chinese paint/ink versus other

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so you want to try chinese painting or you just want to try rice paper.....a few words of wisdom from a master(not me) teacher. he has guided me on my eastern journey for many many years. chinese watercolors are not the same as the regular watercolors available on the market today. they are made to withstand layering to an Nth degree.and so, constantly being rewet. and when the final mounting(westerners call it stretching) takes place, the entire painting whether rice paper or silk, is sprayed and covered with a liquid paste. after mounting is accomplished(another story) the painting springs to life. all those layers of color are seen shining through each other creating a whole. these watercolors tend to be more opaque and their chemical composition is different also. by-the-way, a secret is hidden in that paste to detere even the most aggressive paper eating bug. the ink or inkstick is unique to the asian culture as well. until fairly recent, liquid ink was not evented in china. ink sticks have been used since time immemorial. they differ both in property and materials from which it is made.the principal materials are lampblack and glue and do differ from those used in the west for making writing ink. thie brush and rice used in chinese painting/calligraphy are of a different character and india ink is just not suitable. good luck on your journey east. more about the rice paper and silk in other blog.