Inkstick grinding set — calligraphy and ink wash painting

Start with just a few drops of water. The stick is rubbed slowly on the surface of the stone until the desired concentration is reached.

Density depends on the ratio between the water and the amount of material released. It is therefore easier to prepare a concentrated ink first and then dilute a portion of it separately.

• Type: solid ink sticks for grinding
• Preparation: with water on an inkstone
• Techniques: calligraphy, wash painting, ink painting, and brush drawing

Place a few drops of water on the stone and rub the stick with steady movements, without excessive pressure.

Test the ink on a scrap of the same paper. If it is too light, continue grinding; if it is too concentrated, gradually add a few drops of water.

After use, wipe the wet part of the stick and let it dry before storing it. Also, rinse the stone before the ink residues dry on its surface.

To work on line work and pressure variations, pair the set with the traditional bamboo calligraphy brush .

To observe how the ink diffuses based on the paper's absorbency, use the handcrafted Xuan paper .

To keep several dilutions side-by-side during your session, use the 5-well ceramic palette .

Prepare a first, fairly concentrated ink, then distribute small amounts into several wells with different volumes of water. This way, you obtain several values without altering the entire preparation.