MT020 Hmayart Quality Ink Stick Block for Sumi-e Painting Gongbi Drawing Ink Painting and Brush Shodo Calligraphy (120g)

Update on below -- instick glue from blueheronarts worked very well. After resting for a week the glue joints seem strong and the stick makes excellent ink, unaffected by the glue line running through the grinding surface at the end of the stick. Other sticks, including some bought in China in 1998, also shattered. Probably due to dry conditions here. So this was probably not a defect of this particular product, and the fix works well. Back to five start!It's hard to know how many stars to give. A year or so ago I bought one of these and liked it so much I bought a second one. All the good things in other reviews are true! The second one came in good condition, and after removing the plastic bag I put it back in its box and into a drawer to use when the first one is gone. Since the first stick is now only about 1.5" long, I looked at the second one recently.. It has shattered into several pieces -- without being bumped in any way while sitting in the drawer. This has happened to a couple of other ink sticks, and it may be due to the dry climate in which I live. (E. Washington State is very dry, though many think the whole state is wet like Seattle.) I just ordered some ink-stick glue from blueheronarts.com, and hope that will do the trick. But the ink stick must have been relatively damp (and perhaps too new) if it was the low humidity that caused the fractures. I just ordered another one, and this time I'll make a small hole in the bag and hope (if dryness was the problem) that it acclimates slowly enough to avoid fractures.

It is easy to grind, the ink is very fine and dark.

This is my first inkstick in the rounded, column shape. This stick comes in a sturdy, well-made wood box, wrapped in cellophane and in perfect condition. You may notice some white spots that have formed on the stick: this natural, as the description says, and you can easily wipe this off with a cloth. The quality of this ink is wonderful: rich, very black and somewhat shiny (you may see this in my photo). It lays down smoothly for my calligraphy and can also be thinned for different effects. The feel of this stick in the hand is marvelous, nice and hefty and is a pleasure to grind on my inkstone. Highly recommended.

This is a very substantial ink stick in size and weight ! It comes packaged in a nice wooden box, which is great for storage. I liked the cylinder shape very much. I found it much easier to hold and to grind than the usual thinner, rectangular shaped ink sticks. It produces a wonderful dark black ink that is super smooth to paint with, and can give you beautiful values. When grinding, it has a soft fragrance that is not at all overpowering like some sticks I have used. I give this ink stick 5 Stars!

I am getting everything ready to grind my ink for my next creation. I enjoy the ancient tradition of slowly grinding my ink as I prepare and empty my mind in readiness for creativity. I use my Duan Ink Stone and it's all ready. This new ink stick that I got from HMAY is quite large with that delicious ink smell that all sumi artists are addicted to. The ink grinds smoothly and is a beautiful rich color. So happy I made this purchase. I would highly recommend this product to beginning and advanced artists.

This ink has a luxurious texture, the weight/shape feels good in your hand mixing, and makes nice tones without any graininess. It paints/writes beautifully. I highly recommend. The clean smell is intoxicating, And it will last and last.

Wonderful ink stick. Makes a deep dark black ink. Be sure to have a large ink stone on which to grind since it is a very large ink stick.

This ink stick does not produce ink, it produces particles of soot. Of the several ink sticks that I have tried, this one was the worst.