Here are instructions:   http://www.blueheronarts.com/article_info.php?articles_id=5  

You may also find some instructional videos on YouTube:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKPegDsOBpM  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82595usgh90  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82595usgh90  

Hope those links answer your questions.  

Enjoy!

Yes or no.

You can store leftover ink on your inkstone by adding some clean water to it and putting the lid on it overnight so it won't dry up.  It should be noted that you need an inkstone with a stone lid since a wooden lid won't keep the ink moist/wet like a stone lid will.

The next day you may grind the diluted ink again or just use the grey ink to write or draw.

The over night ink, known as "Su-mo" in Chinese, has its own characteristics:
1) 1) The glue medium and ink particles tend to separate on rice paper and create broader watermarks and pastel effects in the strokes;
2) The color of Su-mo is less shiny than newly ground ink and that might be good for certain subject matters or styles.
TIP:  use more moisture with the leftover ink to make it look fresher.  If you do not add water to the inkstone to maintain the freshness, it will turn into dirty, dry ink and cannot be revived.

 Question: Can I keep the leftover ink for more than 1 or 2 days?
 
Answer:  NO.  I wouldn't use any ink that is more than 2 days old.
 
If you are not planning on using the leftover ink within the next 2 days, you'd better clean the inkstone right away or add lots of water and clean it as soon as possible.  PLEASE, don't leave any leftover ink on the inkstone for more than 2 days.

If you are a beginner to Chinese brush painting, here is what will you need to prepare for the online class.

1. 2-5 Chinese Painting Brushes.

You need a pair of soft and stiff brush, or a combination brush to get start. Good varieties in size and shapes are available here for you to choose from. If you already have some Asian brushes, try them to see if they work for you.

2. Sumi Ink. You may use bottled liquid ink for convenience. Tradtitional inkstick and  inkstone and are recommended for best result.

3. Rice Paper. High quality of authentic Chinese rice paper are available at moderate prices. We recommend mulberry paper to beginning student for less bleeding and evenly color lending.  For advanced students, you might want to try our high absorbent Xuan(shuan) paper.

4.  Watercolor Paints. Marie's Chinese painting watercolor and color chips are available in our online store. You may also use artist quality watercolor or gouache.

5. A Pallete or Two White Ceramic Saucers.  

6. A Water Container for rinsing brush, as big as possible.

7. A piece of Felt Pad. It should be in white or light color, no black! Synthetic is fine. Recommended size: 18"x20". 

8. Paper Towel or Hand Tissue. for blotting or to dry the brush.

You can use any liquid sumi ink that we carry to fill the brush pen. Please do not use black ink for regular fountain pen because the brush bristle won't hold them well.

For best result, you need to clean the brush pens after each usage. If you need to use it tomorrow you can leave the ink in the reservoir but clean the bristle with water. If you are not going to use the brush pen for more than two days, you should empty the ink in the reservoir and clean the brush thoroughly.

In case you forgot to clean and the bristle gets hard with dried ink, do the following, soak the brush in water for 15~20 minutes and then wash the brush in running water after it return soft. Don't try to use hardened brush to paint and force it to open because that could cause serious damage to the bristle. 

Tip: You may to put the ink pen in a toothbrush travel box to carry while you travel in order to prevent it from staining the content of your luggage.

Q: I bought the feather brush from you before and I´m glad to contact you again. This time I wish you could recommend me a really nice, beautiful, an good brush for calligraphy. On your page there are a lot and i am a little confused. Time ago I used to buy painting brushes thinking they were suitable for calligraphy. And they were not.
A:  

The brush good for calligraphy is usually also good for painting but it is not always true that a good painting brush is also good for painting, such as the feather brush:-).  Actually, I need to know what kind of caligraphy you are doing? Large(oever 1 1/2"), Medium (Between 1/2" - 1 1/2") or Small(under 1/2")? Also, what style of calligraphy? Standing, Walking or Running?

For medium size calligraphy, you can choose the basic wolf, and the basic combination brush. If you are look for a really nice brush to write your siganiture on your painting, I will recommend the black sable, which is a perfect brush for medium sized calligraphy.  

For very small sized calligraphy, you may choose the 4 tini brush set, which you may use to write a greeting card. If you need a small calligraphy brush to write longer text, you may  try the red hair brush.

For large character calligraphy you have plenty of choices, from a long hair goat hair brush to a short hair goat brush, and if you prefer stiff brushes, you can choose a stiff wolf hair brush, a stiffer horse hair brush, or one of the stiffest bear hair brush.

All above mentioned brushes are good for both calligraphy and painting.