For friends who are just starting to learn Chinese calligraphy, choosing the right paper can be confusing. Some people might have heard that Maobian paper is good for beginners, but what exactly is Maobian paper? How do you select quality Maobian paper? Today, Qi Ming combines insights from classical teachers’ discussions about Maobian paper to…
How to clean Chinese calligraphy brushes? This is a problem many people face. You might have searched online for brush cleaning tips, but most methods waste a lot of water and make a mess in your sink. Today’s article introduces a new way to clean brushes that I hope will help everyone! Full Article: Ever…
This article about brush usage and care was written by Master Tian Yingzhang. Qi Ming has added some illustrations and shares it here to help calligraphy enthusiasts. This guide is especially helpful for those who have bought new brushes but don’t know how to prepare them properly or maintain them. (For more brush knowledge, you…
A calligraphy student preparing for an exam once asked me for help with a common and frustrating problem: ink bleeding on Xuan paper. Realizing that many artists, both new and experienced, struggle with this, I decided to create a comprehensive guide based on my own experience and tips from the wider calligraphy community. Ink bleeding…
Many people interested in Chinese brush calligraphy or preparing to learn this art form already know about the four essential tools – brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. However, there are many other useful calligraphy supplies worth having. Today, I’ll introduce you to common calligraphy tools beyond these four basic items. These tools can help improve…
For many who practice Chinese calligraphy, folding grid lines on Xuan paper can be a challenge. This article aims to help by introducing common Xuan paper sizes and providing practical methods to fold Xuan paper for your calligraphy work. We’ll also cover the most popular technique using four-chi Xuan paper for creating five-character or seven-character…
In our previous article about choosing the right paper for calligraphy beginners, we covered the basics of paper selection. Today, we’ll focus on an equally important topic: What are the best calligraphy brushes for beginners? Many beginners make the mistake of simply looking for the cheapest brushes or those with the highest sales numbers. However,…
Many Chinese calligraphy beginners often ask me: “What kind of paper should I use when starting out?” or what is the best paper types for chinese calligraphy beginners？ I believe most newcomers to calligraphy struggle with this paper selection issue. You may have heard others mention using Maobian paper or Yuanshu paper, but what exactly…
Previously, we published an article on “Chinese Seals: Complete Guide to Types and Usage.” Many friends interested in carving their own seal stamps or who enjoy seal engraving may wonder: What are the best stone materials for Chinese seal carving? What are the common stone materials used for seal carving? Which stones are suitable for…
