Sumi-e at Present
Sumi-e in Japanese means painting with ink, literally 'sumi' is ink and combined with 'e' creates 'ink picture'. The philosophy of sumi-e is to capture simplified basics of the object, harmony of the spirit and artist's perception.
Sumi-e painting developed from calligraphy in ancient China. There was an art boom during the Song and Yuan dynasty (960-1368 A.D.). During that period Zen Buddhists brought this form of philosophy and painting to Japan, where it became an integral part of Japanese culture.
The aim of sumi-e is to create a simplified painting, traditionally motifs from nature, with elementary brush strokes to capture the basic perception. Painting is a form of meditation, which brings the artist inner gratification, release and feeling of harmony. If the finished painting brings positive feelings also to an audience, then meaning of creation is fulfilled.
In modern western culture the word sumi-e means any traditional painting using techniques with brush made of natural materials, ink and rice paper.
At present sumi-e artists are from different cultural backgrounds all over the world. Each artist has own way to express individual cultural experience.
Basic teaching is in understanding principles of four motives. Individual strokes are explained by painting orchid, bamboo, plum flower and chrysanthemum. These techniques are described in numerous books and publications, where basic points are the same, but artist expression is variable.
When the brush touches the paper and the painting comes to form,that moment is an expression of deepest emotions of the artist.
Some painters use only shades of black ink, others add colors or paint with naturally colored pigments. Some artists express themselves by using a traditional technique, others find new ways of use classic principles.From expressive portraits to the beauty of a landscape or city, from fragile flowers to the gentle movement of an animal, from realistic to abstract, from dark shades of gray to vivid color, that all falls into the definition of sumi-e or known as Japanese ink painting.
The rhythm magic of line, shadow and movement is a reflection of the artist’s inner soul.
