JAPANESE

SUMI`E LANDSCAPES

4th and 5th Grades at Gordon-Bibb Elementary

This fall as we studied about Japan we learned about the ancient art of sumi`e painting. If you have not already read about the sumi`e style of painting, please visit the sumi`e page.

We began our unit by finding out what we KNOW about landscapes and HOW to paint them.

After discussing the difference between landscapes, cityscapes, and seascapes, we brainstormed what would be included IN a landscape. Without further ado, the students were given paper, watercolor sets, a brief paintbrush etiquette speech, and they were off to paint their interpretation of a landscape. Each one unique to the artist and their experiences.

These paintings were kept in the art room so that the students can measure how much they learned during this unit by comparing it to their final project.
PRE-INSTRUCTION PAINTINGS

        

                   

 

      

PRACTICING SUMI`E TECHNIQUES

Our next step was to explore the sumi`e brush strokes with our NEW bamboo brushes! Learning this style of painting and knowing the historical background from which it came was really fascinating! And, it was a little awkward..

We started by tracing over a line worksheet page that was taped to the table. Using the watered down sumi, or india ink, gave us a feel of the flow of the lines we were creating.

       

We then moved to the side of the page to experiment with "pulling" a variety of lines and creating textures with the brush. In our studies we discovered that there are several kinds of lines that you need to know in order to paint well and allow the brush to do the work of the painting for you. The most important aspect of this painting is learning to control the pressure of the brush to create thick and thin lines, thick TO thin lines and vice versa, hook lines, stippling with the brush tip, and making a variety of textures by using the brush like a stamp.

All of these practice lines were getting us prepared for our work on landscapes.

PRACTICE LANDSCAPES

Our next task was learning about how the Japanese landscape looks differently than what we typically see. The tradition of stacking the landscape so that the audience can view from the heavens to the earth, showing the beauty and simplicity of nature. Interestingly, we found that if Man was incorporated in the painting his presence was very small in relation to the grandness of nature. This reflects the influence of the Shinto religion on Japanese art.

Using our new brushes and techniques we adopted some more Japanese ideas on how to paint. The use of asymmetrical balance and the simplicity of form is very important to the Japanese style of art. The work should look effortless, leaving the empty space to to help focus your attention to the form and it's simple beauty. The most important point to stress was leaving empty space, when we are trained to fill the space. The "less is more" idea was truly a struggle.

        

            

SELF-CRITIQUE & DISCUSSION

 

As we progressed each step we stopped at the end of class, and sometimes during class, to share what we have done, what we like and don't like about our work, as well as refocusing on the Japanese style (highlighted in green above.) This was extremely informative and helpful! It helped students loosen their style even more, shared ideas, and, most importantly, instilled confidence, not only in their artwork but in their own self-expression.

  

              

...THEN THE EXPERIMENT WITH WASHES

(Sometimes Art Teachers have wonderful ideas... )

Sesson Shukei, 1504 - 1589  LANDSCAPE OF FOUR SEASONS

Painted in sumi and colors on paper; 156x 337cm

Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

The washes was an afterthought to me once we began creating our landscapes. Why not add some shading, different values of sumi to create depth and maybe even create the mystical mist that intrigue the student so much? Making and using a wash in the beginning was overwhelming and had to be spread all over the page. Trying out the Wet-on-Wet technique (that lets the wash bleed into a lighter value and really interesting shapes was just, well, just too cool) was really great on our practice pages.

When we began working on a finalized practice landscape; figuring out where the washes were to be added, I think we were a little overcome.

              

        

We did periodically stop during the wash practice, to reiterate the Japanese style of less is more, empty space is good, and asymmetrical balance, so that we could stay on track. Often during our share students would be amazed at the beauty of their work and immediately pick out what they needed to correct on the final painting. This process of discovery took longer than what I had planned but the students used both sides of their paper + to work out their layout and any problems they may have in the final.
THE FINAL LANDSCAPES

 

Sometimes the preparation to paint took a group effort..

  

Finally, the time had come when we were ready to work on our final painting with straight sumi. With our practice paintings on hand, we worked filling in our majestic mountains and flowing streams. The contrast in the sumi values really made a difference in our paintings.

One of the biggest lessons learned in the unit was not just how to use the brush correctly but when to put it down. We found that we can get frustrated with what we're painting and found that it is very wise to put the brush down and walk away to study other pictures or other approaches than to continue with our work and lose our "flow".

             

Once the final paintings were dry we stamped them with a chop, a signature stamp in characters of the artist. I had made 5 different stamps for us to use just to shorten the process a little bit.

 

 

ASSEMBLING THE FINAL WORK -

A TRIPTYCH

To finish this project we cut our painting into three sections to create a triptych, a picture on three panels, to give our work a  more dramatic look. We just couldn't believe our eyes!!

4th Graders

Assembling and putting on the finishing touches!

 

     

5th Grade

 

     

     

Assembling the triptych and labelling our work.

   

  

Assessment and Evaluation

For a final assessment and evaluation we did three things:

1) We created a Vin Diagram that compared and contrasted our pre-instruction painting to our final sumi`e triptych.

2) We answered questions about the whole process, from start to finish, about creating this sumi`e landscape painting:

     •What did you enjoy abut the whole unit on sumi`e painting?

     •What would you have wanted to change about the whole unit, e.g. spend more time on or not?

     •What did you learn most?

     • What do you like most about your final painting and why?

     •What would you change about your final painting and why?

3) We had a class critique where we shared our first painting and our final in front of the class.

     

    

      

       

              

        

            

 

Overall, I think this was a great unit! The students enjoyed working with the sumi`e technique and the bamboo brushes. The addition of the wash to the painting itself could have been explored more thoroughly, but, I believe that the students did a remarkable job in handling the new media. This was well worth the nine class periods we spent working on this project - very rewarding for all involved!!

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