Types of Brushes
| Type | Hairs | Uses |
| soft | rabbit, kitten's ear, soft sheep and goat | Flat, extended brush used for bamboo, washes, shading, and blending backgrounds. |
| medium soft | soft: rabbit, goat, and sheep outer hairs; firm: badger, wolf | flowers, birds, graded petails, animals, details |
| medium | badger, wolf, weasel, chicken feathers | orchids, bamboo, stems on plants |
| medium hard | medium: coarse goat; hard: wolf, split bamboo | outlining, details, calligraphy, fine lines, landscape |
| hard | horse, wolf, split bamboo | stiff, sweeping strokes, horse tails, large calligraphy |
Some brush hairs hold more liquid than others. A large calligrapher’s brush made of goat or sheep hair or hair with barbs will hold half a cup of ink. This type of brush is used to paint large characters, such as those seen in front of shops or in banners. Because of the quantity of ink needed in these cases, where the quality of the ink is not so important, you would normally use pre-ground, liquid ink. For most types of painting, ground ink is preferable. The brushes available may be Japanese or Chinese. Some Japanese and Chinese brushes are similar with different names, and some have the same mix of hairs. Some people in China paint without a brush. They use a fingernail grown long and stiffened so that it can hold the ink like a quill pen. These nails produce a special long, thin kind of stroke that a brush cannot do. The nail helps with lines and getting ink to the place you want to use it. Hand painters also use the side of the palm, the side of the little finger, and the base of the thumb.
Names for Brushes
Many brushes have names written on them to indicate the type of painting for which the brush is used. For example, “landscape brush” is used to paint the rocks, trees, and lines found in landscapes, and “orchid/bamboo” is used to paint orchid and bamboo. These versatile brushes can also be used for calligraphy. Other brushes without names are often referred to by their purposes or appearance: squared-tip bamboo brushes, detail brushes, wash brushes, and calligraphy brushes. Those who have used various brushes and know their uses can identify all of these brushes by their appearance since these tools are important to the artist’s production.
Names Painted on Brushes in Chinese
| Name | Used for |
| landscape | rocks, trees, lines, calligraphy |
| cloud | dots and flowers |
| orchid/bamboo | orchid, bamboo, calligraphy |
| mountain horse | strokes for mountains |
| leaf vein | fine details |
| clothes line | strokes in clothing |
| plum blossom | dots and details |
| flower bird | flowers and birds |
| Shiguan | soft when wet, stiff in ink |
| Yang Xu | large washes adding color |
| rat hair | drawing details |
| bird of paradise | painting tiny details |
| sweet melon | painting tiny details |
Collecting Brushes
With so many brushes available, a painter likes to use the brush that helps produce the most desirable effect. The old masters from China, however, could use almost any brush to good effect, as they had total control and could use their skill with any brush. Experienced painters can use the orchid/bamboo brush for both large strokes and detailed strokes with the tiny tip of the brush. Until you become so skilled, it is nice to know some brushes can help you in your practice of the strokes. When you progress and find that you desire to be a true literati scholar practicing the fine arts of China, you may want to invest in exotic bamboo brushes with black bamboo handles and gold lettering. These are collectors’ items, and many of the true scholars are also collectors of precious treasures. As a student, you will start with the simple, inexpensive tools. As you study and appreciate these tools, a beautifully shaped brush hanging from your brush rack will be very enjoyable.
Caring for Brushes
Preparing a New Brush
A new brush has a plastic case that covers the cone of the brush to protect it. After you remove the plastic case for the first time, discard it because placing it on the brush again disturbs the hairs. New brushes are also treated with a glue solution to hold the bristles in shape. Before you use the brush, you need to soak it in water to remove the glue and soften the bristles. Swish the brush back and forth to run the water through the bristles to rinse out the glue.
Washing a Brush
Wash a brush carefully in water to preserve its hairs and handle. Stroke the brush against the side of the water container to remove the excess moisture or lay it on a paper towel to help dry the bristles.
• Never thump a brush up and down to clean it as this not only softens the end of the bamboo but can also break off the ends of the bristles.
• Never try to squeeze the moisture out with your fingers on the bristles, as the oil on your fingers will spoil the hairs of the brush.
• Never leave a brush soaking in the water, as the bamboo can swell and loosen the bundles of hairs.
• Never wash a brush in soap even if it is stained.
Storing a Brush
Press your brushes on a paper towel to help them dry out faster before storing them.
• Store each brush by hanging it on a brush rack with the bristles hanging down. This method preserves the end of the bamboo and allows the moisture to drain from the tip.
• Some students store brushes horizontally in a split bamboo rolled mat. This method allows the hairs to breathe, but if the bristles are wet, they take a long time to dry and sometimes the roll gets mildew.
• Some people store bamboo brushes vertically in a tall container with the bristles upward. However, this method lets the moisture drain downward into the bamboo, which can loosen up the glue and cause the cluster of hairs to fall out. If the cluster of hairs falls out, wrap a thin thread around it, put white glue on it, and put it back into the bamboo while the bamboo is still wet. When the bamboo