Sumi-E

The art world, so intriguing. A few weeks ago I picked up a book called ‘The Mindful Artist: sumi-e’ and read through it cover to cover. Sumi-e is ink bush painting, classically in black and white, these days also in color. The book I bought consists of technique and tips, so reading it didn’t take long. I have of course (for almost no reason) high quality paper and calligraphy brushes laying around my house. After seemingly understanding some of the basics, I did a few practice pictures of bamboo. They were ok, but I wont soon forget them. The reason for that is an old friend of mine who commented on these bamboo sketches “sign it and I’ll buy it” — shortly after they were in the mail to New Brunswick. $100. Material wise it paid for everything — the technique book, brushes, sketchbook paper, etc. It also will go into what I’ll need in the future — an ink stone, better brushes, etc. It might be the first and last one I’ll ever sell, I guess that’s up to me.

It’s more than a sale though, friends like this aren’t common. This guy paid for my education in a new field. He knows that it wont stop there, he knows that I’ll pursue this at least to a degree where I become significantly better than where I am now. Down the road somewhere, we’ll look back on these blissfully ignorant sketches and laugh. Another door open!

Since then I have spent about 20 hours studying Japanese art history, not specifically sumi-e but that was included. Here’s the level to aspire to reach:

This is in the handful of the most important sumi-e paintings which exist. Sesshu’s Haboku Landscape from 1495. Let’s see how close I get to this iconic masterpiece.