Handmade Xuan Paper – untreated, semi-treated or treated for ink and calligraphy
This handmade Xuan paper is designed for calligraphy, ink painting, wash painting, and brush drawing.
Made from plant fibers derived from advertised bamboo pulp, it reacts directly to the amount of water, ink load, and brush pressure.
Depending on the chosen finish, the ink can diffuse quickly into the fiber, remain more stable on the surface, or find a balance between absorption and line readability.
INFORMATION
Xuan paper is a medium very sensitive to water, ink, and brush rhythm. It allows for immediate observation of variations in pressure, speed, dilution, and load.
Untreated Xuan is very absorbent: the ink quickly enters the fiber, with vivid diffusion and more open edges. It is suitable for expressive gestures, free washes, and diffusion effects.
Semi-treated Xuan offers moderate absorption. It maintains a balance between diffusion and precision, useful for learning, regular exercises, and strokes that require flexibility and readability.
Treated Xuan is less absorbent: the ink remains more on the surface, allowing for a sharper line, more direct control, and more controlled edges.
FEATURES
Material: plant fibers from advertised bamboo pulp
Available finishes: untreated Xuan, semi-treated Xuan, treated Xuan
Format: 34 × 46 cm
Quantity: approximately 100 sheets
CHOOSING YOUR XUAN PAPER
For beginners or regular practice, semi-treated Xuan is often the easiest to get used to. It allows the ink to live in the fiber without losing line readability too quickly.
Untreated Xuan is more suitable for creators who are looking for freer diffusion, more open edges, and a very sensitive response to water.
Treated Xuan will be more suitable for clean strokes, precise lines, controlled edges, and gestures that require more restraint.
USE & STORAGE
Test a sheet before a final work, especially if you change ink, brush, or dilution. The same gesture can produce very different diffusion depending on the paper's finish.
To limit warping, work with a progressive water load and stabilize the sheet if necessary with a light weight or a clean support.
Allow to dry flat before moving, stacking, or storing the sheets. Still-wet ink can transfer to adjacent sheets.
Store the paper dry, away from humidity, dust, and direct light. Handle with clean hands to avoid marks on areas intended for ink.
PAIR WITH
To prepare ink by hand, this paper can be paired with the
7.5 cm inkstone,
the
natural inkstone with lid
or the
16 cm solid ink stick.
To work on strokes, thick and thin lines, you can pair it with the
bamboo calligraphy brush,
the
traditional rabbit hair brush
or the
set of 5 Chinese calligraphy brushes.
To rest brushes between passes and keep the workspace clean, you can complete with the
jade effect ceramic brush rest,
the
blue dragon ceramic brush rest
or the
black workshop brush holder.
For long practice without the constraint of pre-cut sheets, you can also consult the
semi-treated vegetable paper roll
or the
Calligraphy selection.
🤍 Ikane Workshop Tip
Start with semi-treated Xuan to observe the ink's reaction without losing control of the stroke too quickly. Then move on to untreated Xuan to explore diffusion, or treated Xuan to seek a sharper line.
