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Mindful Artist: Sumi-e Painting
Here's a sneak peek at what you'll find in my new book, "Mindful Artist: Sumi-e Painting". You can order it from your local bookstore or through Amazon or through the publisher Walter Foster Books/Quarto Creates. Publication date is December 3, 2019. The e-book version will be released at the same time as the hard copy. I hope you're as excited as I am! I can hardly wait!
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Black Ink Sketch on Mulberry Paper
Using just black ink and shades of grey, I started off sketching the rock and tree on the left and worked my way up the scene, spraying lightly with water to dampen the paper in the distance. This softens the outlines. My mulberry paper came from Blue Heron Arts, where you can find an excellent selection of paper, brushes and other painting supplies.
Completed Black Ink Sketch
Rather than leaving the center area open for mist, I opted for showing a meandering waterfall in the distance. I left several areas open for mist.
First Layer of Color
Adding light color....Uh-oh, it's all looking a bit brown! The addition of color has taken away from the strong contrast between the black ink and white paper, leaving it looking a bit muddy.
Second Layer of Color
Hmmm, I've added a bit of light, transparent green to the mountains, but it still looks a bit dreary.
Third Layer of Color
Wahoo! I've intensified the brown on the sides of the rocks and added mineral green and blue! Here's a closeup comparison of the house area:
Mountain & Houses in light colors
Mountain & Houses in Mineral Colors
Traditionalists might feel I've gone a bit Disney, but the use of mineral green and blue in Chinese landscape paintings goes back hundreds of years. You can see some examples here. And now the final version, complete with chops:
Cosy Cabins in the Mountains
Sometimes 'going for broke' is the most fun of all. I had no idea if the mineral colors would be too much, but I really like it, which is ultimately what counts. Break the rules! Find your own style! It's just a piece of paper, after all! Good luck and happy painting!
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Demonstrating peony at The Villages Workshop in Florida
Step 1: Relax! You're going to have fun! Peonies come in many varieties and different colors and they're all delicious!
Select one or two colors for your flower: Marie's Rose and Rouge Tint work well, or Rose and Carmine. Apply the lighter color diluted to halfway up the brush; apply the darker color more strongly to the tip of your brush.
Tip: use a small, soft brush for the petals. Click here for more info on brushes and colors.
Select one or two colors for your flower: Marie's Rose and Rouge Tint work well, or Rose and Carmine. Apply the lighter color diluted to halfway up the brush; apply the darker color more strongly to the tip of your brush.
Tip: use a small, soft brush for the petals. Click here for more info on brushes and colors.
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Be ready for excitement! Allow the vigor of the grapevines to jump out of your brush. Painting grapes in Chinese brush style is about the boldness of the leaves contrasted with the lushness of the fruit. You can have fun with the twisting vines. They can go anywhere!
Read my tips on painting grapes, leaves and vines by clicking on "read more".
Watch me paint grapes here
See more of my grape paintings here
Purchase my How to Paint Grapes video here
Read my tips on painting grapes, leaves and vines by clicking on "read more".
Watch me paint grapes here
See more of my grape paintings here
Purchase my How to Paint Grapes video here
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Click on the arrow below to watch the video
I am using a small Mountain Horse hair brush and liquid Chinese ink in this quick stroke Chinese brush painting. The paper is semi-sized cotton xuan. Because I am right-handed, it is most comfortable to start my brushstroke from the lower left and move in a clockwise direction. You may find it easier to do it in reverse if you are left-handed.
You can see more of my rock paintings in my gallery.
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When you paint plum blossom in Chinese brush style, I bet you usually paint the branches first and then add the flowers. But did you know you can do it the other way round? I'm going to show you step by step how I develop a Chinese brush painting of plum, starting with the blossoms.
Tip:
Tip:
- I am using a raw (unsized) single xuan rice paper. Double xuan is fine too.
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Bamboo Trunks and Leaf Stems
The composition is established by your trunks. Because I am right-handed, it is most comfortable for me to start bamboo trunks on the left and have them sweep or arc towards the right.
Tips:
Tips:
- If you are left-handed, start on the right and move left. If you are working from a right-handed model, you can print it in reverse so it works better for you. Remember too that if your composition calls for trunks going in an awkward direction, you can always turn your paper!
- Vary the shade of your trunks, from black and dark grey to light grey, or black to green. The variation will add visual interest and give a sense of three-dimension to your composition.
- When adding the stems for the leaves, make sure they grow out of the knots or joints of the bamboo trunks. Watch my video tutorial on painting bamboo leaves.