sumi-e
Monochrome brush painting
Sumi-e is a style of East Asian ink wash painting that emphasizes simplicity and economy of brushstrokes.
The technique uses black ink in varying concentrations to create landscapes, plants, and animals with minimal detail: The sumi-e master captured the bamboo in three swift strokes.
The art form prizes spontaneity and the expressive quality of empty space.
Japanese woodblock print tradition
Japanese handmade fiber paper
- rice paperThin edible Asian wrapper
- brushBristled cleaning tool
- bamboo brushWoody grass writing tool
- goat hairFiber from caprines
felt pad · paperweight · water dropper · silk · mounting · scroll
Tall woody grass
- orchidShowy tropical flower
- chrysanthemumOrnamental daisy relative
- plum blossomFlower of stone-fruit tree
- pineCone-bearing evergreen
mountain · waterfall · mist · crane · koi · tiger · dragon · landscape
Marks left by painting
- washClean using liquid
- gradationIncremental transition between stages
- shadingDepicting light and darkness
- blendingCombining into uniformity
drybrush · feathering · texture · layering · spontaneity · gesture · flow · economy
Slab for grinding pigment
- carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
- sootCarbon from incomplete burning
- grindingMolar action sometimes
- dilutionReduction in concentration
monochrome · wash · tones · shades · blackness · opacity · viscosity · pigment
Focused attention practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
- simplicityLack of complexity
harmony · balance · breath · contemplation · impermanence · ma · void · tranquility
Chinese symbols in Japanese
- hiraganaJapanese phonetic alphabet
- katakanaJapanese phonetic writing system
- brushworkPainter's stroke method
- stroke orderSequence for drawing characters
script · lettering · seal · chop · inscription · characters · flowing · expressive
ukiyo-e
Japanese woodblock print tradition
washi
Japanese handmade fiber paper
- rice paperThin edible Asian wrapper
- brushBristled cleaning tool
- bamboo brushWoody grass writing tool
goat hair · felt pad · paperweight · water dropper · silk · mounting · scroll
bamboo
Tall woody grass
- orchidShowy tropical flower
- chrysanthemumOrnamental daisy relative
- plum blossomFlower of stone-fruit tree
pine · mountain · waterfall · mist · crane · koi · tiger · dragon · landscape · shrimp
brushstrokes
Marks left by painting
- washClean using liquid
- gradationIncremental transition between stages
- shadingDepicting light and darkness
blending · drybrush · feathering · texture · layering · spontaneity · gesture · flow · economy · negative space
inkstone
Slab for grinding pigment
- carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
- sootCarbon from incomplete burning
- grindingMolar action sometimes
dilution · monochrome · wash · tones · shades · blackness · opacity · viscosity · pigment · consistency
meditation
Focused attention practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
simplicity · harmony · balance · breath · contemplation · impermanence · ma · void · tranquility · restraint
kanji
Chinese symbols in Japanese
- hiraganaJapanese phonetic alphabet
- katakanaJapanese phonetic writing system
- brushworkPainter's stroke method
stroke order · script · lettering · seal · chop · inscription · characters · flowing · expressive · gestural
sumi-eoil painting
Art made with linseed-bound pigments
psychedelic art · watercolor · stained glass · Impressionism · illuminated manuscripts
sumi-ephotorealism
Art imitating camera accuracy
hyperrealism · trompe-l'oeil · botanical illustration · miniature painting · rococo