The Chinese brush is similar to the brush used for watercolor painting in the West, it has a finer tip suitable for dealing with a wide range of subjects and for producing the variations in line required by different styles. Materials used for calligraphy and painting are essentially the same, developments in calligraphic styles and techniques can also be used in painting.
Ink has been used in calligraphy and painting for over two thousand years. When the ink cake is ground on the painter's stone slab with fresh water, ink of various consistencies can be prepared depending on the amount of water used. Thick ink is very deep and glossy when applied to paper or silk. Thin ink appears lively and translucent. As a result, in ink-and-wash paintings it is possible to use ink alone to create a rhythmic balance between brightness and darkness, and density and lightness, and to create an impression of the subject's texture, weight and color.
Chinese painting may be done either on Chinese paper or silk. The original paper was made from many different materials including pulp, old fishing nets and bark. Modern paper is often machine made. It is classed in degrees of weight and amount of size used. The paper is very absorbent and the amount of size in it will dictate the quantity of ink used for strokes on the paper. Different paper produce different results; some are rough and absorb ink quickly like a sponge, others have a smooth surface which resists ink. Chinese paper is usually known as rice paper in English. Before painting on silk, the silk should be treated with alum and glue. This method makes silk less absorbent than paper. Because of this reason and the paper's variety of texture and finish, paper quickly became favored by artists and calligraphers. |
