
Cover Picture

Cover pictures by master of bamboo painting and calligraphy Zheng BanQiao 郑板桥 (artistic name of 鄭燮 Zheng Xie), 1693–1765. He is probably the most famous artist who specializes in painting bamboos. He even created his own very unique style of calligraphy.
Inkston Notes
Bamboo has played an important role in Chinese culture. See inkston article on the Bamboo sea and watch out for the second article on Bamboo painting.
It is not easy to paint bamboo well. It needs a lot of patience and practice. Here are some principles extracted from the Manual of Mustard Seed Garden.
Bamboo Stems
The stem of the Bamboo is like a pole composed of many sections or segments and each segment is separated by special bamboo joints. Observing closely, you will find that the top of bamboo has shorter segments, the middle has longer segments, and closer to the roots the segments are shorter again. Therefore, you should reflect this variation in the painting.
Joints and leaves:
Chinese characters: The bamboo joints are like a powerful circle with a shape of Chinese character ‘心’, which means heart in English, without those 3 dots. You can try to practice writing this Chinese character. There are also two basic structures which can be represented by Chinese characters for bamboo leaves: 个, and 人. Therefore, it would be very helpful for you to practice these three Chinese characters.
Bamboo leaves:
- When painting bamboo leaves, please choose a brush which can hold a lot of water.
- Do not be hesitant when painting. Paint the leaves confidently with one neat stroke, passing the strength from your arm to the bamboo leaves via your brush.
- Observe closely both the natural bamboos and the representations by famous artists such as Zheng Banqiao.
- The painting is expressed entirely by changing shades of black. Therefore, it is very useful to practice ‘ 5 blackness’ (also see how Chinese artist Wang ZiRang talks about ‘five colours of ink’ 墨粉五彩).
All in all, it might seem easy to paint bamboo. Nevertheless, to paint bamboo well needs a lot of practice and knowledge. It is not surprising that some experienced artists might fail on painting bamboos. Observe and analyse the real bamboos. You can also refer to inkston’s bamboo sea album.
Now, put together your tools and start your first serious bamboo painting!
Video
Mustard Seed Garden Video tutorial by Chinese artist Wu Peng 吴蓬, who was born in 1941 and currently researcher of Shanghai Calligraphy and Painting Institute. He is especially famous for calligraphy (Oracle) and flower paintings.
【芥子园画谱技法讲座】 18(二)兰竹梅菊(05 06)竹
Pictures
Related pictures from the Mustard Seed Garden book.
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Materials for Painting Bamboo
Materials are simple: brushes (combo hair brush, wool brush), black ink, raw Xuan paper.
If you want to paint such Bamboos, you can choose high grade oil soot inkstick, combo hair brush and wool (goat hair) brush, and inkston 3338 Xuan paper, Extra Fine 6575 Xuan Paper.
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Bamboo Inkstick Gripper
Please note that we have updated the gripper to a better version which is made with fine wood. Photos will soon be updated. Feature: it is used to grip a small inkstick firmly to grind or rub it on the inkstone. It is a very handy and useful small inkstick tool. $4.40 (USD)
Brand: inkston
Materials: Bamboo
Product Size: 10.5 × 2 × 1 cm
Shipping size: 10.5 × 4 × 2 cm
Shipping weight: 20 gBamboo Inkstick Gripper
$4.40 (USD) Add -
INKSTON 3338 Plus Xuan Paper
INKSTON 3338 Plus Xuan paper contains 33-38% Pteroceltis Tatarinowii tree bark, it is untreated/unsized (raw/uncooked in Chinese) and is suitable for both painting and calligraphy. This is fine 45gsm paper, in large 138x70cm size (I sheet has a surface area equivalent to 15 sheets A4). Available in pack sizes: 10 sheets (0.4kg net weight) 25 sheets half size (0.5kg net weight)…$19.80 – $143.00
Brand: inkston
Maker: Inkston
Materials: 棉料 Mian Liao
Recommend to: Advanced Level, Beginners, Medium Level, Professionals
Suitable for: Calligraphy, Chinese PaintingINKSTON 3338 Plus Xuan Paper
$19.80 – $143.00 Choose -
INKSTON Extra Fine 6575 Plus Xuan Paper
INKSTON Extra Fine 6575 Plus Xuan paper contains 65-75% Pteroceltis Tatarinowii tree bark, it is untreated/unsized (raw/uncooked in Chinese) and is suitable for both painting and calligraphy. To make the Extra Fine grade Xuan paper the fibres are steamed/boiled and the pulp mixed for longer than usual. This makes the paper finer and stronger than normal Xuan Paper. This is fine 40gsm…$24.20 – $177.87
Brand: inkston
Maker: Inkston
Materials: 净皮 Jing Pi
Recommend to: Advanced Level, Beginners, Medium Level, Professionals
Suitable for: Calligraphy, Chinese PaintingINKSTON Extra Fine 6575 Plus Xuan Paper
$24.20 – $177.87 Choose -
Inkston WsWl 古法白云 GuFa BaiYun “Traditional White Cloud ” 兼毫 Jian Hao Combination Brush Set
Special Feature: 60 – 65% weasel hair, 35 – 40% wool. The inside part is weasel hair; the outside part is wool.
$53.81$45.74
Brand: inkston
Maker: Xu Shi Chun
Materials: Bamboo, JianHao hair
Packaging: silk sleeve
Recommend to: Advanced Level, Beginners, Medium Level, Professionals
Suitable for: Calligraphy, Chinese Painting, 写意画 Freehand Painting, 楷书 KaiShu Regular Script calligraphy, 花鸟画 Flower and Bird painting, 草书 CaoShu "grass" Cursive Script calligraphy
Brush Hair Size: 4 * 0.9 cm, 3.6 * 0.8 cm, 3.3 * 0.7 cm
Product Size: 28 x 1,1 x 1,1 cm, 28 x 1 x 1 cm, 26,2 x 0,9 x 0,9 cm
Product Weight: 16
Shipping size: 96.5 × 8 × 7 cmInkston WsWl 古法白云 GuFa BaiYun “Traditional White Cloud ” 兼毫 Jian Hao Combination Brush Set
-15%$53.81$45.74 Add to cart -
郑板桥 Zheng BanQiao Bamboo Inksticks Set
This is a set of black inksticks specially made for painting in the style of Zheng BanQiao (郑板桥, also known as 鄭燮 Zheng Xie), famous for his paintings of bamboo and special calligraphy. There are four inksticks in each set. The inksticks are packed very well in a fine traditional Chinese silk-lined wooden box. The four inksticks are the same ink…
$86.90$75.90 (USD)
Brand: 老胡開文墨莊 Old Hu Kai Wen Ink Workshop
Colour: Black
Materials: 全烟 Quan Soot
Packaging: Traditional Chinese Silk Lined Box
Recommend to: Advanced Level, Beginners, Collectors, Medium Level, Professionals
Suitable for: Calligraphy, Chinese Painting, Collection
Product Size: 26.5 × 21.5 × 3.6 cm
Product Weight: 119g*4郑板桥 Zheng BanQiao Bamboo Inksticks Set
Sale!$86.90$75.90 (USD) Add
For Zheng BanQiao style calligraphy, all the inkston handmade Xuan papers are suitable. Inkston also has made a special Xuan paper for calligraphy. The special percentage combination of raw materials and of processing methods make this paper perfect for calligraphy.
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Inkston Decorated Xuan Paper pack (ldxp-024)
One pack includes 5 sheets of unmounted decorated Xuan paper. This type of Xuan Paper is thin and similar to single layer handmade Xuan Paper thickness. Paper is handmade with printed design.$5.50 (USD)
Brand: inkston
Recommend to: Advanced Level, Beginners, Medium Level, Professionals
Suitable for: Calligraphy, Chinese Painting
Product Size: 138 × 35 × 0.3 cm
Product Weight: 180
Shipping size: 40 × 35 × 0.3 cmInkston Decorated Xuan Paper pack (ldxp-024)
$5.50 (USD) Add -
INKSTON Expert Calligraphy Xuan Paper
INKSTON Expert Calligraphy Xuan paper contains 65 to 75% Pteroceltis Tatarinowii tree bark, it is untreated/unsized (raw/uncooked in Chinese) and is suitable for both painting and calligraphy, especially recommendable for calligraphy. Expert Calligraphy Xuan paper is made with Pteroceltis Tatarinowii which is only steamed and boiled once. Extra work is done on the pulp production to make the paper finer and…$20.90 – $153.03
Brand: inkston
Materials: 净皮 Jing PiINKSTON Expert Calligraphy Xuan Paper
$20.90 – $153.03 Choose
Books
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Chieh Tzu Yuan Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden 芥子园画传 Set of 4 Volumes
Price is for the set of 4 books.$45.78
Brand: inkston
Product Weight: ,,,
Shipping size: 98 × 68.6 × 11.8 cmChieh Tzu Yuan Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden 芥子园画传 Set of 4 Volumes
$45.78 Add to cart -
Chieh Tzu Yuan Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden 芥子园画传 single book
Price is for 1 book from the set.$9.55 – $13.34
Brand: inkstonChieh Tzu Yuan Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden 芥子园画传 single book
$9.55 – $13.34 Choose -
Laws Divine and Human – Zhao MengFu Small Regular Calligraphy
A very nice copy of Laws Divine and Human of Zhao MengFu's small regular script calligraphy. It is a very handy and nice books for calligraphy student and professionals. Zhao's regular script is very elegant and fresh. Author: 老子 Lao Zi, philosopher in the Spring and Autumn Period, founder of Taoism. Calligrapher: 赵孟頫 Zhao MengFu Publishing House: Hu Bei Art Publishing…$6.05 (USD)
Brand: inkston
Suitable for: Calligraphy, Chinese Painting
Product Size: 25.4 × 18 × 0.5 cm
Product Weight: 141Laws Divine and Human – Zhao MengFu Small Regular Calligraphy
$6.05 (USD) Add -
Song Lyrics in Paintings
A very fine book on ancient Chinese poems. It is translated by professor 許淵冲 Xu YuanChong (1921- ) from Peking University. In 1999, he was nominated for Nobel Literature Prize. Each poem is not only available in Chinese and English, but also accompanied with a traditional Chinese painting which is done by modern Chinese artist. It is a very good…$27.50 (USD)
Brand: inkston
Suitable for: Calligraphy, Chinese Painting
Product Size: 23.6 × 17.3 × 2 cm
Product Weight: 662Song Lyrics in Paintings
$27.50 (USD) Add -
恽寿平 Yun Shou Ping Landscape Flowers and Birds Painting Album
Author: Yun Shou Ping 恽寿平(Qing Dynasty) Publishing House: China Book Shop 中国书店 1st edition, published on 1 January, 2013 Name: Yun Shou Ping Painting Album Series Name: Chinese Ancient Painting Collection Page: 8 pages ISBN: 9787514907018$7.81 (USD)
Brand: inkston
Suitable for: 花鸟画 Flower and Bird painting
Shipping size: 37.2 × 26.8 × 0.6 cm
Shipping weight: 240 g恽寿平 Yun Shou Ping Landscape Flowers and Birds Painting Album
$7.81 (USD) Add
Bamboo Design
Our ceramic artists have created a series of beautiful bamboo-inspired ceramics and we also have some nice bamboo fans for your own painting.
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Bamboo Pen/Brush Rest
Designed by Oriental Garden Size: 5.8 * 1.3 cm, 18 grams. (All handmade pieces, so the size and weight might vary slightly piece to piece.) Handmade: 7 days. Price is per piece.$3.30 (USD)
Brand: inkston
Shipping size: 10 × 5 × 3 cm
Shipping weight: 25 gBamboo Pen/Brush Rest
$3.30 (USD) Add -
Ceramic Brush Holder (Bamboo Design)
Handmade ceramic brush holder which is designed to be a green bamboo. It has all the details of bamboo shaft. Designer: Ban Hui from Oriental Garden$44.37 (USD)
Brand: inkston
Product Size: 15 × 7 × 7 cmCeramic Brush Holder (Bamboo Design)
$44.37 (USD) Add -
Classic Ceramic Brush Rest (bamboo)
Size: 16.5 * 3 * 2 cm Made at inkston Jing De Zhen ceramic workshop. It can hold 5 brushes.$4.95 (USD)
Shipping size: 16.5 × 3 × 2 cm
Shipping weight: 250 gClassic Ceramic Brush Rest (bamboo)
$4.95 (USD) Add -
Handmade Ceramic Water Dropper (Bamboo design)
Designer: Oriental Garden Handmade; available to ship worldwide. Weight: 70 grams Size: 4.6 * 4.6 * 5 cm $28.37 (USD)
Shipping size: 4.6 × 4.6 × 5 cm
Shipping weight: 70 gHandmade Ceramic Water Dropper (Bamboo design)
$28.37 (USD) Add -
Inkston Painting Fan (Fabric and Bamboo)
Suitable for watercolor painting. Handmade with fine fabric and well-polished bamboo. Size when folded: 33 * 3 * 2 cm. Size when opened: 60 * 33 * 3 cm. Handmade and designed by Inkston in China. Handmade fan made with bamboo and fabric. The fabric is especially processed and it is suitable for watercolor paintings. You can either draw or…$9.57 (USD)
Brand: inkston
Packaging: silk sleeveInkston Painting Fan (Fabric and Bamboo)
$9.57 (USD) Add