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Sumi-e Painting
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.
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.
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:
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.
Sumi-e Tools and Techniques:
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.
Meditation: The Zen Masters adhered to a rigorous schedule of meditation in preparation for painting.
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