Chinese Art Supplies - Chinese Painting / Calligraphy Supplies: Premium Chinese Calligraphy / Painting Ink Stick Set - Zodiac Symbols (12 Colors) Premium Chinese Calligraphy / Painting Ink Stick Set - Zodiac Symbols (12 Colors) Ink Stick Size: 3 1/4"x 1 1/8" x 3/8" each Premium quality Chinese ink stick set. Famous brand: Lao Hu Kai Wen. Chinese ink sticks have been used for thousands of years to create ink for calligraphy and watercolor paintings. This Chinese calligraphy ink stick set includes twelve ink sticks. Each one features an image of a Chinese zodiac symbol. They may be used for writing calligraphy or watercolor painting. To make ink from the ink stick, it has to be ground against the moistened ink stone surface in a circular manner. Depending on the desire for color intensity, the artist will dip the brush upon different areas of the stone. The more water, the less intense the color of the black ink.