How to grind Chinese ink before painting

Dear friends,

Chinese ink is water soluble. One must prepare the ink paste just before starting to paint or to write. The paste is made by grinding the ink stick in some water against the inkstone. How much water? It depends on how much paste is needed. For example, for writing a short note, a few drops of water and a minute of grinding will be sufficient. For painting or writing, usually one needs more ink; therefore, five or more cubic centimeters of water are required, which normally will take five or 10 minutes or longer to reach the proper thickness.

During the grinding, one can see the paste gradually getting thick to the consistency of syrup. When it leaves a dry trace on the bottom of the inkstone, as the ink stick is circling the bottom of the well, the paste is ready for use. It is a good habit to hold the ink bar low, so as to have a firm and steady grip on it, and to keep the ink stick perpendicular and flat against the stone while grinding, otherwise the contacting surface between the ink stick and the bottom of the inkstone will get smaller all the time, and it will take longer to reach the proper consistency.

If too much pressure is used, the paste will be too coarse; if the pressure is too light, it may take a long time to get the proper paste. Experience will show the correct pressure.

Grinding ink is salutary. It calms one down; one can plan the composition, or even enjoy the reading of some poems; and, it may warm up one's wrist, too.

If the hand swirls too fast, the ink may spatter, and the paste will not be even. Therefore, "not to fast, not too slow; not too heavy, and not too light" is the secret.

Brush holder

The container to hold the brushes is commonly cylindrical in shape, often tumbler-like, about seven inches high, sometimes made of porcelain but more often bamboo or pottery.

In offices, where small brushes are in common use, the holder is a frame, usually white brass about four inches high, with five or six open caps in which the brush handles are inserted (similar to a desk pen holder).

The brush rest, used while painting, is often in a mountain- peak shape, generally of porcelain (see illustration).

Water cistern

Cisterns are mostly made of porcelain, about four inches in diameter, and used to hold the water for grinding the ink. It is usually accompanied by a small brass spoon (see illustration).

Brush washer

The ordinary size of the brush washer is about eight inches in diameter, and two inches high. The general shape is either square or round. The diameter is about seven or eight inches. It is used for washing the brushes during painting or writing (see illustration).

Paperweight

There are several kinds of paperweights, round, square, and ruler-like, to hold the rice paper in place. Some are made of fine wood with jade carvings set in, some are ivory. However, the most popular kind is brass or bronze, at times with a design carved or etched on them. Known for such work is the famous artist Chen Shih-Tseng (1873-1922) (see illustration).

Tablecloth

Since the paper used for painting and writing is an absorbent type, such as Hsuan paper, the ink often filters through and wets and sticks to the desk. Therefore, a cloth must be used under the paper, which will allow the ink to run and spread freely, but at the same time, keep the table neat. The best material for this purpose is black felt, or any woolen cloth.

-- David Kwo