SumiePainting

sumi-e painting

Background Information and Terms

Sumi`e translated into English means ink painting. Sumi is the ink and the "`e" is painting.
The ultimate goal of sumi` e is to master the brush as well as capture the bare essence of your subject manner. There is more to the esoteric understanding of balance, harmony, elegance and simple beauty that is to be grasped with sumi`e but at our grade level we interpreted it as - simpler is better, empty space is good, variety of line, value, and asymmetrical balance is a great way to add interest.

Our biggest challenge was patience. Patience is essential in brush painting. Patience and painting with a bamboo brush in a totally different style other than using a pencil really has its challenges. The brush was held upright in the middle of the handle so that the artist can move with each stroke, and, we figured out, we wouldn't get ink on our hands if we didn't put our hand on the table.

Below are terms that we have learned in class to better understand the history of sumi`e.

The Four Treasures

The four treasures are: the brush, ink/ink stick, grinding stone, and paper. This collection and writing system was actually adopted by the Japanese from the Chinese around the 5th or 6th Century.

Listed below are the four treasures in English and Japanese:

Brush - FUDE ("foo-day")

Brushes come in different sizes and the tips are made of many kinds of hair like goat, rabbit, or weasel hair to name a few. The handles could be made from many different materials but the basic brush used bamboo. Other materials used include wood, lacquer, porcelain, and precious stones for inlays.

Ink/Ink Stick - SUMI ("soo-me")

The ink stick is considered ink in its solid state and originally came from the soot of burned wood. The fine soot was then mixed with some sort of natural glue. Today we have bottled ink but the quality is not as good, especially for serious calligraphers, as if you ground your own.

Grinding Stone - SUZURI ("suh-zur-ee")

The grinding stone is very important in creating the ink for any serious calligrapher. It is typically made of some sort of stone but other materials like brick, tile or clay can be used. A well is usually at one end of the stone to hold the water and ground ink. There are different ways inwhich ink can be ground, one of which is to add water to the well and move the ink stick in a figure 8 gesture in and out of the water as you drag it across the stone. This movement done repeatedly to create the desired amount of sumi is also a time for reflection or meditation so that the preparer can thoughtfully plan out the creation of the artwork.

Paper - KAMI ("kam-me")

Paper was actually created by Cai Lun during the Chinese Han Dynasty ( 206 BC and 220 AD.) The most famous paper used for Japanese and Chinese calligraphy and painting is called rice paper. Rice paper is very porous and is able to absorb a lot of ink without changing the original shape of the stroke.

The Four Gentlemen

The Four Gentlemen are bamboo, the wild orchid, the plum blossom and the chrysanthemum. They are called such because of the beauty in the figures and flowers look like noble gentlemen. These plants represent the main brush strokes needed to become a master sumi`e painter.

Bamboo Wild Orchid

Chrysanthemum Plum Blossom

If you would like to visit the web page on the Four Gentlemen by our Third Grade please click the crane below.

Click on Mona to return to the East Asian Arts Page

sumi-e painting Background Information and Terms

Sumi`e translated into English means ink painting. Sumi is the ink and the "`e" is painting. The ultimate goal of sumi` e is to master the brush as well as capture the bare essence of your subject manner. There is more to the esoteric understanding of balance, harmony, elegance and simple beauty that is to be grasped with sumi`e but at our grade level we interpreted it as - simpler is better, empty space is good, variety of line, value, and asymmetrical balance is a great way to add interest.
		Our biggest challenge was patience. Patience is essential in brush painting. Patience and painting with a bamboo brush in a totally different style other than using a pencil really has its challenges. The brush was held upright in the middle of the handle so that the artist can move with each stroke, and, we figured out, we wouldn't get ink on our hands if we didn't put our hand on the table.
Below are terms that we have learned in class to better understand the history of sumi`e. The Four Treasures The four treasures are: the brush, ink/ink stick, grinding stone, and paper. This collection and writing system was actually adopted by the Japanese from the Chinese around the 5th or 6th Century. Listed below are the four treasures in English and Japanese:
		Brush - FUDE ("foo-day") Brushes come in different sizes and the tips are made of many kinds of hair like goat, rabbit, or weasel hair to name a few. The handles could be made from many different materials but the basic brush used bamboo. Other materials used include wood, lacquer, porcelain, and precious stones for inlays.
		Ink/Ink Stick - SUMI ("soo-me") The ink stick is considered ink in its solid state and originally came from the soot of burned wood. The fine soot was then mixed with some sort of natural glue. Today we have bottled ink but the quality is not as good, especially for serious calligraphers, as if you ground your own.
		Grinding Stone - SUZURI ("suh-zur-ee") The grinding stone is very important in creating the ink for any serious calligrapher. It is typically made of some sort of stone but other materials like brick, tile or clay can be used. A well is usually at one end of the stone to hold the water and ground ink. There are different ways inwhich ink can be ground, one of which is to add water to the well and move the ink stick in a figure 8 gesture in and out of the water as you drag it across the stone. This movement done repeatedly to create the desired amount of sumi is also a time for reflection or meditation so that the preparer can thoughtfully plan out the creation of the artwork.
		Paper - KAMI ("kam-me") Paper was actually created by Cai Lun during the Chinese Han Dynasty ( 206 BC and 220 AD.) The most famous paper used for Japanese and Chinese calligraphy and painting is called rice paper. Rice paper is very porous and is able to absorb a lot of ink without changing the original shape of the stroke.
The Four Gentlemen The Four Gentlemen are bamboo, the wild orchid, the plum blossom and the chrysanthemum. They are called such because of the beauty in the figures and flowers look like noble gentlemen. These plants represent the main brush strokes needed to become a master sumi`e painter.
Bamboo Wild Orchid Chrysanthemum Plum Blossom If you would like to visit the web page on the Four Gentlemen by our Third Grade please click the crane below.
Click on Mona to return to the East Asian Arts Page