Traditional Chinese Paint Set – 12 Water-Based Pigments for Guohua, Washes, and Brushwork
This traditional Chinese paint set includes 12 tubes of 12 ml for brush painting, washes, guohua, and color studies on absorbent paper.
The pigments gradually dilute with water, allowing for light layering, fluid gradients, and variations in density without excessive opacity.
Suitable for landscapes, botanical compositions, line studies, and color passages, these paints react particularly well on Xuan paper, rice paper, and natural fiber supports.
INFORMATION
These water-based paints are designed for brush practices: loading, diluting, applying color, allowing the material to spread into the paper fibers, then returning with a denser value to reinforce certain areas.
Unlike highly opaque paint, this type of pigment allows for working with transparency, successive layers, and water variations. The white of the paper remains important in constructing light.
The result depends on the paper, the amount of water, the brush load, the speed of the stroke, and the number of superimposed passes.
FEATURES
Type: Water-based pigments
Contents: 12 tubes of 12 ml
Texture: Fluid cream, easily dilutable
Usage: Guohua, washes, brush painting, line work, landscapes, botanical compositions
Compatibility: Xuan paper, rice paper, absorbent natural fiber supports
Box dimensions: approximately 250 × 200 × 50 mm
Function: Dilute, layer, shade, strengthen values, and work with color by brush
USAGE & CARE
Place a small amount of pigment on a palette, then gradually dilute with water. Starting light allows for better value control before adding denser material.
For a light wash, increase the water content and work quickly. For a more intense color, reduce water or layer several coats after drying.
Test the color on a scrap of the same paper before a final composition. Highly absorbent paper will allow the color to penetrate the fibers faster; treated paper will maintain a more stable line.
Close tubes after use, clean brushes with clear water, and allow the palette to dry before storing.
TO BE PAIRED WITH
To observe pigment diffusion, this set can be paired with
handmade Xuan paper,
semi-ripe Xuan paper
or the
semi-treated plant-fiber workshop roll.
For line work, colored washes, and variations in load, you can use it with the
bamboo calligraphy brush,
the
traditional rabbit hair brush
or the
set of 5 Chinese calligraphy brushes.
To prepare mixes, measure water, and keep colors separate, it can complement the
compartmented ceramic palette.
To rest brushes between passes and preserve the tips, you can also consider the
jade-effect ceramic brush rest
or the
hanging calligraphy brush holder.
🤍 Ikane Workshop Tip
Start with plenty of water and little pigment. Nuances often appear in lighter layers before more saturated passes: it's better to build slowly than to cover too quickly.
