Introduction to Sumi-e Painting
A course by Koshu (Akemi Lucas)Artist and Teacher
A course by Koshu (Akemi Lucas), Artist and Teacher
Connect with Japanese zen philosophy and let your energy flow through expressive ink brush strokes
Step into a journey of self-discovery through the ancient art of Sumi-e painting. Japanese artist Koshu guides you through this ancestral art form using ink brush strokes and a meditative practice to create deeply expressive artwork.
Discover a thousand-year-old practice that is both a form of expression and a way of setting the mind. Delve into the history of Sumi-e painting and its intrinsic connection to nature and Zen philosophy. Explore the brushstroke techniques to create all four Shikunshi: an orchid, bamboo, a chrysanthemum, and a plum blossom.
What will you learn in this online course?
23 lessons & 18 downloads
Materials and How to Set Up for Sumi Painting
7 minutes, 7 seconds
Ink Density
4 minutes, 12 seconds
Basic Techniques
8 minutes, 0 seconds
Basic Ink Effects
20 minutes, 58 seconds
Basic Brush Practice Movements for Orchid 1
11 minutes, 35 seconds
Basic Brush Practice Movement for Plum Blossom 1
17 minutes, 28 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet Koshu, learn about her journey as a Sumi-e painter and calligraphy artist, and see how these ancient art forms have transpired into her personal life. Discover the calligraphy masters that have influenced her work and see some of the books Koshu recommends on Japanese art.
Learn about the history of Sumi-e painting and explore Shikunshi, its intrinsic connection with nature and Zen philosophy. Get familiarized with the materials you need and discover Koshu’s meditative painting practice for expressing yourself and focusing on your brush strokes.
Follow Koshu’s advice on how to choose the right paper and ink for your paintings. Then, learn about ink densities and explore basic brush techniques and movements. Learn how to create some basic ink effects while discovering the meaning of each technique in Japanese.
Begin painting an orchid, your first step of Shikunshi, and see its corresponding brush movements. Continue with the second and third steps of Shikunshi by painting bamboo and a chrysanthemum. Move on to the fourth step by painting a plum blossom.
Give the final touches to your plum blossom Sumi-e painting by learning two types of Bokashi techniques. Conclude the course by learning how to prepare your artwork for framing.
What is this course's project?
Create a Sumi-e painting of plum blossoms in moonlight.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone interested in discovering the art of Sumi-e painting.
Requirements and materials
You don’t need any previous experience to take this course; just a desire to explore Sumi-e painting.
As for materials, you’ll need felt cloth, a paperweight, an inkstone, an ink stick or liquid ink, 2 water jars, 4 small plates, paintbrushes of various sizes, different types of paper, paper towels, a thick piece of paper cut into a circle, an old toothbrush, and a sieve or metal mesh.
Reviews
- 1 month ago
Highly recommend.
- 2 months ago
Davvero interessante e rilassante
- 3 months ago
Me parece muy interesante e instructivo, lo estoy disfrutando, gracias
- capilla2007PLUS3 months ago
Excelente, me sirvió para hacer cuadros y enseñar los principios de este arte. La profesora es maravillosa
- 3 months ago
Wonderful subject given by the artist with a systematic way without loosing the flair of the spirit behind it.
Koshu creates commissions for a wide range of international clients. Her work can be seen on labels for KokoroGin, at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and in advertising campaigns for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Her calligraphy work featured in the Hyper Japan Festival 2022 and her first sumi-e painting book is to be published by Bloomsbury in 2024.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- What Will We Do in This Course?
- U2
Theory of Sumi Painting and Materials
- What Is Sumi Painting?
- What is Shikunshi?
- Materials and How to Set Up for Sumi Painting
- U3
Basic Techniques
- How to Choose Paper and Ink
- Ink Density
- Basic Techniques
- Basic Ink Effects
- U4
Shikunshi
- Basic Brush Practice Movements for Orchid 1
- Basic Brush Practice Movements for Orchid 2
- Basic Brush Practice Movement for Bamboo 1
- Basic Brush Practice Movement for Bamboo 2
- Basic Brush Practice Movement for Chrysanthemum 1
- Basic Brush Practice Movement for Chrysanthemum 2
- Basic Brush Practice Movement for Plum Blossom 1
- Basic Brush Practice Movement for Plum Blossom 2
- Basic Brush Practice Movement for Plum Blossom 3
- Basic Brush Practice Movement for Plum Blossom 4
- Basic Brush Practice Movement for Plum Blossom 5
- U5
Details and After Care
- How to Include the Moonlight
- How to Prepare Your Artwork for Framing
- FP
Final project
- Introduction to Sumi-e Painting
What to expect from a Domestika course
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FAQs
Sumi-e painting is a traditional Japanese art form using ink, brush, and paper to create expressive, minimalist artworks rooted in Zen philosophy. Its focus is on simplicity, brush control, and conveying emotion through monochromatic ink washes.
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and covers foundational techniques, brush handling, and material selection, making it accessible for those new to Sumi-e and Japanese calligraphy.
You will need an inkstone, ink sticks, Sumi brushes, absorbent paper such as Xuan or Gassene, and water. The course explains how to select and prepare each material for optimal results.
You will learn essential brush techniques, ink preparation, pressure control, the Bokashi gradation, Shikunshi plant motifs, composition, calligraphy basics, and how to prepare artwork for framing.
The course teaches correct hand, arm, and body posture for stable, expressive brushwork, including techniques for pressure, speed, and specific brush grips like Sokoho and Tangoho.
Bokashi is a gradation technique used in Sumi painting to create smooth transitions between ink tones in a single stroke or area, adding depth and expressiveness to the artwork.
You’ll learn to select practice and final papers based on absorbency and texture, and distinguish between ink sticks like Shōenboku and Yuenboku for different visual outcomes.