Calligraphy has seen a surge of interest in Sri Lanka, from modern brush lettering on wedding invitations to traditional Chinese calligraphy practiced as a meditative art form. But finding quality supplies locally can be frustrating. General stationery shops carry basic markers and pens, but dedicated calligraphy tools like proper nibs, holders, and specialised inks require more focused sourcing.
This guide covers every category of calligraphy supply, recommends specific products available in Sri Lanka (including online options), and helps you build a complete starter kit without overspending or compromising on quality.
For traditional Chinese or Japanese calligraphy, a proper Chinese brush is essential. The most accessible quality option in Sri Lanka is the Sicon Chinese Brush TT05, a mixed-hair brush that balances the control of wolf hair with the ink-holding capacity of goat hair. Mixed hair is ideal for beginners because it provides enough spring to maintain control while still producing the fluid strokes that characterise brush calligraphy.
The Sicon TT05 also doubles as a watercolor brush for expressive, gestural painting. Read the full Sicon Chinese Brush TT05 review for detailed performance notes.
Refillable water brush pens are incredibly versatile for calligraphy. Fill them with thinned ink or liquid watercolor, and you have a self-contained brush pen that creates beautiful lettering anywhere. The flexible nylon tip responds to pressure, producing thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes like a traditional pointed pen. A 6-piece set gives you multiple sizes for different lettering scales, from small envelope addressing to large art prints.
Water brush pens are particularly practical for on-the-go practice. No need for a separate water cup or ink pot. Just pick it up and write.
Dip pens with metal nibs are the classic calligraphy tool for Western scripts. While specialised calligraphy shops are rare in Sri Lanka, nibs and holders can be sourced through online retailers that ship to the island.
Check online art supply retailers that ship internationally. A set of five Nikko G nibs and a straight holder is inexpensive and will last months of regular practice. Even with shipping costs, these are affordable supplies.
The traditional ink for brush calligraphy. Sumi ink is carbon-based, deeply black, and archival. Pre-made bottled sumi ink is the most practical option. Brands like Kuretake and Yasutomo are widely available online. A single bottle lasts a very long time.
For metal nibs, you need ink formulated for dip pens, not fountain pen ink (which is too thin) or India ink (which can clog nibs). Look for inks specifically labelled for calligraphy or dip pens. Higgins Eternal, Sumi ink, and walnut ink are all good options.
Liquid watercolor or tube watercolor thinned to a flowing consistency works beautifully for calligraphy. This opens up the full spectrum of colour for lettering projects. Use a small mixing palette to thin tube paint to an ink-like consistency. The Sinours 14-pan set provides a wide colour range at an accessible price point for colour calligraphy experiments.
Traditional Chinese calligraphy practice uses thin, absorbent paper (often called rice paper, though the more accurate term is xuan paper). For daily practice in Sri Lanka, regular newsprint or inexpensive copy paper works well. The goal during practice is repetition and learning stroke control, not producing finished artwork.
For finished pieces with a brush, use better quality paper. Smooth watercolor paper with a hot press (smooth) surface works well for brush calligraphy when you want colours and detail.
Metal nibs require smooth paper. The nib tines catch on textured or fibrous paper, causing splatters and rough lines. Look for:
Brush pens are less demanding on paper than metal nibs but still benefit from smooth surfaces. Avoid rough sketch paper, which wears brush pen tips faster. Regular printer paper works fine for practice. For finished pieces, smooth cardstock or mixed media paper provides a better surface.
A dedicated water cup for rinsing brushes between colours or cleaning up. For calligraphy, a smaller container is more practical than a large wash bucket. The Sketcher’s Water Cup is collapsible and portable, perfect for artists who practice in different locations.
If you are using watercolor for calligraphy, a small ceramic or plastic palette for thinning paint to the right consistency. The paint needs to be thinner than for regular painting but thicker than water. It takes some experimentation to find the sweet spot where the colour is vibrant but flows smoothly from the nib or brush.
A simple rest to lay your brush on between strokes. This prevents ink from staining your desk and keeps the brush tip clean. A chopstick rest, a rolled-up cloth, or a dedicated bamboo brush rest all work perfectly.
For consistent lettering size and spacing, practice on paper with guidelines. You can download and print calligraphy guideline sheets for free online, or place a pre-printed guideline sheet under translucent practice paper.
A fine mist spray bottle is useful for keeping your palette moist, lightly dampening paper for certain effects, and reactivating dried watercolor paint for calligraphy use.
For artists starting with brush calligraphy using supplies available in Sri Lanka:
For artists wanting to explore modern calligraphy, brush lettering, and colour work:
The most reliable source for dedicated art and calligraphy supplies in Sri Lanka is Watercolor.lk, which stocks a curated range of quality brushes, paints, paper, and accessories specifically for watercolor and calligraphy artists. For basic stationery (printer paper, markers), any Vijitha Yapa, Sarasavi, or independent stationery shop will have what you need. For specialised dip pen nibs and holders, international online retailers with Sri Lanka shipping are the most reliable option.
The best approach is to start small and expand as your skills develop. Begin with a single brush or pen type, master its basic strokes, and then add new tools when you want to explore a new style. Every new pen type teaches you something different about letter construction, pressure control, and rhythm.
For a deeper understanding of the tools mentioned in this guide, explore the guide on calligraphy pen and nib types for detail on each tool category. And if you are also interested in watercolor painting, many calligraphy supplies overlap with the essential watercolor starter kit, making it easy to explore both arts without doubling your investment.
Login with Google