Sumi-e

Classic Sumi-e motifs are not practised simply because they are part of the tradition. Each one offers a different learning experience: some help you control brush pressure, while others allow you to work on fluidity, rhythm, texture or composition. Bamboo, orchid, plum blossom and chrysanthemum are four of the best-known traditional motifs. Other common subjects …

Classic Sumi-e motifs and what you learn from each one Read More »

Creating a Sumi-e practice routine at home does not mean painting for hours every day. To make progress, it is more useful to establish short sessions, know what you want to work on in each one, and maintain some consistency throughout the week. A simple routine can be organised as follows: Choose 3 or 4 …

How to establish a Sumi-e practice routine at home Read More »

To start practicing Sumi-e, we don’t need to try to create a complete work from day one. Before working on complex compositions, it’s best to learn—in this order—how to prepare the materials, hold and move the brush, control the ratio of ink to water, make basic strokes, observe simple shapes, and combine a few elements …

What to Learn First in Sumi-e Before Creating Complex Compositions Read More »

Composition in Sumi-e involves arranging the brushstrokes, the intensities of the ink, and the empty spaces so that all elements of the painting maintain a balanced relationship. It is not about filling the paper or arranging the forms symmetrically, but rather about deciding what should appear, where it should appear, and which areas should be …

Composition in Sumi-e: How to Balance Negative Space, Ink, and Movement Read More »

Painting flowers in Sumi-e is one of the most beautiful ways to get started in Japanese ink painting. A flower may seem like a delicate and simple subject, but in reality it requires observation, brush control, sensitivity to the ink, and the ability to simplify. In Sumi-e, we do not seek to represent every petal …

How to paint flowers in Sumi-e: basic strokes and composition Read More »

Practising Sumi-e at home may seem straightforward at first: ink, a brush, paper and a few quiet minutes. However, many people become frustrated when they discover that a seemingly simple stroke requires control, breathing, practice and patience. Sumi-e isn’t about creating a perfect painting from day one. This Japanese ink painting technique is based on …

How to practise Sumi-e at home without getting frustrated Read More »

Getting started with Sumi-e may seem simple from the outside: a brush, ink, paper, and a few strokes. However, when we sit down in front of the paper for the first time, we discover that every little movement matters. The pressure of the hand, the speed of the brush, the amount of ink, our breathing, …

Sumi-e for Beginners: How to Train Your Hand and Stroke Read More »

Sumi-e isn’t learned simply by memorizing shapes. It is learned by repeating gestures, observing the ink, listening to the rhythm of the hand, and understanding how the brush responds on the paper. Unlike other painting techniques, where you can correct, cover up, or redo, in Japanese ink painting each stroke has a life of its …

7 Sumi-e exercises to improve brush control Read More »

Bamboo is one of the most iconic motifs in sumi-e and, at the same time, one of the best exercises for understanding how this art form works. Although at first glance it may seem a simple shape, painting bamboo in sumi-e requires brush control, rhythm, observation and a good understanding of negative space and brushwork. …

How to paint bamboo in sumi-e, step by step Read More »