You will get a brush, ink, rice paper, and magic cloth(choice of plain, grid, or stroke guide).
Combination Brush - retail price $4.99 This is a classic Stiff & Soft Hair combined Brush for Chinese painting and calligraphy. This kind of brushes are composed of two layers of hair: the central core is made of relatively stiff hair gathered to form a tapered point; The outer wrapping consists of softer hairs which are selected for their greater water-holding capacity and for facilitating smooth strokes. Perfect for beginner's use of Sumi-e painting and calligraphy.
One Pack of Japanese rice paper - retail price $9.25. This delicate paper is made in Japan for brush painting and calligraphy. I have used it in many of my videotaped painting lessons as you can see on YouTube. It is very sensitive yet "forgiving"--it is absorbent but does not smear that much compared to other rice paper. So I would recommend it to Sumi-e students and other watercolorist artists to try and hope you will like it as much as I do.
Magic Cloth - retail price $9.95 Your choice of plain, with grids or strokes(please one below) Magic Cloth is a portable, water art painting surface for practice your strokes of brush calligraphy or painting. You simply write on the surface with water and your calligraphy will come to dark as if the ink is used. Then, as the water slowly evaporates, the stroke magically disappears leaving you with a clean slate and a clear mind - ready to write again. You may also use the backside as a felt under rice paper for ink painting or writing - great to use anywhere around house or travel!
Convenient Ink Cake with Case - retail price $7.99 This convenient ink cake is a perfect mate with BHA piston water brush pens for plein air or outdoor painting. It provides a long-lasting supply of ink. Unlike the ink stick, it does not require an ink stone to grind. To use, simply wet your brush with water and brush the ink cake lightly to load the ink. There is brush adjustment area with a small reservoir inside the box(see picture). The lidded box keeps ink from staining. It is convenient for traveling calligrapher and painter.
Unlike the traditional inkstick, no grinding is required with this ink cake - just brush it off to use with a water brush. Instead of loading ink into the reservoir of your water brush, this ink cake provides variable ink tonality and gradations, without the concern of ink spill.
Total retail value: $32.18, with beginner kit discount: $24.99
Please see "Basic Supplies Check List" for other supplies you may need(or see a different student pack).
Henry's year round Online class is available at ChineseBrushPainting.Ning.com , You may join at any time!
![2-1/8\" Long bristle Wolf stiff hair brush by Xu Laosan](images/chinese_painting_brush/wolf_hair_brush06_s.jpg "2-1/8\\" Long bristle Wolf stiff hair brush by Xu Laosan")
