Sumi-e Ink Happening - September 23rd, 2018
The Japanese Paper Place is well-known to sumi-e artists looking for high-quality, hand-crafted washi paper (also called rice paper). The Japanese Paper Place hosted an all-day event where people interested in learning about sumi-e art could try their hand at it. Roslyn Levin began a workshop by instructing how to paint a kitten.
The painting started with the fur around the head.
Then using darker ink, the markings in the fur surfaced.
The participants surprised themselves as a kitten appeared on their paper.
Po Man Chan demonstrated painting pandas, which seem to fascinate an audience.
When painting with the black sumi-e ink, water is used frequently to create the shades of gray.
Po Man Chan added bamboo to the painting as it is the natural environment for the panda.
Everyone was soon painting pandas. As in other workshops, young and not so young participants were encouraged to practice the brush strokes.
Outside, Dao Yan Hu started a panel where all people could participate in a collective work of art.
Suminagashi formed another workshop. Suminagasi creates patterns in water.
Then you put your paper into the water with the pattern.
The result is a pattern on your paper. When dry, you have a unique work of art.
This family became suminagashi experts in a short time under Sigrid Blohm's guidance.
Outside, Sumi-e Ink Happening participants added contributions to the collective sumi-e art panel.
They had two panels to contribute their ideas to.
Kate Cherney led a workshop on creating enso circles.
Enso is a circle made with one or a few brush strokes. Enso reveals the state of the creator at that moment.
Creating the enso circle was open to all ages like the other workshops.
What do these enso circles say about their creators?
Neli Iordanova demonstrated how to paint the chrysanthemum.
Petals come first. Each petal is one brush stroke. Neli Iordanova reminded the workshop participants to paint the petal towards the plant.
Leaves came next and were again painted in brush strokes toward the stem.
Veins were added with darker ink.
The instructors provided examples of their work.
Outside, a creative panel emerged from the participants' inspirations.
You can learn more about the Japanese Paper Place in the links section.