Brushwork
East Asian painting includes Chinese Brush Painting and Sumi-e Painting as it is known in Japan. Sumi-e painting is historically monochromatic ink painting on silk and paper. It originated in the 9th Century in China and was known as Suiboku (water-sumi-e ink-painting). Sumi-e and Chinese painting are very similar with Sumi-e being a simpler style with less brushstrokes. Although color is at times incorporated in Sumi-e, the "color” in a painting is shown in the different values of the ink.
Both Chinese Brush Painting and Sumi-e painting have been heavily influenced by the principles in Taoism and Buddhism, particularly Zen. From the Japanese perspective the arts, such as painting, landscaping, flower arranging, etc. should embody and communicate these principles:
Wabi - this means poverty or beauty found in imperfect things like a rustic fence with a broken gate. It is elegant simplicity and non-artificiality.
Sabi - means loneliness or solitariness. A good example is the poem, Asking for the Master. “I asked the boy beneath the pine. He says the Master’s gone alone herb gathering, Somewhere on the mount, cloud hidden whereabouts unknown.” (Watts)
Chi or Ki - means the energy of Being or the Power of Spirit.
Asymmetry - in the Japanese arts there is an emphasis on asymmetry as the mind of the viewer completes the scene.
Sunyata - the Buddhist term for Emptiness in which all Form emerges.
Awareness - Working Samadhi or non-ego attention in the present.
Both Chinese Brush Painting and Sumi-e painting use the same techniques and materials. The materials used are called the Four Treasures:
Ink Stick - The ink stick is made from pine soot mixed with glue. It can have a faint hue of blue or brown. The "color” it creates is made by adding different quantities of water to make hundreds of gradations of tone.
Inkstone - These can be made of different natural materials but are generally non-porous slate. The ink is made by adding water to the stone, holding the stick to the stone vertically and slowly, meditatively grinding the stone in a circle.
Brushes - Brushes are made of natural material, such as hair from horse, deer or goat. These are “hard” brushes, are brown and are used for bamboo, stems and other hard lines. Soft brushes are made from sheep or rabbit and are used for flowers, and washes.
Paper - Historically, Sumi-e was done on silk as was Calligraphy. Today’s paper, "rice paper” is made from Mulberry bark, or bamboo or rice stalk fibers. Paper is either raw or sized (paper treated with glue).
Asian Painting is a formal practice with stylized techniques. Most painters begin with calligraphy to learn basic strokes to be used in Flower/Bird Paintings and landscape. Also, beginning painters learn the Four Gentlemen: Orchid, Bamboo, Chrysanthemum and Plum Blossoms, which symbolize Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter respectively. Students learn by copying the works of the Teacher and the Ancient Masters. Asian Painting does not try to copy a landscape or other subject exactly, but embodies the Spirit of what is seen.
After a Painting is completed, the painter uses a stone “chop” that has a seal etched into it. The artist’s name seal is usually placed on the bottom of the painting. Mood seals are above the name seal or placed in other parts of the painting and invokes the meaning and emotions of the painting.
