sumi-e – Journey by Paper

Chrysanthemums

By -N- on August 11, 2019August 8, 2019

Years ago I did Japanese ink painting, along with Chinese painting. Chrysanthemums are a traditional study. Here, I tried to work with the gouache in the same fashion – following the same formula – as in Oriental painting. Because the paper and pigment are different, it doesn’t work out the same, although the brushwork is applied similarly.

Using what I learned from the first painting, while I held to the constructs I had learned in Asian painting, I applied the principles of gouache here. I built on layers and worked over areas I wasn’t too thrilled with.

Being familiar with how different painting techniques are applied is very handy. This knowledge can be applied to another area (here, painting) and modified to fit the needs of the medium. Painting is like opening up a brand new world! It is quite an adventure.

Posted in: Asian painting, brush work, Chinese painting, Gouache, Japanese painting, Oriental painting, Painting, sumi-e

Chatter

Temple Sunrise

By -N- on January 29, 2019June 30, 2019

This is a rather eclectic picture as far as technique. Pencil drawing, ink, watercolor, more ink, more water, and so on. Paper is Arches cold press 140#, 9×12 inches. I thought I would use a better quality paper this morning because I knew I would be using a lot of water. It paid off. A picture of a Japanese temple was the inspiration for this mish-mash, as well as the fact I felt like drawing more than anything else.

Posted in: Drawing, ink, sumi-e, sunrise, temple, Watercolor

Chatter Drawing

Inktober #7: Exhausted

By -N- on October 7, 2018June 30, 2019

Somedays you just don’t want to get out of bed . . . too much partying, too much to do, whatever. Crawl into bed, pull the covers over your head, and disappear for a few hours. Great medicine in our crazy world!

This is a combination of a fude ink brush and water-soluble graphite.

Posted in: exhaustion, ink, Inktober, Inktober 2018, pen, sumi-e, water-soluble graphite

Chatter Watercolor

Castle, No Lines

By -N- on April 8, 2018June 30, 2019

Besides doing the orchid yesterday, I sat down and did what is being called”direct watercolor.” As in sumi-e, the artist thinks about things before committing brush to paper. No lines. No value studies. Look, see, think, paint. It is a bit of a challenge and rather daunting, but I think this is such an enlightening way to learn the art of brushwork, value, contrast, and so on. I did some glazes here and there, to create contrast as well as to carry various colors throughout the painting. I also worked with vignetting, considering the shapes of the four corners of the vignette as well.

Posted in: castle, contrast, corners, Direct Watercolor, Eltz Castle, no lines, sumi-e, vignette

Chatter Drawing Watercolor

Retrospective

By -N- on February 4, 2018February 4, 2018

I was rummaging through the files on my desk, and came across a collection of sumi-e ink, ink and color, and watercolor or acrylic paintings I did a long time ago. Some of these are “aceo” size, which measure 2×3.5 inches, and others are other papers. I used to sell these on Ebay, too. Maybe I need to go through and scan some more – it’s like tea and madeleines – memories and reminders.