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General FAQs: For Beginners About OASTeachers
Product FAQs: BrushesPaperBooksColorsAccessories
Technique/Style FAQs: General TechniqueGong-bi (Fineline)Calligraphy
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Brushes
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What brushes and paper are used for fine line painting for Gong-bi style? |
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Different instructors recommend different equipment. For line work OAS recommends a Red Feather brush. For applying layers of color use two of either a Fine Soft Medium or a Fine Soft Small, one to apply the color and the other to pull the color. Fine line painting requires a sized shuen. Try OAS's Premium Sized Shuen. |
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I am a beginner so I have some reservations about investing in the best brushes. What should I do? |
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A bad brush is generally more frustrating for a beginner than an experienced painter. Save yourself the frustration. Instead of buying several inexpensive brushes treat yourself to one quality multi-purpose brush. OAS recommends the Orchid Bamboo Medium Brush (H2c); it is the best all-around brush. |
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I have trouble controlling my moisture/water, my strokes bleed and run. What can I do? |
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It is helpful to keep in mind that the amount of water you load on your brush is very important and changes depending on the type of raw Shuen paper you use. A good rule of thumb for this principle is the thinner your paper, the thicker your color and ink needs to be. In other words Double Shuen, a two-ply thick paper, is not going to be as apt to bleed from excessive moisture as Best Shuen, a single ply thin paper.
Despite which rice paper you use, too much moisture is going to be a problem - the paper just determines the extent of the damage so to speak. The following are some tips from Ning and Ling that should help you conquer your moisture troubles:
When you rinse your brush between strokes, before the brush touches the paper, it should be dry enough that you cannot squeeze any water from the body of your brush. Try painting this way and if you find your brush is too dry, then wet only the first 1/8th of the brush tip and try again. |
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Which of your supplies work best for calligraphy? |
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A. The best material choices for calligraphy are the Flow Brushes, Orchid Bamboo Brushes, Flower & Bird Brush, any of the inks we carry especially Best Bottle. The best papers for calligraphy are Practice Roll, Best Shuen and Double Shuen AO. For print style calligraphy we use the Flower & Bird Brush or any of the Flow Brushes. For grass style calligraphy the Orchid Bamboo Brushes work best.
Add a touch of elegance and style to any special occasion calligraphy by mixing Pelikans Gold or Silver cake pan colors in with the ink. |
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How can I tell the difference between hard hair and soft hair brushes? |
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Hard hair brushes typically are brown in color. Quality hard hair brushes will have a sharp tip and bouncy resilience. Their main purpose is to achieve line work and sharp blade-like strokes. Traditionally, they are made from Wolf hair. Soft hair brushes have more shape or body to the brush but usually will not keep a point or a tip. Most soft hair brushes are white, some may be dyed black which can be deceiving. Traditionally, they are made from sheep or goat hair. Combination brushes are mixed. The main body makeup with sheep hair or soft hair bristles while, the center strategically has hard hair in the center. OAS has a the best Combination hair brushes specially manufactured just for us, namely the OAS Flow Series. Their body achieves the best brushwork for bone strokes and round shapes. The strategic hard hair placement returns the brush to a point after each stroke. |
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I am taking a class on calligraphy. What brushes do I need? |
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Orchid Bamboo or Mt Horse to do running style or script and Flow, Flower and Bird or Large Flow for print style. |
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