In this video I am demonstrating a modern Sumi-e style painting technique using Winsor and Newton watercolors on Arches watercolor paper, 140 lb. cold pressed. My goal here is to simplify the design of the rooster using a single brush with no preliminary drawing.
Sumi-e is a very simple and expressionistic painting technique where the artist tries to capture the essence of the subject in just a few strokes (more or less). I often refer to it as the "yoga" of painting since the artist needs to be in a place where mind, body, and spirit can come together to produce a simple, spontaneous piece of art.
In traditional Sumi-e one normally paints with ink often ground using an ink stick and stone. The ink is usually made from pine soot held together with a resin. A bamboo brush made from natural animal hair is then used to paint calligraphy-like strokes on rice paper.
I hope you enjoy this demo and will try your hand at a Sumi-e rooster or come up with your own unique composition!
Sumi-e is a very simple and expressionistic painting technique where the artist tries to capture the essence of the subject in just a few strokes (more or less). I often refer to it as the "yoga" of painting since the artist needs to be in a place where mind, body, and spirit can come together to produce a simple, spontaneous piece of art.
In traditional Sumi-e one normally paints with ink often ground using an ink stick and stone. The ink is usually made from pine soot held together with a resin. A bamboo brush made from natural animal hair is then used to paint calligraphy-like strokes on rice paper.
I hope you enjoy this demo and will try your hand at a Sumi-e rooster or come up with your own unique composition!
