Paintbrush maker Mr. Zou

Tuesday March 11, 2008

My painting teacher arranged for a small group of us to visit the home and workshop of her favorite Chinese paint brush maker. Mr Zou has learned this craft from his father and it has been practiced for many generations in his family.

There were 2 cars of us going; 6 in all. We drove into an area that is being demolished and built up at the same time. We met a man on a motorcycle at the entrance to all of the construction. I didn't know it was Mr. Zou himself.


These darling little children watched as we drove up and were at once curious and wary. They are holding their mid morning snack of bread in their hands.



We walked along this alleyway for some time following Mr. Zou.

We passed this doorway where a young girl was showing an even younger girl her drawings.

At last we cross the gate and will enter his home.

This is his workshop. He finishes the brushes here. The basic work of sorting the hair and making the tip is done at his factory in Tianjin.

He showed us pictures of himself sorting goat hair.

Here he is straightening the hair. He uses steam to make curly hair go straight.

This machine cuts the horn he uses into the lengths he needs. Horn is used because it is hollow and strong and beautiful.

He is putting the tip of the brush into the handle.

He is combing the hair to get all of the loose ends out.

This is his wife. She is using a string attached to the table leg to squeeze the excess glue out of the tip of the brush. The brush is dipped into a glue that is made out of sea sponge cooked in water.

He is working on a fancy brush. Most of those lying on the counter are for the tourist market. We were interested in the ones he wasn't going to take to the market.

She is smoothing the hairs. The glue and rigid tip make it much easier to transport..but harder to determine the quality of the brush and the kind of hair it is made from.

The last step is to run a thin knife along the top hairs to straighten the top layer.

This is a brush made from horse hair. Mr. Zou carved the handle himself.

Someone asked how the hair is held together and put into the handle. Mr. Zou is demonstrating tying the hair together with a string.

The end hairs that get pushed into the handle are cut to the exact same length. A strong glue is used to fasten them into the handle.

Mr. Zou is showing us his calligraphy. He was taught calligraphy as a young child so that he would learn the important components of a good brush. Calligraphy is more precise than painting.

He brought out brushes for us to purchase. They all have protective plastic caps on them.

Our painting teachers driver was painting a horse with water on the trying board.

I learned alot and it is always a pleasure to go to someones home. Mr. Zou offered us bananas and oranges and water.