When I was in junior high school, I read an article by Mr. Lu Xun, "Essay on the Relationship between Styles in the Wei and Jin Dynasties and Medicine and Wine." I felt that it had become a tradition for literati to like drinking. It wasn't until I learned calligraphy that I realized Wine is also a must-have item for calligraphers. Most calligraphers like to drink and are very good drinkers.
Calligraphers not only like to drink, but also like to create after drinking. It seems that they are more inspired after drinking. It is said that Wang Xizhi's "Lanting Preface", "the best running script in the world", was written by him after drinking. Parts of the text on the painting were smeared. After Wang Xizhi sobered up the next day, he wanted to write it again, but he could no longer write the feeling he had after drinking. It was this painting that was smeared, and it was not considered a "perfect" work. A thousand-year-old calligraphy classic.
Calligraphers who like to drink are also good at using wine. When the temperature is low in winter, the ink will generally become thicker. Under normal circumstances, just add a little water, but some calligraphers do not do this. I like to add alcohol to ink because it has a magical effect. Alcohol is volatile. Adding alcohol to ink can make the written words dry more easily. Many calligraphers believe that this will dry faster and the ink will be thinner because Alcohol evaporates quickly.
They also believe that ink added with wine will smell more fragrant, because wine is fragrant, and this fragrance can also prevent corrosion and moths. Liquor is made of grain and takes the essence of heaven and earth. The calligraphy works written in this way seem to have aura and a little more fireworks.
In my opinion, whether you add alcohol or water to ink, there is no special effect. It is a function of people's minds. If you want to write better calligraphy, you need to practice it over time. Only by practicing diligently can you make progress in calligraphy.