The Art and Technique of Sumi-e Japanese Ink Painting by Kay Thompson

Author:Kay Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0856-1
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

umé, the plum

The blossoming plum tree is the first herald of coming spring, frequently appearing even before the last snow has entirely disappeared. To the contemplative Japanese the analogies of the plum tree are numerous. The dark, jagged trunk represents old age, while the new green shoots and fresh blossoms in the spring are evidence of life's constant renewal and fresh hope. The pale blossoms are also associated with women as a symbol of purity and loyalty.

The trunk, in contrast to the smooth bamboo, is irregular and unpredictable in its construction. Hahogan, the crossing of lines, will show itself in a more angular. form than in the grasses on pages 18 and 19. Use a large brush preferably with hard bristles, touching it in chuboku on one side and a generous amount of noboku on the other. With one strong, irregular stroke, paint the trunk with a feeling for its ruggedness. Branches grow from the trunk in appropriate proportion to their position. Before these strokes are completely dry, accent the rich bark with nobs of noboku, thus accenting the rough surface of the old tree. These dots are called beiten (i.e., like the dots in the character bei, "rice") and are frequently seen on trees and mountains in Oriental painting.

The blossoms may be painted either in sembyo outlines or in color mokkotsu. The petal strokes in sembyo are two curving lines for each of the five petals (Fig. 1). The center of the flower, which, according to Chinese legend, resembles a dragon's eye, is a circle with a central touch of black. This is surrounded by delicate line strokes, dotted here and there at the tips (Fig. 2).

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