Another example of his efforts is his success in consistently producing top-standard "Chinese Blue," a pigment recovered from certain grasses, such as smartweed.
宋國華指出，製作國畫顏料只有一個要訣：「知其然，更要知其所以然」。舉例來說，讀芥子園畫傳中一段：「有一種石青，堅不可碎，以耳垢少許彈入，便可研細如泥。」