Easyou Hukaiwen Ink Block 12 Colors Pigment Ink Stick Set for Chinese Japanese Traditional Pigment Color Calligraphy and Painting Drawing Small

These many not be fire everyone. They are a soft slightly muted shade on paper. They can be as sheer or opaque as you would like by using less water or more from the ink stick. Just playing around I was able to layer the same color in varied shades easily. I was also able to mix them for other colors. They also seem to have a bit of a granulating effect wet on wet with different colors. Obviously none of this is the original intent but, it is amazing as an art supply. A lovely water based ink.

I’m not an artist, so keep this in mind when reading this review. I’m also just starting out grinding my own ink, so have a lot to learn. As others have noted, the colors are, indeed, very vibrant, almost intense. This is a major difference in the few other Chinese color ink sticks I’ve used so far in the limited amount of time I’ve been trying this - not to be critical of the other ink sticks, just something to beware of. This collection and the others I’ve used are all great when used in works where their characteristics help. I’ve attached a very quick painting of a roadside scene in Texas at the height of a wildflower bloom. Several of the ink sticks used together produced a very realistic rendition of the Bluebonnets. Ditto for the Indian Paintbrushes. The yellow and green combined worked well for the grass. Beware, there’s no black in this collection. I attempted to mix the darkest stick (thinking it was black) with the green to produce some shadows in the trees - as you can see, no luck. This is actually a blue or violet, albeit very dark. And I need to work a little harder on the trees - I’m not very good yet. The paper used proved to produce a lot of feathering - again a characteristic that’s a mixed bag. I feel this was what was needed to capture the line of trees in the distant background, not so much if one wants sharp detail. One also needs to use the right choice of brushes. I used this painting to “go to school” on, so used only one (mediocre) brush. I could’ve done a bit better using some of the good brushes I have and using the right brush for the right subject. I’m very pleased with this product, I just need to hone my skills and use the right paper/brush(es) so I can use this product to its fullest potential.

Easyou Hukaiwen Ink Block 12 colors small set:The colors are pretty good , they have a very earthy tone to them, the stick size is 6.5 cm on 1.5 cm.But this madium is not made for kids!Because of the natural pigments they are indeed toxic, be carefull when using them, to not eat or sniff or apply on your skin ( for long time/open cut)!But overall these are a very good quality inks, they blend smoothlly and vibrant, and they make a very relaxing painting experience (as long as you take a basic care while using them )Hope it helped😊

Considering professional quality ink sticks typically go for around ~$10 per ink stick, I'd say this is a fantastic price for fairly pigmented ink. The only one I wasn't really happy with was the white, which I suspect is more of a zinc white that was included and not titanium as it seems really transparent no matter how much I grinded it. But, again- if you are looking for a starter set for ink stone painting, this is an excellent find. :) It's also good as a supplement to watercolor, just make sure you put down watercolor first.

I have practiced Chinese calligraphy as a child in school (and nudged by my parents) many, many years ago but have never used colored ink sticks prior to purchase of this product. To me this seems a novelty and since I recently have a resurgence in interest for art, I bought this set to compliment my watercolor set (Holbein), not to use together but as another medium to experiment with.My first impression of the product is very positive. I first opened the box and there was a pleasant scent that is reminiscent of my childhood. The colors were very vibrant and as I picked up each ink stick, they were small but felt substantial (heavier than the traditional black ink sticks as the pigments were mineral based). There was some confusion as to the weights of the material, but I found the seller easy to talk to and the error was corrected quickly and to my satisfaction. It had been an honest mistake and the interaction was pleasant.I haven't tried all the colors yet, but I do like the vibrancy of the colors and the effects that I get on paper that is very reminiscent of Chinese paintings that I have seen in the past. You definitely get a very different effect than what is considered traditional watercolors, which I also love, but this has a "flavor" so to speak, of its own. I enjoyed the set thus far and I look forward to continuing to experiment with the set to create artwork.

I'm beginning in art and hadn't experienced using this kind of ink stick, so I haven't the background to speak on quality. But for myself, I am personally thrilled. These colors are rich and gorgeous. The amount of grinding needed for plenty of ink is so small. Grinding and mixing ink is a calm meditative practice that is helping me to focus and more deeply enjoy creating something of possible beauty. Every purchase I have made from Easyou has been a perfect transaction, and I couldn't be more pleased to find this ancient style, new to me. Thank you!

Absolutely wonderful ink sticks

These ink sticks are just what I was looking for. The colors are bright and come in a very useful assortment. When dry on paper, the inks are brushproof and water resistant. You can apply a watercolor wash over them and they will not run, feather, or bleed. They grind easily on both of my suzuris. The pigment particles are too small to bridge up in the slit of a dip pen.The ink sticks came well packed in a flat wooden box and suffered no shipment damage.