Sumi-e

A Japanese ink painting or Sumi-e painting is a work painted by hand with sumi ink and a brush on paper, in which the gesture, the greys and the empty space are as important as the motif. When choosing one for your home, it is worth looking at five things: The motif: bamboo, plum blossom, …

Japanese ink paintings: how to choose a Sumi-e piece for your home Read More »

The ensō (円相) is the Zen circle: a circle painted with ink and brush in one or two strokes, without corrections. In Zen Buddhism it is associated with enlightenment, emptiness and wholeness, and it is considered a reflection of the painter’s state of mind at that moment. To paint an ensō, we do not need …

Ensō: the meaning of the Zen circle and how to paint it with ink and a brush Read More »

An in-person Sumi-e workshop allows you to learn Japanese ink painting by seeing directly how the brush is prepared, how pressure changes during each stroke, and how ink, water and paper interact. It is not simply a matter of sitting down and copying an image. In a Sumi-e session, simple movements and elements are practised …

Sumi-e workshop: learn Japanese ink painting in an in-person session Read More »

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 »