Premium Vintage Rooster Feather Brush with Driftwood Handle

This handmade rooster feather brush combines long vintage rooster feathers with a naturally shaped driftwood handle. Originally made for fly tying, the feathers were repurposed into a responsive artist brush for expressive mark-making, Sumi-e, ink painting, and other water-based media.

The long individual feathers move independently as the brush travels across the surface, creating marks that can shift from fine linear strokes to loose, sweeping lines and unexpected variations. Because the feathers naturally separate and move in different directions, the brush is especially interesting for layered marks, organic lines and gestural work.

I selected the driftwood for its natural shape and character, then cut, shaped and sanded the wood by hand while retaining its natural curves, knots and variations.

Best For

• Sumi-e and ink painting
• Expressive mark making
• Loose and gestural strokes
• Fine and varied linear marks
• Layered and overlapping lines
• Organic forms
• Experimental painting
• Watercolor and other water-based media

Performance

• Long vintage rooster feathers
• Individual feathers move and separate while painting
• Creates fine, sweeping and irregular lines
• Excellent for layered and gestural marks
• Responsive to direction, speed and pressure
• Natural variation within each stroke
• Designed primarily for ink and water-based media

Specifications

• Vintage natural rooster feathers originally produced for fly tying, 8.5 inches in length
• Natural driftwood handle, 8.5 inches in length
• Hand-shaped and hand-sanded
• Leather hanging loop
• Handmade by Elizabeth Schowachert
• The brush pictured is the exact brush you will receive

Care

Rinse the feathers gently with clean water immediately after use. Avoid pulling or twisting the individual feathers while cleaning. Allow the brush to dry naturally with the feathers positioned so they are not bent or compressed. Do not soak the driftwood handle or leave the brush standing in water.