Sumi-e Paintings

A style of painting that is traditionally Asian. Sumi-e is specifically Japanese brush painting created with ink. Depicts a scene or object.

is the graceful, artistic representation of written characters, using ink and brush

This refers to the must-haves of Sumi-e: *An ink stone *An ink stick *A brush *Paper

is a stone with a shallow depression carved into it; it is used to prepare and hold the ink for the painter.

is a black stick composed of pine soot, bound into a hardened form with resin. It is typically molded in cylinders or rectangles with a lavishly decorated bas relief, such as dragons, on the surface.

are usually wolf- hair in bamboo - 'wolf hair' can actually be horsehair, boar bristle or other animal hair. The brush's ability to hold and retain a point is critical to a Sumi-e painter, since one brush is used to create the widest and thinnest of lines.

Paper is very important; it must be absorbent without being too absorbent. Rice paper is the traditional paper used in Sumi-e.

The paint strokes out of which most paintings can be made are called the Four Gentlemen; these are the bamboo, the orchid, the chrysanthemum and the plum tree.

A Sumi-e painting is often accented with a red seal. The seal can represent the artist, or some message or theme the artist wants to incorporate. While many Sumi-e artists add color to their painting, in its purest form, black ink on white paper is thought to be sufficient to convey the qi ('chi')-- the essence or spirit of the thing.

• give added meaning • viewers' eye is drawn to the bright red color • provides contrast against the rest of the painting • identify the artist • create a balance in the composition • used to embellish and enliven paintings • used like a spice to enhance the painting

• Sometimes small but visually powerful- giving the painting balance • Early name seals were usually small, about 2.5 cm square • Imperial seals were very large requiring 2 men to make the impression

• The red paste used for seal ink and impressing is made from finely pulverized cinnabar • mixed with a seed oil from tea (the best) or caster oil, which has been exposed to the sun for three years, then added to the finely ground cinnabar • This is just one of many formulas.

• carved in an assortment of shapes and animals/Calligraphy • dragons, hares, lions, elephants, turtles, fish and figures