Four things to remember when usuing a Japanese calligraphy brush will ensure that you’re on your way to producing some fine Japanese calligraphy.
1). Keep the palm open.
2). Maintain the shaft of the brush in a vertical position.
3). The wrist and the elbow of the arm holding the brush should not make contact with the surface of the table.
4). Try to hold the brush firmly without allowing the fingers to become too tense.
You should only use around a third of the brush hairs for writing to maintain a balance between the ink that is absorbed into the brush while keeping the tip springy.
Types of Calligraphy Brushes
There are two basic Japanese calligraphy brushes used by master calligraphers - the hosefude (”slender brush”) and the futofude (”thick brush”).
The sumi brush is unlike other brushes in that it is composed of two separate parts. A central core which is made of relatively stiff hairs and determines the function of the brush. The outer hairs are softer and more absorbant giving the brush the capability of producing smooth strokes.
Yasutomo brushes come in a range of sizes and are made from a stiff horse hair, useful for finer lettering with fine lines. The Yasutomo brushes can be used with sumi ink, or a range of acrylic, oil and watercolor paints.