Sumi Oriental Ink Set – 15 color ink cakes

I'm fairly new to the art of Japanese Sumi-e and Chinese Brushpainting, but I'm delighted by the materials and the process itself. So zen-like and relaxing and the ink sticks used in this process are miniature works of art in and of themselves. So much so that I felt almost guilty using them, but comforted myself with the knowledge that I'll be able to order more when needed.This set of colored Sumi-e ink sticks are actually small squares of colored ink rather than in the traditional stick form. The box they came in was a bit flimsy, but the materials themselves are beautiful. I recently tried these and love the color they add to my paintings. It's not as bright as the oriental watercolors, but more in line with an actual colored ink. This gives the painting a sort of smoky, tinted effect that is really gorgeous.The Fine Arts Store that sells these is also a high-quality company to purchase art supplies from. I was anxious to get these sticks for an art project I was working on, so emailed the company to inquire when my supplies would be sent. I figured I might get an emailed form response or maybe no response for a few days. Instead I received a personal email the next day explaining that they'd run out, but were getting a new shipment in the next several days. They also emailed me to let me know when they'd received the items into their store and when they'd shipped them out to me. The next day the package arrived. Needless to say I am very impressed with the great customer service and I'll be ordering more supplies from The Fine Arts Store as my art needs grow.

Hard work to grind down for use. Dang art is hard work!

Product came on time and was what I expected it to be.

The sides of the box containing the ink sticks was not very strong, I had to reinforce them Inside and outside, but the ink sticks and the glass cover were intact (thanks to the careful packaging) which is what really mattered. I have tried 3 of these colors: they are not as intense as those of a 5-color sumi ink kit, but are pleasant and on the paper have the soft look of watercolours and transparency. These inksticks colours are permanent when dry which is fantastic - it will enable me to work mixed media and collage which I was hoping for. These small square sticks are not as easy to handle as those of a 5-color sumi ink kit (which are longer and oval) but I am getting used to it. Overall, it's been a good buy. In fact, I bougt this 15-colour kit to complete the 5-colour kit of intense colours which I already have and I am quite happy to own the 15-colours kit. I am looking forward to trying the rest of this 15-colours kit. Hoping that one day some colours will be available in the same format as the 5-colour kit. In reply to a previous comment: an inking stone is always required with ink sticks.

I ordered these and did not get them. I got the 5 pack instead. Im upset

I am not convinced these are ink sticks. I think they are very dry cakes of pigments. I found the ink grainy and inconvenient, a sign of poor quality. I tried to grind them on an ink stone, and then put water on them like pan watercolors. Not worth the money. Get Yatsumoto's or Marie's and work with good colors and black ink.

Christmas gift for my granddaughter. It is just what I was looking for.

The paint cakes are so beautiful. Many colors and high quality. I am just getting started with Sumi water color painting. The kits that are available at the craft retail store are not close to the quality and this kit seems so exotic and special. Price is great too.