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Sumi-e Landscape 

• Teacher: Angie Dixon
• Class Length:  3 sessions, 1 per month
• Class Begins: Saturday, May 10, June 14, July 12
• Time: 10:00-1:00 pm

Learn traditional and contemporary approaches to asian brush and ink in this online class. Learn about the history and materials of sumi as you focus on brush strokes, and letting the paper come alive. We will work with the traditional materials of sumi (ink), watercolor, and rice paper.  You will learn the classic techniques of this wonderful art form creating your paintings.

Subject matter will be from nature: branches, blossoms and for those who are ready, we can start on simple birds.

All levels welcome. Taken beginning sumi before? Take it again! There is plenty more to learn, and your work will only improve.

About the instructor

Angie Dixon studied art at the University of Washington where she received two degrees; one in fine arts and the other in art history in 1976. She continued with graduate studies in the People’s Republic of China at the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts in 1984.

Her training has been in the traditional use of Asian Brush and Ink Painting in its varied forms and she has pursued bringing it into contemporary art language in her own work along with practicing the tradition.

Traditional Sumi Painting Materials List

1 medium brown hair round brush – may be called “wolf” hair or “weasel” hair
1 medium white hair round brush – may be called sheep hair
1 brown hair outline brush
Do not get badger hair or other animal hair types for these basic brushes
1 roll “Shuji Gami” rice paper 18”H x 30’L
Or
Packets of rice paper that are “unsized” or “absorbent”
Calligraphy practice paper or single or double shuen/xuen/shwen paper(phonetic spelling) or pi paper work well
1 piece felt or newsprint paper
Felt should be white or gray – no black or other colors
1 bottle sumi ink -Not India ink or any other ink
2 water containers or more
3-4 mixing dishes at least 4” diameter
1 dish or container for the sumi ink 2-3” diameter
Clean rag or paper towels
Weights to hold down the rice paper – favorite rocks work well

Color has to be Asian watercolor because it is permanent – Not western watercolor or acrylic. Western watercolor is not permanent and acrylic paint is plastic. Marie’s watercolor is a Chinese watercolor that will work and is relatively inexpensive. The Japanese sets of color are better and slightly more expensive.

Where to find supplies

Blue Heron Arts has a 3 brush set containing the round brown hair brush, the round white hair brush and the brown hair outline brush. It is a good value and the brush quality is good. They also have rice paper, sumi ink and other materials for sumi painting. they mainly carry Chinese art supplies.

Oriental Art Supply (OAS) has the brushes individually, rice papers and all materials necessary for sumi painting. They mainly carry Chinese art supplies.

Daiso has the rice paper packets of 50 – 60 unsized/absorbent rice paper sheets for painting and calligraphy 9.5” x 13.25” for a very reasonable price. They carry Japanese art materials. Do not buy their brushes except the outing brush. They also carry felt at a very reasonable price.

Color sets, the sumi  ink and the Shuji Game paper roll can be found at various art supply stores such as Dick Blick and online.

Yasutomo is the major Japanese art supply importer and art materials can be found online from them.