Description

Part philosophy, part poetry, part hands-on instruction, this introduction to Japanese ink painting goes deeper than technique. Artisan Naomi Okamoto guides readers into the world of sumi-e, an art form built on suggestion, simplicity, and an attentiveness to nature, showing how to capture the essence of a subject with the fewest, most intentional brushstrokes.

Learn about grinding ink, handling the brush with control, composing a picture, carving a soapstone or wooden seal to sign your work, and mounting a finished painting. Step-by-step exercises lead you through painting fish, orchids, bamboo, plum branches, and landscapes alive with rocks, water, birds, and trees.

“Beauty is a gift of life, present every day, giving joy and hope to life. It expresses the character of the artist; it is love. This subjective understanding of the aesthetics of beauty has always been at the heart of my work, as a student of Western painting and even before I began my intense involvement with ink painting. I am constantly trying to increase my understanding of the secret of beauty.” —Naomi Okamoto, Introduction.

Softcover; 96 pages; 8.25” x 10”