How did the materials used in Chinese painting affect an artist’s technique?

In Chinese painting, the nature of the materials—specifically the brush, ink, and absorbent surfaces—is fundamental to the artist's technique and the linear character of the art form.12

Because silk and paper are highly absorbent, they allow no room for erasure or correction. Consequently, artists must possess absolute confidence and speed, relying on mastery acquired through long practice. The brush, typically made of animal hair, is highly flexible; artists control its rhythmic movements from the shoulder, applying downward pressure to broaden strokes or using the tip for finer details. This technique allows for the creation of "bone" (lean structure) using the brush tip and "flesh" (volume) using the belly of the hairs.13

The medium also dictates the choice of pigments: opaque mineral pigments are preferred for silk to provide decorative accents, while translucent vegetable pigments are used on paper for a more delicate effect. Ultimately, these materials reinforce painting as a linear art, where the vitality and expressiveness of the brushstroke serve to transmit the inner life of the subject rather than striving for three-dimensional realism.124