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Traditional Chinese Watercolor Paints
The use of natural ingredients to derive pigments characterizes these watercolors. The binding elements in Chinese watercolor sets are usually rice or fish glue, making them different from contemporary Western counterparts. These paints are famous for their transparency and ability to make luminous colors. They are usually put in small, removable dishes called cakes or pans. The artist must add water to these cakes before using them because they dry up promptly. This type of paint stays true to the traditional Chinese painting style and is mainly used for flowers, birds, and landscapes.
Chinese Watercolor Pens
In recent years, the Chinese watercolor pen has gained popularity. These pens have water-based pigments and can be easily and practically applied by holding them like a normal pen. The lines made by the pens can be simply and easily blended with water to wash the colors, thus giving the operation of traditional watercolors a modern touch. Chinese watercolor brushes are made from an internal combination of natural and synthetic bristles. Chinese watercolor pens are often used for practice, quick sketches, or detailed works where control is of the essence.
Chinese Watercolor Pencils
Chinese watercolor pencils include pigment in their cores, which can write and be transformed into a liquid medium by adding water. The thing that sets them apart from Chinese watercolor pens is that they give the artists more room for flexibility since the watercolor pencils allow the artists to make fine details in the drawing and shading. They can also be blended together while on the paper after wetting the tips with a damp cloth or blending stub. For a perfect transformation into watercolor, China watercolor pencil needs water to be applied with a brush.
Chinese Ink Wash
Chinese ink wash, though not technically a type of watercolor, is a method of painting that employs black ink diluted in varying amounts of water to demonstrate a range of tones. It is often seen in traditional Chinese landscapes and calligraphy art. While the paint supplies an effect that is similar to watercolors, the techniques used to apply the ink are distinctive of the method and are different from Western watercolor techniques. The ink wash is often used in conjunction with watercolor paints, adding depth and detail to compositions.
Quality Pigments
Chinese watercolor paints use a standard formulation that incorporates high-quality pigments to produce color. They give the paints clarity and vitality and are resistant to fading over time. This means that the paintings will have the same tone for a long time and will not end up looking dull because the pigments are fade-resistant.
Strong Binding
When pigments blend with gum arabic or other binding substances to form watercolors, these substances help secure the pigments so they do not wash away or easily disappear when used on paper. Chinese watercolors have an additional fish glue base that makes the colors more solid when applied to paper. This means that the colors do not easily wash away whenever they are applied on paper, leaving hinter and watercolor illustrations that are more solid and vibrant.
Paper Absorption
In addition to the paint quality, the durability of Chinese watercolors also depends on the type of paper on which they are used. Traditional rice paper or Xuan paper commonly used in Chinese watercolor painting can easily absorb the paint. It is thin, allows quick absorption, and has long-lasting fibers that can hold pigments for long periods. This creates paintings that are vibrant, luminous, and enduring. The life span of a painting is affected by how much pigment the paper has absorbed. Low-quality paper cannot absorb colors as required; thus, they remain on top of the paper and are easily washed or fade.
Layering Technique
Chinese watercolors are known for their transparency. Each layer must dry well before another layer is added. Doing this fixes the pigments in a way that makes each layer true to its color without blending and mixing to form new colors. This mastery enhances durability since less paint is washed around, and the number of colors will remain pure longer as time passes by.
Cultural Significance
These are not just paints; they're a tradition. The paints are not only ideal for painting but also represent philosophical values and artistic principles in Chinese culture. They include a harmony-based and nature-emphasizing quality that gives them a more than just aesthetic value. The cultural value added to Chinese watercolors by their traditional methods makes them more liked and valuable around the world.
Growing Global Demand
There has been an increased appreciation for Chinese-style artwork and techniques, thus leading to increased demand for Chinese watercolor supplies. Western artists learn the techniques offered by these watercolors, which results in the establishment of a larger market. The increasing need leads to more opportunities for businesses to import and supply Chinese watercolor paints, inks, brushes, and papers.
High-Quality Art Materials
One of the best things about Chinese watercolors is that they are known to be created using traditional and modern procedures, thus ensuring the highest quality. This is also indicated in the case of the pigments, the kinds of paper used, and the brushes. Such quality ensures the demand for these paints is continuous, as artists seek professional supplies for their artwork.
Market Trends
Multifunctional products and sustainable practices are a big deal when it comes to modern art materials. Although Chinese watercolors have been around for a long time, they fit perfectly into the current environmental concerns and preferences due to their natural ingredients and traditional techniques. This allows the paints to get quality and sustainable practices at the same time and increases their commercial value.
Art and Education
Academy places teaching Chinese painting and watercolor techniques. Schools and workshops, particularly those that emphasize Eastern art, use these paintings in the curriculum. It also creates a demand for art supplies and promotes the practices and usage of Chinese watercolors.
Transportation
Chinese watercolor pencils should be carried like any other pencil. To avoid harmful substances from getting in and spoiling the lead, China watercolor pencils should be stored in a protective case. Before traveling or storing them, ensure that the tips are sharpened, and the ends are stab-proof. Carrying Chinese watercolor pencils through art kits or school supplies is convenient. Their small, lightweight design makes them ideal for drawing and painting while on the move.
Sketching
Chinese watercolor pencils are meant to be operational; hence, one should do a simple sketch or line art using the sharpened pencil. This initial drawing can be fixed by the main colors that will be additional or left in the form of a simple pencil drawing.
Adding Water
To transform the pencil markings into watercolor, one needs to add water to the pencil tips using a wet brush or a damp blending stub. Just a small quantity of water is required to dissolve the pigments and allow blending with the sketch. Too much water will wash the outlines and destroy the pattern.
Layering
A thin layer of color can be achieved using little water during the blending process. Artists who like using more pigment and washing it will more likely find success with this method of layering. The best way to make the colors more intense is by using a fine brush to add more watercolor onto the paper after the initial wash has dried.
Fixing Mistakes
Allowing the pigments to dry gives a clear idea about the final outcome. If changes are necessary, an artist can use an eraser or a wet tissue to partially remove or blend as much color as required.
Final Touches
Blending the watercolors with a brush gives them a smooth and unified appearance. Take a brush, dampen it, and blend the colors to attain a smooth gradient or transition. It is possible to achieve various effects or deepen some areas by doing this step during the last touches after preliminary washes dry.
Chinese watercolor brushes have pointed ends because this shape allows better control of line variation and detail work. The tip carries an amount of water and pigment, while the brush's belly releases the water as needed during painting.
Frequently, Chinese watercolor ink is fade-resistant and also perceived as permanent. The longevity of any specific watercolor ink will be determined by the quality of the pigments and the binding materials used.
The reason behind the special texture on Chinese watercolor papers is that they absorb ink quickly and retain it. It is a great absorbent of watercolor paint, resulting in vibrant and deep artwork.
To put it simply, the use of quality materials and techniques such as pigment absorption and durability contribute to the painting's durability through time.
To generalize, modern-day Chinese watercolors have more materials and technique flexibility, where there is the use of synthetic pigments and simpler forms of presentation, while the traditional method was geared more toward mastering innate skills on rice paper and using fish glue-based colors and inks.
