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Sumi-e Painting |
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Ink and wash painting is an East Asian
type of brush painting. I studied Sumi-e Painting with Madeleine
Stanley-Jossem, internationally acclaimed and award-winning artist and
sculptor .
My work is influenced by sumi-e painting. The focus is on the
process:
preparing my palette, tools and vision of the canvas. Each mark of my
brush meets the canvas as an extension of my state of
mind.
The art of brush painting Aims to depict the spirit, rather than the semblance of the
object. In creating a picture the artist must grasp the spirit of the
subject. Sumi-e attempts to capture the Chi or "life spirit"
of the subject, painting in the language of the spirit. |
The Philosophy of
Sumi-e is contrast and harmony, expressing simple beauty and elegance. The
Tai Chi diagram demonstrates the perfectly balanced interchange of the two
dynamically opposed forces of the Universe, the dot represents
integration.
Sumi-e employs these principles of
nature's vitality in its design and execution. The balance and integration
of these forces and the eternal interaction of Yin Yang are the ultimate
goal of Sumi-e.
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Preparation with Meditation: Before I
paint, I practice yoga and meditate.
Patience is essential in brush painting.
Balance, rhythm and harmony are the qualities the artist strives for
by developing patience, self-discipline and concentration. |
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The goal of the brush painter: to use the
brush with both vitality and restraint.
When
you leave your mark on the paper/canvas, your character, personality
and state of mind come through. |
The Four Noble Ones:
- the plum blossom
- orchid
- chrysanthemum
- bamboo
Ink and wash
paintings traditionally concern themselves with the depiction of the Four
Noble Ones (also called the Four Friends, and the Four Gentleman) which
are comprised of four species of plants — the plum blossom , orchid ,
chrysanthemum and bamboo .
These plants represent the four seasons
- summer, spring, autumn and winter, respectively - and, as their
appellation suggests, the four virtues of the Confucian junzi , or ideal
man.
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Sumi-e
Tools and
Techniques:
- an ink stick (in Japanese:
sumi)
- a grinding stone (suzuri
in Japanese)
- An artist puts a few drops
of water on an ink stone and grinds the ink stick in a circular motion
until a smooth, black ink of the desired concentration is made.
- Wash painting brushes are
similar to the brushes used for calligraphy and are traditionally made
from bamboo with goat, ox, horse, sheep, rabbit, marten, badger, deer,
boar or wolf hair.
- The brush hairs are
tapered to a fine point, a feature vital to the style of wash
paintings.
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History: The 2000 year-old art
form of Japanese brush painting is spiritually rooted in Zen Buddhism.
Sumi-e's earliest painters were highly disciplined monks trained in the
art of concentration, clarity, and simplicity. These early Zen Masters
dedicated themselves to the art form with spiritual intensity through long
years of serious reflection and strict discipline. |
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Meditation: The Zen Masters adhered to
a rigorous schedule of meditation in preparation for
painting.
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Artist Statement