Best calligraphy & sumi brushes according to redditors

Asian style inkstone and paintbrushes for calligraphy or what have you.

Similar: https://www.amazon.com/I-MART-Chinese-Calligraphy-Writing-Painting/dp/B074FL5D9X?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_11

That is for Chinese or Japanese calligraphy and painting. Called sumi-e painting style in Japanese. I can tell you the name and use of every part of that kit if you want. Here’s a similar set from amazon
https://www.amazon.com/I-MART-Chinese-Calligraphy-Writing-Painting/dp/B074FL5D9X?keywords=sumie+set&qid=1538031364&sr=8-1&ref=mp_s_a_1_1

[lowest] (http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00136LU5E/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3B9XQV6CY0NFW&coliid=I2JISBK3T8RYSH)

[something else] (http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00G0N4UTS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3MZKKTPS3LUTM&coliid=I2DGW36O38TJD3)

thanks for this contest!

I don't know about anything specific on this subreddit, but I have taken a Chinese calligraphy course offered at my university and could tell you how to get started. Keep in mind that most if not all Chinese calligraphy is done with a brush, so most materials and information out there are assuming that's what you'll use.

The things you need to get started include a brush, ink (either an ink stone or ink made for calligraphy brushes) and paper (rice paper preferred but not necessary). Things I found really helpful when I was studying were quick drying paper that are made to practice brush calligraphy on (https://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Calligraphy-Rewritable-Beginners-Practice/dp/B01N22TD6K). You just dip your pen in water and practice on this. It doesn't feel 100% like you're using ink and brush, but it will save you some mess and paper if you're looking for some quick practice. There are lots of YouTube videos on how to get the strokes down, and putting in the time is really important. It's an art that takes years to master and by the end of the semester, very few students actually had anything worth showing off.

Based off of my own experience... see if you can find a physical shop instead. Ordering online is going to be somewhat iffy. Sets are almost always tourist traps with low-quality brushes and ink, made more to be seen than to be used. I would suggest buying the equipment separately and packaging them up yourself.

So! Actual stuff:

• Paper: Rice paper, full stop. Something like this would work - Japanese and Chinese calligraphy share tools, so it doesn't really matter if you use one or the other. Gridded paper would also be nice.
  
  
• Ink: Get black sumi ink, which should be available at art supply shops as well as online. I recommend the bottled stuff to begin with, because it's just so much less of a hassle than trying to get the appropriate level of thickness if you're grinding an inkstick. If you do decide to get an ink stick, be sure to get an ink stone as well. I prefer the rectangular ones, but that's personal preference. You add a little water on the deep end, then dip the end of your inkstick in the water and grind on the flat portion at the top until the ink is as thick as you want.
  
  
• Brush: I'd say a medium sized wolf or goat hair brush, like this one.
  
  
• Other nice things: something like this practice book might be nice. Look for water-based practice sheets - the idea is you write over it in water, let it dry, and then you can reuse it. From my brief look at the preview, this book looks decent and also has good reviews. I like its stroke-by-stroke breakdown with examples.
  
  One thing's for sure - if your boyfriend isn't already learning the language, it will kick his ass, because the writing system is just so different. If he's not learning the language, he will also be limited to whatever words come in the instruction book, because it's not like in alphabets where if you know all 26/52 symbols you can write what you want. Each character is unique, and though there's a standard stroke order, you have to just be able to recognise the character in order to write it.
  
  Learning Chinese calligraphy from written sources is going to be hard. If at all possible, see if your local area offers Chinese calligraphy classes for beginners. It really, really helps to have a teacher who can correct your brushwork. A lot of the expressiveness and beauty of Chinese calligraphy IMO comes from understanding what it is that you're writing, and how it should look proportionally, and these things are hard to understand just by reading.

It's a Chinese Calligraphy Set

Here is a basic sumi starter kit with the ink stone and block.
https://www.amazon.com/Teagas-Chinese-Calligraphy-Writing-Painting/dp/B00S0K5YMG/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=sumi&qid=1572882469&sr=8-3


Premade sumi ink
https://www.amazon.com/Hmayart-Japanese-Calligraphy-Traditional-Painting/dp/B07JYJ6C1W/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?keywords=sumi&qid=1572882533&sr=8-15

Watercolor brush pens
https://www.amazon.com/Coloring-Ohuhu-Painting-Water-Base-Watercolor/dp/B01LZ8NUHW/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?keywords=watercolor+brush+pens&qid=1572882779&sprefix=watercolor+brush&sr=8-6

[anything having to do with art] (http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-calligraphy-writing-brush-painting/dp/B0009VS6RE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=QXDWUWG8EFDA&coliid=I2KT30X969Q7YE) its my passion its my escape its how i dont flip out on customers everyday, my art means everything and i love to try new forms and means to achieve something that i created:) "Purple Nurple

Japanese ink stick.

Amazon - Japanese calligraphy ink stick

Wikipedia article

Happy Birthday young pup!

If you were to buy me anything I would like to get this. http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-calligraphy-writing-brush-painting/dp/B0009VS6RE/ref=reg_hu-rd_dp_img (sorry, the link button in the comments section seems to not want to work for me lately)

Stay safe out there!!

Exactly you are getting it. It is also the perfect time to get some yellowed papper and work on your calligraphy Game JS Bitches Love Calligraphy.

Everyones posting books haha. Not sure how much you want to spend but here is a lil list. Basically just a list of things I love.

C-THRU Accu Spec II Type Gauge and Specifier Set gauge and specifier set
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015ASPM4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ynkaCb6RAAWP1

Zig INPK-001 Calligraphy Practice Kit
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HDYC1R0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ItkaCb421S3GK

Calligraphy Starter Kit - Beginner Calligraphy Lettering Set - Beginning Modern Calligraphy DIY Kit - Oblique Pen Hand Lettering with Nib
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AML1OVA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QukaCbF9BCRPY

Not sure how viable this one is but I worked with the Glyphs software before and it is amazing. I had it for mac, it allows you to make your own fonts.

You could also have a letter in his favourite font 3d printed which is really cool. I think it would be roughly $40 for something about “2x”2x”1.

Lastly if you could get him some oldschool Letraset sheets. Chartpak 1000 Vinyl Letters and Numbers -20 Numbers, 569 Capital Letter -0.3-Inch -Black
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B002XIHXJS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_oAkaCb8VHYWZ6

I second this suggestion! My handwriting is mediocre at best, but I’m really digging brush lettering. I just made some cards for my bridesmaids this morning (yay rainy day off work) and it was really relaxing. I asked for this kit from Amazon last Christmas. It’s basic but I think it’s a good start and you get a nice variety of pens.