The Chinese painting materials

The Brushes

Chinese painting uses a wide variety of brushes. Here are the three most commonly used models:

1. The goat hair brush: 羊毫 Yáng Háo. Very flexible, it is generally used to paint large surfaces and color gradients.
2. The wolf hair brush: 狼毫 Láng Háo. It is used for more precise strokes such as outlines, bamboo, trees, and rocks.
3. The goat and wolf hair brush: 兼毫 Jiān Háo. Made of an outer crown of flexible goat hair and an inner tip of hard wolf hair, it combines the components of the two previous brushes.

New brushes are stiffened by a glue that holds the tip to protect it. The glue must then be dissolved with lukewarm water so that the hairs regain their flexibility.

Before using the brush, it should be slightly moistened before being soaked in ink or color. Then, lightly tap the brush on the inkwell or saucers to remove the excess. The brush should not be loaded or emptied by turning as this would deform the tip.

Here is the correct way to hold the brush in calligraphy as well as in Chinese painting:

The Supports

It is generally rice paper 宣纸 Xuān Zhǐ. There are two types:

1. Absorbent paper: 生宣 Shēng Xuān. Allowing for beautiful gradients, it is used for calligraphy and Chinese paintings 写意 Xiě Yì, 水墨 Shuǐ Mò, etc.
2. Non-absorbent paper: 熟宣 Shú Xuān, also called 矾宣 Fán Xuān. Not absorbing ink like absorbent paper, it is suitable for the precise strokes of Chinese paintings 工笔 Gōng Bǐ, 木骨 Mù Gǔ, etc. It is actually absorbent paper that has been coated with an alum solution.

A particular silk called 绢 Juàn in Chinese can also be used. But this support deteriorates more quickly.

The Ink and Inkstone

Traditionally, a solid stick of ink is used. Before painting or calligraphy, it was rubbed on an inkstone with a little water. Different densities can be obtained by rubbing for longer or shorter periods. The inkstone should have a lid to prevent the ink from drying out when not in use. (If it dries, which inevitably happens even with a lid, a little water can be added.) Inkstones come in all sizes and shapes. It is an art object in itself.

But now, very good black inks in small cans are used for calligraphy and tubes of watercolor paint in all colors are used for painting.

Small saucers are used for colors (a smooth plate can do the job). They can be mixed and water added to obtain the desired color and density. They should be used in small quantities because if they dry out, even if water can be added, they lose their qualities.

Other Useful Materials for Chinese Painting

A water container (a bowl, for example) to wash the brushes.

A brush holder (usually ceramic) to place the brushes during work so that the tip does not touch the table (the same principle as our knives so they do not dirty the tablecloth). A wooden brush holder with hooks can also be used to hang and dry the brushes.

Paperweights to hold the sheet of paper.