Sumi-e Painting

Japanese ink painting, (sumi-e) is the art of painting using brush (fude), ink (sumi) and thin absorbent “rice-paper” (washi).

Patricia Larkin Green will be instructing 5 classes of Sumi-e (each 2 hr long). Advance at your own pace, you do not need to know how to paint with ink, all levels are welcome, and course materials will be provided. The emphasis is on the process! The Class will be introduced to the “Four Treasures” (The ink stick, the ink stone, brush and paper) and each class will begin with a demonstration then guided instruction on how to paint “The Four Gentlemen” (The lessons introduce the student to the four basic strokes groups). Advanced Students will work at their own pace discovering idea paintings.

The Four Gentlemen teach the foundational brushstrokes of Sumi-e:

Bamboo: thin stroke, wide stroke, side stroke are used to create bamboo stalks, twigs and leaves. The bamboo brush stroke teaches how to load the brush, apply pressure, and lift the brush.
Wild Orchid: long and short strokes, turning the brush and changing direction, and heart dots comprise the flowing grass stroke, and flower.
Chrysanthemum: more practice loading the brush, broad leaf strokes, curved and thicker brush strokes, thin line strokes (leaf veins), petals, light and dark create the fullness of the flower and depth of the leaves with expressive shapes.
Plum Blossom: Thick dry brush stroke (flying white brush stroke), dots and curved flower petals expand your expertise and control of the brush with a variety of sensitive and full strokes.

Patrica Larkin Green’s Beginner Set

Patricia Larkin Green has worked with OAS to assemble a beginner’s set for her Sumi-e (Zen) painting class for her courses at the Japanese Culture Center, Morton Arboretum and Lillstreet.

Set includes:

2 Brushes – One Medium H2C OAS Orchid Bamboo & One C2C OAS Flow
Ink & Accessories: I14 500 Ton Oil Ink Stick, I02RJ Suzuri Stone, & White Felt
Paper: 12 OAS Practice Rolls & Paper Sampler for Fun (Exclusively for Patricia’s class, not available for sale)
If you’re a returning student or considered Intermediate/Advance and progressing to landscape lessons, consider adding the following to what you already have: one OAS Flow Brush (for a Super Wash Goat Hair Brush) & one Mountain Horse S or M (for a Rat Whisker Landscape Brush)

Learn more: www.orientalartsupply.com

About the Instructor Patricia Larkin Green:

“As in life, if you make a mistake, you must go on, you cannot cover it up.”

“Sumi-e informs my painting; I begin with the meditative process, stretching to inhabit my subject matter and leaving the mark on paper with my impression. It is a lovely way to create.”

“Stanley-Jossem Sensei revealed painting as meditation to me. The sumi-e tradition of Asian ink painting from teacher to student moves in a continuum, with no end to the journey for truth. In sumi-e, the brush reveals your truth. The process is important. I learned hand to hand by observing her gracefully sway with her brush, dipping into her soul and tracing the ink like a gentle breath of life over delicate rice paper. I am honored to pass on this tradition.”

Ms. Larkin Green has won many awards for her work including the prestigious Special Cultural Achievement Award (中国国際展) from China New Ink Painting Institute Art Museum, Beijing, China “ICCPS (International Chinese Calligraphic Art and Ink Painting Society)”, for “No Wind” 無風中国国際展　受賞者. In addition, her work received the Second Grand Prize for Ink Painting, 日本ならや本舗賞 Naraya Brush Award, 中国遼寧分会後援会賞 Award, and the prestigious Award of Excellence several years in a row from 国際中国書法国画家協会 ICCPS invitational exhibition at Jade Buddha Temple, LaioNing Province in AnShan City, China. Patricia’s work has been the subject of solo and two person exhibitions in the United States and has exhibited throughout the United States, and in Australia, China and Japan.

“I’m grateful for all I’ve learned from generous artists and teachers that came before me, I now volunteer at The Japanese Culture Center. I continue to study shodo (Japanese Calligraphy) and sumi-e with Shozo Sato Sensei (an internationally renowned Japanese master of Zen arts). The sumi-e tradition of teaching Asian ink painting from teacher to student moves in a continuum. You learn hand to hand, passing generations of knowledge through subtle movements of the brush into the future. By teaching, my intention is to break down barriers and open up each student’s creativity to new levels. I am honored to pass on this tradition.”

You can find out more at: www.patricialarkingreen.com