Collection: Calligraphy, Hake, and Sumi Brushes (11 products)

Special artistries require special tools; the Sumi brush was created for just such a purpose. The Sumi-e technique, also referred to as ink wash painting, was originally developed in ancient China and then introduced to Japan in the 14th century. \"Sumi-e\" is one of the Japanese names for the art form, the other being \"suiboku-ga.\" A Sumi-e brush is similar to a brush used for calligraphy, tapered to a point to provide both broad and thin strokes as desired. Our brushes come from four brands: Holbein, Silver Brush, Yasutomo, and our own Cheap Joe's.

Holbein Hake brushes are great for priming your canvas with gesso, creating big washes, or applying loads of color to your painting. Each Sumi brush is constructed by attaching long goat hair to a natural and lightweight wooden handle in the traditional Oriental style, complete with stitched-in tufts. Though it's great for ink wash painting, it's also useful for all kinds of different media.

Resilient and long-lasting, Silver Brush Atelier Hake Brushes are handcrafted with only the highest standard goat hair. The soft bristles have a silky feel and a natural high-absorbency to hold as much color as possible. Each Sumi-e brush is securely sewn with copper wire to a natural wood handle, making it perfect for washes, dry brush blending, and so much more.

Yasutomo makes calligraphy brushes, Hake brushes, combination pen-and-brushes, and Sumi brushes, all made from bamboo. The Sumi Brush is made from horse, badger, deer, cat, and sheep hair, featuring a sharp tip and firm body that enables it to perform a variety of different brush strokes. The softness of the bristles allows color to be held extremely well, making it a great all-purpose brush. Each comes with a loop for hanging. Meanwhile, the Yasutomo Flat Hake Brush is a sheep-hair brush that is great for covering large areas with color in a wide range of media. It's particularly well-suited for ceramic art; the flat handle and the soft hair provide excellent brush control, and even though it's inexpensive, it's well made and long-lasting.

Have questions about any of our brands or brushes? No problem! Our customer service team is excited to answer all of your concerns.