Using Ink

[Bohh]

Hey all,

Somone got me this for a gift:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c28/bohh33/DSC01016.jpg

I have no idea what any of the little things are (except the brushes and the ink)

What am I supposed to do with the little black things (2,4,5) and the little bowl?

Also the ink is "Acrylic Artist Ink" but is resistant to water, so how do I clean my brushes when I'm done?

Thanks!

[Adam Nowak]

Either two or five look like some kind of bowl to put the ink onto for easier dipping, as the spoons also seems a way to get the ink out or in. Sorry I can't help much, I'm just guessing. 4 is some kind of eraser? Interesting.

[Kumori]

6 is where you put the ink in. other than that i have no idea what the other things are for sorry:blah:

[tulokyn]

I believe 4 is actually the sumi ink. You grind it up and add water to your desired strength. Look up sumi ink painting for further details, I would think. I don't claim to be any sort of expert in it. :3

As for the FW ink, it's water resistant when dry. Clean up with soap and water. I like the Master's Brush Cleaner and Preserver, cause it tend to get the dried bits of ink off my brush. :^^:

[haribubba]

im pretty sure #4 IS the ink.

http://www.watercolorpainting.com/sumi.htm

edit:/crap he got to it before me ><

[cotron]

FW Ink is the shit! it makes nice washes, and can also be used w/ multimedia stuff because it behaves like acrylic does... as far as washing your brushes, just don't let them dry with the ink on them, and rinse them when you're done. All ink discolors your brushes, so they won't look so pretty anymore, but they work just the same. they make tons of colors of that stuff too, i really like the sepia and white...

and I have one of those kits too but damned if I know how to use it :)

[Bohh]

Thanks for the replies everyone, you're awsome. Everything I needed to know! Awsome link aslo haribubba!
cotron, you said you use the inks as washes, do you just add water to thin the mixture?

Thanks!

[Prehistoric]

#4 is a stick of solid ink.

place a little bit of water into #6 (start with only a little), then rub the bottom of the dish with the stick of ink in a circular motion, add a little more water, and grind, water and grind until you get the consistency you like.

#1 and #3 are your brushes and they should have loops on the end opposite the brush. clean after using and hang by the loop (tip down) to keep the brushes shape.

#7 is your premade ink. easy but not as good looking as the ink from the stick.

#2 is meant to hold red paint or ink (usually oil based). it's used for signing Sumi paintings by means of a "chop", which is a piece of stone carved with an artists signature in Kanji characters. it's basically a fancy stamp (which you'll have to get seperately if you want one).

the spoon, i don't know. maybe for measuring ink, but it's not necessary.

[Bohh]

Thanks for the great reply! You've cleared EVERYTHING up for me :) Thanks a ton!

[cotron]

cotron, you said you use the inks as washes, do you just add water to thin the mixture?!

yep, same as any regular ink...

[dbclemons]

There are Chinese Chip cubes and Japanese teppachi dishes of color you can buy and dilute in the bowl, otherwise use it just to hold water (the spoon is there to dip the water on the stone.) Rubbing the stone takes a while to dilute ink, so you could look into getting the liquid sumi that comes in bottles. The ink is nice and black, darker than most India ink, but it's not waterproof like the acrylic. Look for bamboo reed pens too.

http://www.shodokai.com/Shodokai/YR00/CD001/S001/L001/L001.htm
http://www.selune.demon.co.uk/cbp/intro.html
http://www.dickblick.com/categories/sumipainting/

A nice gift. Have fun!
-DBC

[Bohh]

Hey thanks for the reply! I appriciate all the help you've given.

This link really helped me too: http://www.selune.demon.co.uk/cbp/intro.html

Thanks again.

[D.Labruyere]

Most of the traditional colours are potentially toxic, so don't lick your brushes!

ghehe, this stood on that http://www.selune.demon.co.uk/cbp/intro.html site... used to always do that :P

[Judy Warner]

some sumi ink is definitely waterproof, so maybe it depends on what it says on the stick. Grinding it on the stone is fun, and the ink is beautiful. Also, it makes you stop and think every now and then, so it's helpful. Enjoy your kit.

[CULPIN]

.......mistake post

[Andy DV]

damn that looks really nice. you better do some awesome drawings to justify those bomb supplies:)