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Mindful Artist: Sumi-e Painting: Master the meditative art of Japanese brush painting
Asian-style brush painting is based on the strokes used to write characters, or calligraphy, which is why Asian-style brush artists refer to it as “writing a picture.”
Instead of swishing the brush around to create an image, specific calligraphic strokes are used to build flowers, birds, and landscapes. This is where the concept of mindfulness comes in, keeping your attention fixed actively on what is—not what was and not what might be. Focusing on the process of painting strokes instead of the finished product requires you to stay in the moment.
This active awareness is the essence of mindfulness. You may have a composition in mind, but a brush painting is a living thing. Sumi-e permits no presketching and doesn’t allow for corrections once the ink is on the paper, so the composition evolves with each stroke.
What does this mean for you, and how do you develop mindfulness through sumi-e painting? First, you will need lots of playful practice, paper, and ink!
Painting strokes without a finished picture in mind is like warming up before exercising: It’s not a competition, so you can remain calm.
Use this preparation time to focus your awareness on breathing as well as the brush, ink, and paper. I will show you the traditional way of painting subjects as passed down through generations of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean artists over hundreds of years and as taught to me by my teachers I-Hsiung Ju and Paul Siudzinski.
Learning the strokes will allow you to express yourself with sumi-e. But here’s the secret: As you relax and enjoy practicing these strokes, you will also learn to express yourself in the moment, without self-judgment. This is also your mindfulness practice.
Recommended Shopping List
- Ink stone
- Ink stick
- Liquid black ink
- Brushes
- Colors
- Paper
Wisteria Painting Progression
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1 Start with the flower clusters, ensuring that one is lower than the other and at a different angle. |
2 Add leaves in groups around the tops of the flowers.You can always add more later, but you can’t remove them, so keep the leaves sparse if you aren’t sure where your vines will go. Imagining possible routes for the vines will show you different possibilities. |
3 Add branches, vines, and trailing tendrils in graceful curving lines; then paint small, young leaves in light orange.Add a butterfly or some bees for extra movement. |
Painting Subjects
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InsectsLike birds, insects can add vitality and movement to a painting. You might use them to extend your composition by placing a few bugs at the tip of a flower, or you can create a focal point in an area of open space. |
GrapesSome Asian painting techniques make the grapes look so real, you almost feel as though you could pluck them right off the paper and eat them. Sumi-e style grapes appear more relaxed and dynamic. |
RocksWaterfalls consist of rocks and spaces in between that represent water. Rather than outlining your rocks, aim for volume. Let your brush dance on the paper—sometimes using the point, sometimes the side so you see cracks, clefts, and folds emerge within the rocks. |
TreesForeground trees can include detail to add texture and emphasize their closeness to the viewer. As you create more background layers to show depth in your piece, add fewer details and use less black so that the scene naturally recedes. |
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