In months of collaboration, Da Vinci developed this brush with the Berlin-based artist, Gris. The result is this high-quality and extraordinary brush. The tail hair of the red marten is of high quality, the materiality and shape of the handle are extraordinary, consisting of plexiglass and a bevelled end. Both are owed to the functionality, because Gris likes to use the end of the brush for scratching effects. Due to the shape and quality of material, this is easily possible without leaving colored traces of the handle. The Kolinsky red sable hair used has optimal painting properties for Gris with the perfect balance of stiffness and softness. "Best hair, optimal size, and a scratching tip for effects on the end: This is my brush."
Kolinsky calls the tail hair of the red marten "mustela sibirica" (large Siberian fire weasel), which lives mainly in the river landscapes of the eastern Siberian rivers. Kolinsky hair is naturally very dense and retains its closed shape even when it is damp. Siberian Kolinsky hairs are the most valuable artist brush hairs in terms of painting.
Once a year, Da Vinci and selected artists develop their favorite brushes together, creating special editions of unique brushes. The Berlin artist, Gris, was the first. His stroke, which has now been trained for over 3 decades, accompanies him from almost daily sketches on the train to traditional watercolors to contemporary acrylic, mixed-media works, and large-scale graffiti.