What is Sumi-e ?

Sumi-e is inkwash brush painting originating from China over a thousand years ago, and embraced enthusiastically in Japan, Korea and now internationally. The name sumi-e literally means water+ink+painting 水墨畫.

Different names are used in different cultures:

• Chinese in Mandarin is shui-mo hua and in Cantonese is Sui Mak Wa (水墨畫)
• Japanese sumi-e (墨絵) or suibokuga (水墨画)
• Korean sumukhwa (수묵화)

Ink wash painting uses Chinese ink on Xuan paper. Different tones and shades are achieved by varying the ink density and brush pressure. It is not simply to reproduce the appearance of the subject, but to capture its soul. Sumi-e is the timeless unison of the true self and the universe. When I paint, I follow my heart and go with the flow.