Category: Blitherings

Painting Wheat in Sumi-e

Fields of wheat are found throughout the world, and it is a grain of significant nutritional importance to many populations. Technically a grass, wheat originated in the middle east, and was the agricultural foundation for a number of early civilizations.

As a subject to paint in sumi-e, it provides a number of interesting lines and planes.  Using a diagram of the plant, pictures of wheat found on the web, and dried grasses for arrangements, there are many resources for the artist.  I’ve used a combination of all three as references.

Painting Wheat

The first area to be painted is the seed head. It weights down the plant, and gives a graceful direction to the subject. By painting these first, the focal points of the picture may be chosen. As wheat rests on a top of a tall stem, consideration should be given to the composition – is the wheat going to be upright and tall, or bending over in a graceful curve?

The seeds are painted dark to light, with the ink on the brush being used until gone. Next, the stem and the beard may be painted. The beard is lightly done, with quick graceful strokes. The stem may be created with a pause and pressure at the beginning of the stroke, before continuing on and completing the stem in one movement.

The leaves are done at the end, using the side-brush stroke in combination with vertical strokes which change direction and pressure for character. Finally, the veins of the leaves are done in medium-to-dark ink.

My own wheat is rather amateurish in execution, but that is how one learns. Many sumi artists and calligraphers will practice a subject over and over until the right combination is reached, and the seemingly effortless execution of a painting is done.

Clouds Beret

In the spring of this year, I decided to work up a lace beret. I’ve had the pattern written up and completed for some time, but did not want to publish it until I had included more photographs in the publication.

I am really pleased with the pattern, and my test knitters did a wonderful job correcting mistakes, as well as posing for pictures. These wonderful people include Judy and Donna, as well as models Alicia and Emmy.

Today, I posted this pattern on Ravelry, and on the Patterns page here on Ink, Yarn & Beer. Here are some of the photos taken in the process.

Anemoon – Finished!

There is absolutely nothing to dislike about this hat!  It looks great on, and knits up quickly enough.  The pattern directions are clearly written, the charting is easy to follow.  Lucy Sweetland is a talented knitter and designer – not to say a great photographer!  Check her out her blog, A Black Pepper.

Needless to say, my photographic skills do not do justice to this hat. What do you expect from a digital point and shoot? Well…I may buy a new camera in the future, too, and then??

Painting the Loquat in Sumi-e

The loquat is an evergreen, and can be considered a large shrub or small tree, growing about 12-15 feet tall. The leaves are long and pointy, dark green and thick, with a serrated edges. The sweet-smelling flowers appear in the autumn or early winter, and the fruits are ripe in late winter or early spring. In California, fruits appear April to May. This plant originated in China, was thence exported to Japan over 1000 years ago, and came to the west coast in the 1800s. It is frequently grown for both fruit, and as an ornamental plant.

Loquat fruits, growing in clusters, are oval, rounded or pear-shaped, 2-3 inches long, and can be pale yellow in color to a gold tinged with red. Depending on the type of loquat, the fruit can be rather sour in taste, or very sweet. The seeds of the loquat are lovely, being large and of a shiny brown.

The contrast of the roundish fruit with the wide, pointy leaves makes for an interesting painting subject. Here is my video on painting this lovely plant.

Wisteria Painting in Sumi-e

Down the street from us is a yard filled with wisteria that wanders along the fences.

Painting wisteria is delightful. The sweet smell of wisteria, the graceful fall of the leaves, the thick cascades of lavender flowers, the curl of the tendrils, the twists of the trunk.

Begin with the Flowers

The process of painting wisteria, in ink or in color, is the same. The wisteria is painted in medium tones in general, with dollops of lighter and darker flowers for contrast. I start at the top of the cluster, and use short side-brush strokes that are done quickly. First, press down with the brush, then quickly curve it and pull up. Do this twice, aiming at the center. The outer edge of the flower is thicker than the center. Continue doing this down to the end, decreasing the flowers in size. Place only a few flowers at the bottom – just a touch to suggest the petals. Let the flowers dry so that they are semi-damp.

Painting the Leaves

While the petals are drying, decide where you want to place the leaves. Wisteria leaves are long and slim, and are best painted with a graceful swooping motion. Begin with the narrow tip of the brush barely touching the paper, and then as you continue with the leaf, push down as you keep the brush perpendicular to the paper, and then raise the brush up. It is important to note that the leaves of the wisteria are paired opposite each other, evenly along the stem, and are not staggered. The last leaf is single, continuing off the stem.

Dotting the Flowers and Drawing the Leaf Veins

As the leaves dry, it is time to begin to dot the center of the wisteria flowers.  This should be done in dark ink.  Just little dots will do.  The flowers themselves should be damp-to-dry.  If they are too wet, the black ink will bleed into the flower.   After you have finished the flowers, return to the leaves, gently creating the center vein with ink slightly darker than the leaf itself.

Tendrils & Trunk

The trunk of the wisteria can be ancient, twisting and woody.  This provides a dynamic contrast with the graceful quality of the flowers and leaves.  Paint the trunk with a dry brush using dark ink.  Lay the brush on its side, and use a hard brush for even more dynamic results.  Follow this up with swirls of dark ink to create the tendrils.

Wisteria Painting in Sumi-e – The Video

Above is a colored painting of wisteria I did some time ago.  This video captures much of the process I described above.  I hope you enjoy it!