Why is Calligraphy Ink Expensive?
As a calligrapher I am heavily dependent on good ink. Good ink is a treasure, but also a necessity. Good ink yields better results, especially when doing brush style calligraphy. It is even more imperative for achieving the range of tones needed in brush style painting. A good ink can produce a gradation of tones like a musical scale, from pale gray to dark black. A poor ink will give black and a flat gray, with perhaps one tonal gradation in between. It is not just about the immediate results. A poor ink will not age will. The ink will spread through the paper fibers over time, blurring the calligraphy. It will discolor or fade. If you receive calligraphy work from me rest assured that I’ve used excellent ink. Why put so much work into something while using cheap materials?