Description

The Art of Sumi Ink 

Black Sumi ink: Dive into the enchanting world of traditional Japanese calligraphy and paintings. Have you ever wondered about the core ingredient that brings such creations to life? It is none other than black sumi ink, an integral part of the rich heritage of Japanese art.

Historically, black sumi ink has been used by artists in East Asia for calligraphy and ink-wash paintings. Its unique, rich pigment is derived from soot, lending a profound depth to the visual aesthetics.

Calligraphy, also known as Shodō in Japan, is a form of artistic writing. The liquid grace of black Sumi ink lends itself beautifully to this art form’s elegant strokes and lines. The ink’s viscosity and darkness allow for a wide range of expressions, from subtle shades to bold lines, encapsulating the artist’s soul in every stroke.

Sumi ink is an amazingly versatile medium. Traditionally, Sumi ink has been used by calligraphy artists with brush and pen techniques; however, today, you can find this flowing monochromatic ink in many art forms and genres. 

What can I use black Sumi ink on?

Sumi ink works seamlessly on Awagami, Japanese rice, watercolour, and Yupo papers. This beautiful deep matte liquid ink flows smoothly from bamboo calligraphy pens, calligraphy brushes, fluid paintbrushes, natural sable-haired watercolour paintbrushes, and traditional dip pens. 

Varying concentrations of black Sumi ink create a spectrum of shades. The artist traditionally manipulates the ink on paper to create everything from delicate, intricate details to bold, dramatic scenes.

A concentrated ink

Sumi ink is rich in colour. A tiny drop will go a long way. Use it straight from the bottle or blend and work the ink into many shades of grey. 

You can extend and moisten the ink with water to make it flow seamlessly. Adding 3 to 4 drops of water to your working surface directly allows you to play with the opacity to create light, medium, and dark areas. It is the perfect medium for developing interest and highlighting different elements in one colour. 

Hot Tip

Use a quality 300gsm cotton paper for beautiful flowing effects without your paper warping. On this paper, you can also produce smooth, intense outlines for contrast or easily make silhouettes with a single brush stroke of undiluted ink. This thick paper will allow you to layer until your heart’s content.  

Did you know?

The rich and velvety opaqueness of undiluted Sumi ink can cover other mediums such as acrylic inks, shellac inks, and watercolour paints with ease. Making it perfect for art journaling. 

Comic or urban sketching

If you are into urban sketching or traditional comic sketching, the ink can be used with traditional calligraphy pens or poured into fluid brushes. You can cross-hatch, create lines, stipple, and work patterns to form quick sketches on the go with a small amount of this ink.

Draw outlines for comic books and graphic novels, craft a beautifully handwritten letter to send a loved one in the mail, or create wonderfully deep contrasts in watercolour paintings.

Brush lettering with black Sumi ink

Traditional parchment calligraphy paper can be used with practice blotting paper when writing with Sumi ink and dip pens. Hand lettering is a beautiful art form. Take your work to the next level and complement it with some gold leaf. 

The charm of black Sumi ink lies in its adaptability to different creative outlets, making it a favourite medium amongst those who love experimenting. The possibilities of this medium are truly limited only by your imagination.

VIPurpose black Sumi ink rewards 

With competitive prices and dedication towards our customer satisfaction, we here at Art Materials Australia pride ourselves on providing you with the best black Sumi ink options. Sign up for our VIPurpose points program today and get even better discounts through our store and online purchases on all the art materials you need.  

Contact us

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact an Art Materials Australia creative member.

Text: 0411248217

E: info@artmaterialsaustralia.com.au

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