Come along and dive into the age-old Japanese marbling technique Suminagashi. Briefly, Suminagashi is all about creating patterns with brushes and ink on the surface of a water vessel, which are then carefully transferred onto paper.
Suminagashi is a creative technique that is easy to use and everyone can participate in.
Suminagashi - which translates to “the dance of ink on the water” - builds on lightness and randomness. Droplets of ink are gently laid on the surface of the water and are formed by breathing, wind, or a light movement in space. Each Suminagashi print is a unique and unpredictable snapshot that cannot be controlled. This makes it a fun and good exercise in letting go and being present in the moment, and helps to feel very relaxing and liberating to work with.
It's a very meditative process, and you might be surprised at how immersed you become in the activity.
Suminagashi technique originated in the Heian period in Japan (794-1185) and was used, among other things, to decorate paper for calligraphy, poetry and books. The technique is closely related to the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, which is about seeing beauty in the imperfect, the simple, and the perishable.
- A brief historical introduction to Suminagashi.
- A demonstration of the basic technique with guide to materials and tools.
- Your own workstation with water tub, ink and various delicious Japanese paper in beautiful colors.
- Opportunity to immerse yourself and create a lot of beautiful prints.
- Knowledge of and opportunity to try out different manipulation techniques.
- For inspiration, I will finally share how I myself apply Suminagashi as a meditative element in everyday life.
- I will also tell about the technique seen in a Craft Psychological perspective with a focus on health promotion and flow. (Takes place while the prints dry).
- A list of materials so that you can continue working with Suminagashi at home.
- You will get some beautiful prints with you, which can be used for bookbinding or other creative projects.
- All materials including different paper for sample printing and 3 sheets of A3 kozopapir are included in the price.
- Get in comfortable clothes. Artist kits are available in the room.
- There will be tea, coffee and bubble water and snakcs available.
- Please bring two exercise blocks if it is something you have lying around. It is not necessary, but they are nice to rest your arms on while working.
