How are Chinese Brushes Made?

How is a Chinese Brush made?

Videos by Henry Li. Text and brush photo by Casey Shannon.

A Chinese Brush used for Calligraphy or Sumi-e painting is known to the artist as one of the 'Four Treasures of the Study'. The ink stick, stone, and paper are the other three treasures. For further information on the 'Four Treasures' go: HERE

The making of a Chinese Brush is a beautiful process that takes incredible skill. These brushes are made by hand in China. After I witnessed the detailed process and saw the skill and time involved in making one of these brushes, I thought 'no wonder these are called treasures'.

Here are three videos showing the incredible process that were filmed by Henry Li on a trip to China. The videos are in order and view brush maker Master Xu as he makes a brush. Master Xu has been making brushes a long time and the skill was handed down to him by his father. Brush making has been in his family for years. This is an incredible process and very interesting. I guarantee after viewing these videos you will treat your brushes with great respect.

I hope you enjoy these wonderful videos of Henry Li's. 

Happy Painting Everyone!
 

Casey Shannon Studio

凱西香儂齋

Director of North America Branch - ICCPS

International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society

国際中国書法国画家協会アメリカ支部：Ms. Casey Shannon　アメリカ現代水墨画家

Copyright ©  Casey Shannon Studio Art. All rights reserved

 

The Making of Xuan

Xuan Paper

Photos and video by Henry Li. Text by Casey Shannon and Tai Oi Yee

Xuan paper is one of the 'Four Treasures of the Study' and highly regarded as a treasure by sumi (ink) artists. Xuan (Shuen) paper is very fine paper used by calligraphy and sumi-e artists. It is thin mulberry bark paper ( called Xuan paper in China and Washi paper in Japan).  It is also generically called "rice paper" in the west though rice is not one of the ingredients.   It is highly absorbent and unforgiving.  The brushstrokes have to be fluid and fast, and mistakes cannot be masked like on watercolor paper. Xuan Paper takes practice to use.

This paper is the brush painter's canvas. Mastering the way ink behaves on the different rice papers is one of the essential skills of the brush painter. There are basically two kinds of rice paper -- raw paper and sized paper. Shuen Paper (Xuan Paper) is raw paper and the most popular paper in China among brush painters and calligraphers. It is the most sensitive of the rice papers, cheerfully displaying dynamic strokes and complex shade variations with translucent fluidity and original spontaneity.  Any brush painter will tell you it is difficult to work with rice paper and takes years of practice to master.

Interesting fact: The reason Xuan Paper is called 'Rice Paper' in the West is because when the West came to the East, China wanted to protect it's paper making techniques and told Westerners that the paper was made from rice. 

 Mulberry Trees in Anhui, China

Quigtan Trees outside the paper mills.

Photo Courtesy of Henry Li

Xuan paper is made all by hand. There is no machinery used in the production of this treasured paper. For this reason, Xuan paper is very special and expensive.

My artist friend Henry Li recently went to China and visited the paper mill in Anhui, China. He filmed this very informative video of the paper being made in all the stages of creation. Enjoy!

  For more information on 'The Four Treasures' go: Here 

Director of North America Branch - ICCPS

International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society

国際中国書法国画家協会アメリカ支部：Ms. Casey Shannon　アメリカ現代水墨画家

Casey Shannon Studio

凱西香儂齋

 

Wabi Sabi - Rising Up

  Wabi Sabi

I Celebrated 30 Years of Wabi Sabi on
October 20, 2013

Last month I told you about the special commemorative painting I would paint celebrating the 30th anniversary of my special life event - stroke.

Here it is!

Wabi Sabi - Rising Up

Sumi-e
15 x 19 - Mulberry Paper
Sumi (ink), Tea, and Watercolor
Currently Unmounted



One friend of mine when she saw my efforts from this special day called my painting 'the landscape of my life'. I think she was correct, don't you?

   
Personal Commemorative 'Wabi Sabi' Seal

 I painted this commemorative sumi-e on that day to honor my stroke and sealed the painting with this very special artist chop.

I painted this day because I still can!
( Prints of this sumi-e will be available soon)

For more information about Wabi Sabi:
Wabi Sabi Blog  

 Casey Shannon - Official  

China Seal Carving Gyoku-seki Society 

 Director for USA

Find Casey's Sumi-e Online 

 View my Sumi-e Art Galleries

*New Additions* 

Contemporary Asian Scrolls

*New Additions* 

Stunning Framed Gems

Director of North America Branch - ICCPS
International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society

国際中国書法国画家協会アメリカ支部：Ms. Casey Shannon　アメリカ現代水墨画家

Copyright © Casey Shannon Studio Art. All rights reserved.

Casey Shannon Studio

凱西香儂齋

Casey Shannon Studio