Sumie and Modern Art by Stan Gielewski

Sumie Tools

The basic tools needed for sumie painting are few and not sophisticated - although the process of making them is very long and complex, done only by professionals.

Fortunately, for most of us, all the needed tools can be purchased at specialty stores. Prices vary depends on quality, and some items might be quite expensive.

Below is a list of all the needed tools and materials for sumie painting, first word in Japanese with following English explanation.

Fude - brush; there is a large variety of brushes used by artists depands on the desired effect
Suzuri - ink stone; a specially curved stone for grinding ink and mixing it with ater
Bunchin - paper weight; used to hold down the painting paper
Hittou - brush pot; pot to keep brushes in up right position ready to use
Hikka - brush die; virtually any piece of solid material used to rest brushes in the painting area, often in a shape of mountain pics
Chiyusuigu - water pot; pot filled with water used for painting
Supun - spoon; used to take water from the pot and add to ink in the inkstone or on the plate
Sara - plate; used to dilute ink with different quantities of water to achieve a variety of gradiations of ink
Matto - painting mat; used underneath the rice paper during painting
Sumi - ink stick; specially prepared hard stick of painting ink
Washi - rice paper; paper commonly used for sumie painting ( also used as canvas are silk and wood )
Hanko - or inkan - ink stamp; used for signing paintings stand alone or with a written signature
Inkan - ink pad; for hanko

Above, few more sophisticated accessories from the sumie world including beautiful porcelain hittou from Meiji Era and koro ( center ) - a special pot, this one made from brass, for burning incense at home during ceremonies like sado ( tea ceremony ) for example, and also in everyday use for the simple pleasure of feeling nice smell. This one from Edo Era - about the year 1800.

There are some additional items which sumie or shiodo (calligraphy) artists use, like:

Kenbyou - screen; a smal screen placed in front of the ink stone

Suiteki - water pot; smaller than chiusuigu, with a hole, used to add small quantities of water to the ink stone

Toushi - wrist rest; used underneath the artists wrist while painting small details

Yatate - portable suzuri; contains a compartment for ink soaked cotton, brush and a small knife to cut sheets of rice paper, used on schetching trips or at work outside

Couple of yatate from Meiji Era - circa 1890.

The ink stamps ( bottom ) used while signing paintings can be made from variety of materials, but the most commonly used is stone.

Hanko

And some items, like this about 250 years old suiteki for example, can be quite decorative.

Kame Suiteki