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Japanese brush painting is considered one of today’s most unique and masterful fine art forms. Learning about its background will allow you to develop a deeper appreciation for it. Here you’ll find some history of Japanese brush painting and how it’s executed.

Ancient Origins

The fine art of Japanese brush painting, known as “sumi-e,” dates back thousands of years. According to the Sumi-E Society of America, the style was invented over 2,000 years ago. Artists collected the carbon soot on the inside of ovens, mixed it with glue, then dried it to create a solid block. Wetting and grinding the block on a stone would produce black ink. Zen Buddhism is thought to have inspired the minimalistic, often black and white aesthetic and limited brush strokes.

Specific Tools

fine-artSumi-e involves specialized tools that have been used since its inception. The first of these is the ink stone, which has a small indentation where the ink is mixed. The stick of carbon composite that is ground on the stone to create ink is known as “sumi.” There are three main types of brushes: one made out of stiffer brown animal hairs like that of a weasel or badger, another fashioned from soft white goat hairs, and one with a mixture of both. Each type creates different brush strokes. The paper artists paint on is made from rice or woven silk. 

Themes

Japanese brush painters learn their trade by copying the paintings of ancient masters. They also focus on different themes to learn all of the basic strokes. Each theme has a corresponding season: bamboo for summer, chrysanthemum for fall, plum blossom for winter, and orchids for spring. Rather than trying to accurately recreate natural scenes, sumi-e practitioners focus on conveying the spirit of the environment.

 

If you’re interested in learning more about the ancient art of Japanese brush painting or would like to appreciate some of the fine art pieces created by modern day brush painters, visit The Art Board in Honolulu, HI. As one of the area’s premier art galleries for more than 40 years, they have a wide variety of Japanese brush paintings for sale in addition to offering first-rate framing services. Call (808) 536-0121 to inquire about their gallery, or visit the website for a closer look at their offerings. 

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