More on Indian Ink, Indian Ink Origins and Painting Ideas

INK WORK

SHORT INFO. & HISTORY
Ink Painting , also known as ink wash painting or shui mo hua (Chinese) or Indian ink painting is a type of brush painting that uses black ink.

Artist Wang Wei introduced the method of ink painting during the Tang dynasty somewhere between 618 and 907 AD. It prospered during the Shang dynasty (960-1279), and mostly traded with Ancient India, and so it is also known as Indian Ink. Zen Buddhist Monks brought the technique to Japan around 1350. During the Muromachi period (1338-1573), ink painting reached its peak of popularity among Japanese artists and calligraphers. The oldest intact brush of the Warring States period (475221 BC) was found in the tomb of the citizens of Chu. The Shanghai School is well known for its modern and contemporary Chinese freehand ink wash painting, and the most representative artists are Wu Changshuo, Pu Hua, Wang Zhen, Qi Baishi, Huang Binhong etc.

Credit to @forid

COMPOSITION
Pigment ink is used in the Ink Painting technique. Water-resistant pigment ink is formed in a colloidal solution on water, with the water serving as a carrier solution for the pigment. color pigments are produced from a mixture of solid substances, including rocks, metals, minerals, charcoal, and so on.

SPECIFIC PROPERTY
Even though the ink provides a less vibrant color, it is more durable and less likely to fade. You can use different colors of ink in your paintings to create colorful artwork. To make artworks more light and for better blending purposes Isopropyl Alcohol or Alcohol Blending Solution are also used. The Isopropyl Alcohol solution gives matte finish, and so to finish up with shine, Claro Extender is used.

KEY FEATURE
The artist's sudden inspiration after viewing any beautiful scenery is represented in the Ink painting technique, which does not place a high value on a precise depiction of a real scene or object. As a result, it is difficult to copy or reproduce this type of painting. This painting often feature trees, flowers, landscapes, animals, birds and people. 

Credit to @forid

SURFACE OR MEDIA
The best surfaces for ink painting are those that are water-resistant and don't tear when blending. Papers, ceramics, clay boards, ink stones, and other surfaces are commonly used for ink painting. Ink painting paper, such as Xuan paper, is widely used and popular because of its high tensile strength, smooth surface, pure and clean texture, and clean stroke, as well as its resistance to wrinkle, corrosion, moth, and mold.

MORE ABOUT INK WORK
Like others types of paintings, the Ink Painting or Ink Wash Painting may faded due to the effect of environmental factors, but that can be resist by using sealant with UV protection, which helps to prevent the damage and keep paintings bright and colorful.

By varying the density of the ink, ink paint techniques can achieve a variety of tones and shades.

Although ink painting is unique and provides various advantages, once a stroke has been drawn, it cannot be modified or erased. As a result, ink painters spend years improving their brush movement and ink flow by practicing basic brush strokes. As a result, ink and wash painting is a technically challenging art style that needs a high level of expertise, focus, and years of practice.