I liked the brush for the wide strokes. I am an artist who paints on large panels, so this size brush is better for my purposes than a housepainter's brush, because it doesn't hold as much paint. However, the metal ferrule with the brush came off the wooden handle as I was cleaning it. It's too late to return it, so I'll have to glue the two parts back together.The bristles of my brush haven't been falling out.I have never used it to spread gesso, but think it wouldn't be smooth. I'd prefer the texture, anyway, if I did use it for that purpose.