The colors of Cultures: Sumi Drawing

Lesson Length:
7-10 Day

Materials:

Copic Sketchbook Paper or X-Press It Blending Card

Copic 6-Piece Bold Primaries (Sketch Set)
Copic 6-Piece Perfect Primaries (Sketch Set)
Copic Multiliner SP - Black 0.5 mm Ink Pen (Optional)

National Visual Arts Standards Applicable:

3A (9-12) Reflect on how artworks differ visually, spatially, temporally, and functionally. Describe how
these are related to history and culture.
3B (9-12) Apply subjects, symbols, and ideas in their artworks and use the skills gained to solve
problems in daily life.
4B (9-12) Describe the function and explore the meaning of specific art objects within varied cultures,
times, and places.

Objectives/Essential Learning/Teacher Point:

A. Students will learn about the rich cultural history of Japanese Sumi Art.
B. Students will compare/contrast the Copic super brush tip and traditional paintbrushes, then apply the
styles seen in Sumi paintings to their Copic artwork.
C. Students will utilize contour sketching, balance, unity, directional line, textural mark making,
layering/blending, and Japanese Calligraphy.
D. Students will create Sumi drawings using Copic 6-Piece Bold Primaries, and 6-Piece Perfect
Primaries sketch sets. They will face the challenge of studying the Sumi Painting style and then
creating their own composition.

Procedure:
Day 1:
Introduction of professional Sumi (Japanese) brush paintings students will uncover the history behind a
2000-year-old art form, and understand its relevance to all aspects of the culture, i.e. religion,
government, and daily life.
Students will also study Japanese calligraphy symbols, discovering the visual representation of words
and language systems.
Introduction of elements and principles of art and sketching concepts
Discovery of Sumi art, cultural art, Japanese calligraphy
Balance, unity, repetition, texture
Directional line, layering, blending
Creation of 3-5 thumbnail sketches based on composition; students explore the ideas of balance and
unity.
Day 2/3:
Finished example of Copic drawing is shown and final design process beings.
Students are given both 6-piece sketch sets and asked to pick one of the lighter colors of marker for the
contour line sketch. Using permanent markers for the preliminary sketch requires patience and attention
to detail, much like using permanent ink in the ancient Sumi painting tradition.

Students should utilize a fair amount of white space in their images to create balance; this style is
reflected in most Sumi artworks. It is important to pay close attention to both placement and accuracy of
Japanese calligraphy symbols in contour drawings.
Day 4-7:
Given review of demonstration of Copic layering, blending, and textural mark making techniques, students
will use their sketch sets to complete coloring of images.
Use of layering and varied weight in super-brush strokes will imply texture and movement in artwork.
Repetition of shapes and textures will create unity and structure.

Formative Assessment
- Introduction of Sumi paintings and Copic techniques
- Evaluation of thumbnails do sketches demonstrate understanding of Sumi style?
- Evaluation of preliminary composition Is it balanced? Does it include Japanese calligraphy?
- Continuous student critiques of in-process marker techniques/studio work.

Summative Assessment:
Final Project Evaluated based on completion of studio objectives:
1. Demonstrated understanding of Sumi brush painting/drawing traditions
2. Use of at least 6 colors between Copic 6-Piece Bold Primaries and 6-Piece Perfect Primaries
sketch sets.
3. Use of Japanese calligraphy symbols in composition.
4. Student explanation of calligraphy symbols in relation to theme of composition.

Vocabulary:
Sumi painting
Japanese calligraphy
Cultural art
Unity
Balance

Repetition
Texture
Contour line
Directional line
Language systems

Project Directions

1.

Cultural art is a building block of human civilization. This tutorial illustrates the composition of a
2000-year-old art form Sumi painting reflected through Copic drawing techniques with the Copic
6-Piece Bold Primaries and 6-Piece Perfect Primaries sketch sets.
Preliminary contour sketch can be done with color of artists choice. This pre-sketch was drawn
with Copic Multiliner SP Gray 0.5 mm ink pen. Sumi painting is often characterized by precise
forms and a balanced composition; using the Copic Multiliner SP Gray 0.5 mm ink pen helps
to set tone for fine line work.

Special emphasis should be placed on the Japanese calligraphy symbols and their symbolic
theme. In this image depicting a panda calmly eating bamboo plants, the artist chose the
following symbols to connect with the theme: peace, harmony, happiness, tranquility, and spirit.

2.

Filling in the background first will help promote a balanced composition. It is important to leave
behind a fair amount of white space as reflected often in the Sumi tradition.
Use the colors (B00 Frost Blue) and (B04 Tahitian Blue) to create flowing, textural lines for
the mountains and grass. Layering B00 several times over B04 will create a faint, washed out
blue perfect for mountains in the distance.

3.

Add thin layer of (Y15 Cadmium Yellow) over B00 and B04 for the grass areas the markers
will mix immediately creating shades of green. Layer back and forth in the same areas with (Y19
Napoli Yellow) and both blues B00, B04. The mixture of vibrant blues and yellows will create
multiple shades of green, creating both variety and contrast in the image.
Add (G28 Ocean Green) in the areas where the darker green is needed. Finish grass area by
adding (B28 Ultramarine) for the darkest shadows. Layer any of the 3 yellows back across
B28 to turn the entire area green. The result should be a beautiful range of green values.

4.

The building or Pagoda in the image is the only man-made structure. Add a mixture of two reds
(R46 Strong Red) and (R27 Cadmium Red), then blend together with multiple layers of (R43
Bougainvillaea). Complete the Pagoda using (E29 Burnt Umber) for the doors, windows,
and shadows.
Use E29 to create a bark texture on the tree and your choice of green for the leaves. Note that
many of the leaves appear to be floating rather than attached to the tree limbs. This is a
common practice in Sumi painting.

Finished Project

5.

Blend together R43 and all yellows (Y13, Y19, and Y15) to create a sunset in the sky. Flick the
super-brush horizontally to portray the natural look of clouds/textures in the sky.
Use (100 Black) for the Panda in the foreground. Rather than coloring the entire panda solid
black on his dark areas, flick the super-brush in various directions. The flicking motion will create
a fur texture and also allow the black to saturate some areas more lightly, leaving highlights
between solid black areas.
As a final step, use 100 to fill in the Japanese symbols on the Sumi drawing; this is an integral
part of the ancient tradition. Varying pressure with the super-brush will create variety of both thin
and thick lines an attribute found in most Japanese symbols.