The Ink Stone & The Ink Stick

The Ink Stone

To make the black ink, the ink stick is rubbed in water on an ink stone. The grinding action rubs ink from the stick, enabling it to mix with the water. The finger the grain of the ink stone, the smoother the ink becomes and the longer the time needed for grinding.

The stone should be extremely smooth and hard. The most famous ink slabs are said to be from the Anhui district of China, where most are made from black stone, but there are also varieties with red or green markings forming designs in the stone.

The Ink Stick

Old Chinese ink is made of pine soot mixed with glue and other ingredients to hold it together. It comes compressed into the form of a stick, sometimes round, sometimes square, decorated with characters and picture in gold. Other ink sticks are made from lampblack mixed with varnish, pork fat, and mush or camphor; these have a lightly bluish, metallic tinge to them. (Tradition says that if this ink stick is rubbed on the lips or tongue, it is considered a good remedy for fits and convulsions).

A good ink stick is light in weight and very brittle. The best ink sticks produce a black which does not stick the brush hairs together, or fade with time.

The size of the ink stick should be compatible with the size of the ink stone on which it is to be rubbed and able to make an amount of ink suitable for the subject matter and painting size required. Large bamboo paintings need a large ink stick, ink stone and brush; but a short piece of writing will not need so much ink to be made, so the stick and stone can be smaller.

The ink stick wears down very slowly with use, but the ink stone will last forever.
Mixing the Ink

Before beginning to paint, the artist always prepares fresh ink. Although Chinese ink is available in bottles, it is not suitable for painting nor does it generate the variety of tones, from deepest black to delicate pearl grey, which can be produced by the Chinese ink stick. The action of rubbing the ink stick in the water on the ink stone has the psychologically meditative effect of preparing the mind for the painting ahead, and as such has always been regarded almost as a sacred rite.

To mix the ink, first put some clear water into the well of the ink stone. Hold the ink stick upright and dip one end into the dampen it, then begin to rub it on the flat surface of the ink stone. (The amount of water depends upon how much ink you expect to need. Begin with about half a teaspoonful, then experience will help you to increase or decrease this.)

Rub the ink stick strongly on the stone in clockwise circles until the ink is thick and oily. When the rubbing motion seems to adhere, moisten the end of the stick again with water, or add an extra miniscule from a water dropper or tiny spoon. The ink is ready for use when it reaches an almost oily consistency, leaving trails behind on the stone’s surface. By the time the rather abrasive noise of the grinding has become muffled and softer. As the water gradually evaporates, the mixture becomes slowly more concentrated.

Caring for the Ink Stick and Ink Stone

Then ink stick should not be left to stand on the ink stone, or it will stick to it and damage the stone, therefore allow it to dry freely in the air. Old ink should not be left to dry and coagulate on the stone, as the gritty grains can spoil newly rubbed ink if they become mixed together. Gentle washing will keep the stone’s surface clean.