Ink Stick Making

The Ink Stick

The ink stick is one of the "Four Treasure" of sumi (ink) painting. The Four Treasures are paper, brush, ink, and stone. Ink sticks are often overlooked as an important ingredient to sumi painting with the now readily available ink in bottles. The making of an ink stick is an art in and of itself. Please view the below short video on making ink sticks.

 

I use ink sticks and grind my own ink for sumi-e and I also use bottled ink. The general rule is that ink is ground for calligraphy and bottled ink is used for sumi-e. (sumi = ink and sumi-e = ink painting). Rules are made to be broken!

Below is an unusual and different sumi-e that I created using the art of grinding my ink with an ink stick and stone for use in this painting.

Standing Tall - Bird's Eye View

by Casey Shannon

Ink on Xuan Paper

You can view more of my recent works: HERE

Casey Shannon

Director of North America Branch ~ ICCPS

International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Sociey

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

 

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 Four Treasures

The Four Treasures of Study
Article by Tai Oi Yee and Casey Shannon

Sumi-e is inkwash brush painting originating from China over a thousand years ago, and embraced enthusiastically in Japan, Korea and now internationally. The name sumi-e literally means water+ink+painting 水墨畫. 

Ink wash painting uses soot ink on thin mulberry bark paper or silk. Different tones and shades are achieved by varying the ink density and brush pressure. It is not simply to reproduce the appearance of the subject, but to capture its soul. Sumi-e is the timeless unison of the true self and the universe. It is the expression of the mind and spirit of the artist through the Four Treasures (文房四寶) .

Sumi-e and Calligraphy artists have the utmost respect for the Four Treasures:

The Four Treasures of Study

    1. Brush (筆): The ink brush is usually made of goat, rabbit, or yellow weasel hair. The textures are soft, hard or mixed depending on the artist's use.




   2. Ink (墨) :  Ink sticks are made of soot mixed with animal glue, and sometimes aromatic or medicinal powders. Modern artists sometimes use bottled ink as it is readily available. However, there are many preservatives in even the most expensive bottled ink and it can ruin brushes.



   3. Paper (紙) :  It is not just any kind of paper. It is thin mulberry bark paper (Xuan or Pi paper from China and Washi paper from 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.

Did you know? That Westerners call Xuan paper 'Rice Paper' because when The West entered the East, China wanted to keep paper making a secret and told them it was made of rice! 

   4.  Inkstone (硯) : The inkstone is used for grinding the ink stick with water. The four famous inkstones are Duan, She, Tao and Chengni. Grinding your ink before you paint provides you with a quiet state of mind and a way to let  spirit surround you.

This ink stone is an ornate one and very beautiful. This ink slab was carved in a 'cucurbit' shape. This shape stands for good fortune and every success.

These four items are treasured by the sumi-e and calligraphy artist. They are essential to this ancient art.  

  

      Casey Shannon Studio
凱西香儂齋 

Director of the North American 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.