Basic Chinese Painting Brushes for Beginners, Set of 3

Any art, but especially Chinese ink painting is a discipline that requires less from the tools used, (though it is still important to acquire the best quality one has the means to), and stresses the spirit of the artist and the deftness of execution. This creed seems to be at odds with western watercolor's ideals and commercial attitude today, with many unable to pursue quality supplies due to scarcity and outrageous cost of "Artist Quality" paints, brushes, and papers.That being said, I purchased this set of brushes after researching all needed supplies for traditional Chinese ink painting and watching many tutorial videos online, particularly those produced by Blue Heron Arts. After seeing that even brushes like these, at a far smaller cost than what is considered a "quality" sable brush in traditional watercolor, could preform so well and be used to create such remarkable pieces of art, I didn't hesitate to purchase them along with appropriate paper, ink stones, and grinding block.As you may have guessed, I was an absolute beginner in the Eastern ink painting arena, so these brushes seemed suited to me. Upon arrival, I found everything to be in order and packaged securely with minimal waste, which is a plus. In use, one must first soak the brushes and "break them in" due to the peach sap used to maintain the shape of the fibers prior to arrival. With these brushes, this process was painless, unlike some other much more expensive brushes I have purchased, and they were all three ready to paint in under 30 minutes. After this, I thoroughly tested each brush to become familiar with it's uniquely described properties. In the set, there is a large "goat hair" soft brush, a stiffer "wolf's hair" brush of the same size, and a smaller "weasel hair" brush for lines and details that is also stiff. I have found little difference to date in the larger brushes, they seem to preform very similarly, with smaller differences in stiffness than those of water-holding capacity. The softer goat hair brush can safely be considered a wash. The smaller brush is a joy for both ink and western color, as it's natural bristles hold adequate water and keep a tight point for fine detail. The brushes' ability to hold so much water coupled with thin rice paper make water and brush control the most difficult aspects of getting a proper feel for the art, but this is part of learning ink painting, and is an individual quality of every brush.One acclimated to the brushes' unique qualities, I have never found fault with them, especially at the price offered. Calligraphy would be better served with stiffer brushes, but for painting, (As specified in the product description, for the above reviews), they are more than adequate for any beginner, or as a cheap brush for any level of skill.

These arrived quickly and are everything I needed as a beginner to sumi-e painting. I am working (very slowly) through the Four Gentlemen and the middle brush has been stuck in my hand almost the entire time!For those who are brand new to Chinese painting -- there's a lot to learn! You will need to do a lot of research and practicing. There are many different styles and techniques and very interesting history. Just getting these brushes has started me on a path that I didn't know existed. It is unlike Western painting where you try to paint something exactly as it is. Chinese painting flows along. Once you get a couple basic strokes down you will find it is really relaxing.Since I know not anything about this -- I have no idea if these brushes are of great quality. My guess is not really. But they will do!!I do know I purchased a little "starter" set for around $15.00 that came with a cheap ink stick, a reasonable grinding stone and REALLY crappy brushes... so I do know what "really really bad" is!!In my opinion, if you are absolutely brand new to Chinese painting, these brushes will fill the need, at least until you decide if you want to pursue it more seriously.For those that are giving 3 or less star ratings: For this price, what do you expect? If you wanted superior quality, for one brush you will need to spend a minimum of $50. Understand, these are for basic beginners.

All the hairs keep falling out. Don’t always believe certain youtubers. These are not the best quality brushes. But they do sop up a bunch of water. Which is cool.

These are pretty good, 3 brushes for this price. The white is a large, Soft Brush; the Middle seems to have a little more body; the small is perfect for things like bird feet and beaks, or flower details. I am an amateur of long-standing, but I know a few things; have enough brushes and experience to know things. These brushes hold enough water and ink so I am not frustrated having to refill to often. They come back to their points, no errant hairs sticking out of them. (I've been using them everyday for two weeks now, hard core.) They clean up well and right back to new-point perfection. I do have other brushes, but I can just stick to these three to get work done. It's a little disconcerting that they come in a flimsy cellophane bag with a thin piece of cardboard, lol; almost seems disrespectful to them. And the smallest does not come with a string to hang it up to dry... but I don't think you can go wrong.

They arrived 4 days after ordering and they are nice to use, however the hairs started falling out during my first session with them—while I was simply swatching the colors I had. The Sheep brush has been the worst as it left many hairs in the paint and on the paper even when doing a very light gentle wash.This is my second experience with calligraphy brushes so I am not sure if it is how they are made in general or the specific manufacturer. So I am giving 3 stars because I doubt these will last very long if they are like this already.

The red one was not glued well. both the ferrel and the top came off and had to be reglued