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Water Dropper in Ink Painting and Calligraphy A water-dropper, known in Japanese as suiteki - 水滴 , is a unique container made especially to hold water for usage in ink painting and calligraphy practice. This container design vary in size, shape and material, with the single intention to allow only one drop of water, at a time, to be poured out onto the ink or colour pigments palette. When you think about it, water is the main substance used with ink for painting and calligraphy. And so its container has a significant importance. It is the water that connects together the ink, the brush and the paper, known as the 'treasures'. The water is the plasma that allows for beautiful ink marks, and flow of calligraphy writing. Thus the water-dropper, even though it has not officially been included with the traditional ‘four treasures’ tools of painting and calligraphy, is of great value, and is known as an essential part of the calligrapher desk and the ink painter studio kit. How does it work? Although small and humble, water-droppers are highly sophisticated objects. The container has to have two holes in its design, one to allow drops of water out, whilst the other allow air to go in. In this way the pouring of water is controlled by the artist. The angle with which the water-dropper is held, determine the speed and how many drops will flow. ceramic water dropper in the form of a folded lotus Leaf with crab and frog I 19th C I Hirado Mikawachi ware I porcelain with celadon glaze, blue and iron glazes I LACMA The design of a water dropper Considering its function, the design of a water-dropper is quite challenging. To create a small container with two holes that can be held in the palm of the hand. It needs to be simple and practical to function. These small containers have become objects carrying symbology and meaning. They have evolved as miniature sculptures of complexity and a collectible highly valued items. The materials used for making these fine objects are multiples. From metal such as bronze, copper, silver or brass, to various types of stones such as jade and amber. Most popular are water-droppers made of ceramic with decoration and various motifs. The design of the pouring spout can be with a handle, or just a drop like hole. It can also be a more open shape with larger opening. The shapes of the container has many times a reference to the value of water. It may be from shapes of traditional water container designs, such as a gourd, a tea-pot or even a water droplet. Or a shape with references to plant or an animals living in or by water, such as a lotus flower, a water-frog, a dragonfly or a fish. Other designs carry a particular symbolic meaning relating to the nature of the year, such as the year of the hare or other zodiac animals. Or it may be a reminder of well known Zen teaching, like the boy and the ox motif, reflecting on a well known zen lesson about the nature of enlightenment. These unique containers can also be engraved and painted with fine landscape decoration, or a reference to a source of water, like reeds by the river, a waterfalls, a mystical landscape with water source. Even cracked ice as in the sample here. How to fill up a water-dropper ? The way to fill up a water-dropper is by dipping it in a larger container of clear water. Once you place your water-dropper inside, you will see air bubbles coming out. That means it is getting filled up. When no more bubbles coming up, it is full, ready to be used. Take it out of the larger container, wipe it dry on the outside surface and you are ready for your practice. Care for your water-dropper To care for you water-dropper, make sure you keep it clean and wrapped with a piece of cloth when you travel with it so it does not crack or break. Every so often you can place it in a bigger container with water and few drops of vinegar. This will clean any scaling that may have built up. You can leave it overnight and make sure to wash well and refill with clear water. Further research As you can see from this brief introduction, water-droppers hold a world within them, not just water. With quite an ingenious, simple and ancient technique, they have become a unique collectors items. You can further your study of water-droppers by visiting selected Asian art museums fine collections around the world, usually in their calligraphy or ceramic display section. Also, you may find them coming up from time to time at Asian art auction houses and galleries. So when you next find these little objects with two holes in them, you will know what they are and what they are used for. Getting your own tool-set As an ink practitioner you may wish to have your own water dropper. In the three sets, curated by Talia for students, you will find water-droppers as part of the tool-kit. * STUDIO SETS - Quality Japanese MADE sets Traveller Set This set has a small blue and white rectangular water-drooper with flowers and water reeds elements painted on it. Celedon Set This set has a beautiful circular celadon water-dropper. Blue & White Set This set has a circular blue and white water-drooper painted with a mountain landscape surrounded by water and a boat. To read further comprehensive essays on the ink artist practitioner tools-set and more - check out ArtBrush Library Find out your favourite Japanese ink painting courses with ArtBrush Online HERE You are invited to download and/or printout for ease of use. Enjoy the read.

Japanese Watercolours 水彩 'suisai' You are invited to download and/or printout for ease of use. Enjoy the read. Create your watercolour chart A good way to get a 'feel' for your watercolours when you first get them, is to create your own chart. To do so, on a piece of white paper mark with a ruler and black pen, as many squares as you have colours in your set. In my example below I marked 18 of them. Place this clear chart underneath any paper you enjoy painting on, and fill each square with one of the colours, in order. Begin to fill the whole square with light colour and then another layer with darker colour. Each time, fill less and less of the square. This way you will have a sense of the lightness and depth of colour you can reach with each colour. You can use the clear chart on various types of paper so you learn how the paper effect the colour shades. Tool sets for you - available from Talia's studio while stock last Get your own Japanese ink painting tools and materials - Choose from three sets carefully curated by Talia.

You are invited to download and/or printout for ease of use. Enjoy the read. Get your own Japanese ink painting tools and materials - Choose from three sets carefully curated by Talia

Painted Poetry or Poetic Painting The unique genre of haiga in Japanese ink painting Within the rich tradition of Japanese ink painting the painted image and written word have always been interrelated. The artistic training included both writing beautiful calligraphic characters, as well as painting various themes and subjects with minimal strokes. Painted ink poems has evolved as a unique artistic format that has come to be known as haiga. Please download and/or printout the essay and enjoy the read. Thank you for visiting the library. Learn More > For an in-depth painting course tutorial 'The Four Noble Ones' you are invited to join ArtBrush Foundation course Sign up for a one-time payment of £220 > > For individual painting tutorials please check the link HERE > Recommended further read - Haiga, Takebe Sōchō and the Haiku-Painting tradition / Addiss Stephen and Fumiko Y. Yamamoto, exhibition catalogue. You can get your copy on this affiliate link > Purchase on Amazon HERE > Recommended further studies - In depth FREE, U-tube recorded series of lectures on 'The three perfections' in Japanese art history, by Dr. John Carpenter- Japanese art curator at the MET, and Talia former Japanese art history professor you are invited to view - HERE

Footprints of enlightenment The ink painting of Zen master Hakuin

Calligraphy net for practice - Print and use under your practice paper