7.5 cm Inkstone – Grinding Surface for Calligraphy and Sumi-e
This 7.5 cm round inkstone allows you to grind an ink stick with a few drops of water, to prepare liquid ink for calligraphy, sumi-e, or brush drawing.
Its compact size is suitable for beginners, small workshop tables, and regular practices that do not require a large grinding surface.
The ink concentration is adjusted manually: the longer the grinding, the denser the black becomes. With more water or a shorter grinding time, the ink remains lighter, useful for washes.
INFORMATION
The inkstone is used to produce ink from a solid stick. It does not contain ink itself; it provides the grinding surface needed to gradually mix water and the pigmented material.
This 3-inch size is suitable for beginners, density tests, calligraphy exercises, and small quantities of ink prepared on demand.
The final result depends on the ink stick, the amount of water, the grinding time, the brush, and the paper used.
CHARACTERISTICS
Diameter: 7.5 cm, or 3 inches
Material: Natural stone
Level: Beginner and regular practice
Use: Grinding ink stick, calligraphy, sumi-e, washes, ink drawing
USE & CARE
Place a few drops of clear water on the stone, then rub the ink stick in regular circular motions. There's no need to press hard: the grinding should remain slow and controlled.
For lighter ink, add a little more water or reduce the grinding time. For a deeper black, prolong the motion until a denser ink is obtained.
After use, rinse the stone with clear water, without aggressive products, then let it dry naturally before storing.
COMPOSE YOUR INK KIT
To prepare ink, this stone can be paired with the
16 cm solid ink stick,
suitable for manual grinding and varying ink concentrations.
For line work, it can accompany the
bamboo calligraphy brush,
the
traditional rabbit hair brush
or the
set of 5 Chinese calligraphy brushes.
For balanced ink diffusion, you can use it with the
semi-ripe Xuan paper
or the
handmade Xuan paper.
For a larger surface or a pre-composed set, you can also check out the
natural inkstone with lid
or the
inkstone and beginner's stick set.
🤍 Ikane workshop tip
Do not force it. Let the weight of the stick do the work and maintain a regular circular motion. The quality of the black depends on time, water, and the consistency of the movement.
