic still lifes, but found it makes some wonderful marks and additions to cityscapes and seascapes as well. Happy Thanksgiving!

This is beautiful!

Thanks for this review and demo! I always love you spontaneous landscapes. I've begun using a Skroggys Loose Goose Dagger Striper. It's barrel is longer and narrower than these you're using. And it's a whippy little thing . . . which gives it a semi uncontrolled manner. Which I love for looser, spontaneous landscape features. And yet it makes great line-work too.

They truly are a very fun brush to use. As always, I love your “free” landscaping videos. I’ve done a few because of your inspiration. Thanks Steve. Happy Thanksgiving and God bless

Highly enjoyable! I've a few full pages of nothing but attempted leaves using my Silver Brush Black Velvet dagger. I think I might have a better time with a synthetic but am not sure. I love your spontaneous landscapes so much. Thanks for this. The dagger/striper has been very challenging for me. "No more rhymes now. I mean it!" "Anybody want a peanut?" 💜 (P.S. Mammoth Cave is my most favorite childhood vacation spot!) 💕

Steve, Great video. I like the dagger rush. you can load one color on the main part and on the tip use a different color for another interesting use of this brush. Have a very enjoyable week. Happy Thanksgiving too. Hugs!

I love my daggers! 🙏🏼

Thank you for something very interesting and new.

I love my daggers. They hold so much paint and so so versatile depending on the way they are held. They are my go-to brush. Mine are Silver Black Velvet and Pro Arte that has softer bristles.

I love those brushes! I have a triangle Beste brush set you can get at Jerry's. it is supposed to be for calligraphy. It has that same long tip but makes a fatter mark. Dan Nelson does a video that comes with them. I love how they make marks. From what I can tell the dagger brushes have a round gradual shape like half of an arch. The sword brushes have that extended long tip. Thanks for posting!

I see what’s so great! 👍🏼 I bought a few daggers after watching Angela Fehr. They makes very unique marks. I am so happy to own them. I’m drawing with all my time now but I do look forward to painting with them again and I have enjoyed and been inspired by watching how you use it.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Great video, as always. I use a dagger while banding porcelain vases on a banding wheel. I have one for watercolor, best put it to use. Thanks for the push! 😍

To be fair, you could go out the door and pick up a stick and a clump of grass and make a beautiful painting. Lol. I do like the daggers , have two and really like them.😃👍