Basic Materials for Sumi-e Painting

Learn what materials are needed to work in this ancient style of painting

Sumi-e (‘ink-painting’) is a monochromatic drawing technique, originating in China and introduced in Japan in the second half of the 14th century. It incorporates philosophy and religion in its practice. Flor Kaneshiro (@florkaneshiro), is an Argentinian illustrator with roots in Okinawa, Japan, and she specializes in this art. She has exhibited her drawings in Argentina, Japan, China, Perú, and the United States, and she has collaborated with publishers such as Quipu, Periplo Ediciones, and Palabras Aladas.

Traditional Sumi-e materials

It is essential to feel comfortable with the tools and materials we use, and finding the right materials will help us develop our style. Read on as Flor shares details about the equipment she uses in her projects:

Drawing materials

- A4 sheets
- Eraser
- Pencil sharpener
- 5B pencil
- 2B pencil
- Colored pencil for sketching

Paper options for painting

- 250 gsm paper
- 230 gsm paper
- 300 gsm paper
Flor recommends using paper with little texture (as the resulting image will be clearer) and small in size (it will be more practical to scan it).

Paintbrushes and watercolors

- Flor uses synthetic, rounded-tip watercolor paintbrushes in three sizes (small, medium, and large). She always recommends washing, drying, and putting the plastic cap on your brushes after use so that they will stay in good condition for a long time.

- As for watercolors, the artist prefers using pans, as they make it is easier to collect pigment.

Basic accessories

- Two water containers: one for cleaning the brushes and another to dilute the paint.
- Ceramic palettes to mix the colors.
- Small water spray bottle.
- Masking tape - or alternative, to fix the paper.
- Tissue or serviettes.
- Hair-dryer to accelerate the paint drying process.

Digital equipment

To digitize your watercolor Sumi-e projects, Flor recommends this essential equipment:

- Scanner (portable or not)
- Photoshop (or any other image editing program)
- Graphic tablet (optional)

To know more about this style of painting, click here. If you want to develop as an artist in this discipline, sign up to the course Watercolor Illustration with Japanese Influence, in which Flor Kaneshiro will help you tell a story using a unique atmosphere in your drawings.

You may be interested in:

- 5 Free Tutorials to Get Started in Watercolor.
- Illustration Tutorial: Japanese Brush Strokes with the Sumi-e Technique.
- Watercolor Tutorial: Wet-on-Wet Technique.
- What is Sumi-e?