The art of gift giving
In Japan, giving someone a gift okurimono is an art and the presentation is almost as important as the gift inside. I have always admired the dedication and mindfulness that goes into the process of gift giving. A thoughtful gift with beautiful wrapping can be a wonderful meditation or form of prayer that connects two people.
Omiyage
Omiyage gifts are essentially souvenirs but are also presented with much attention to the wrapping itself. This inspired me to create my own unique gifts using traditional Japanese art supplies. Monochromatic sumi inks, brushes, papers and boards are all that is needed.
Ink Painting
The process of ink painting sumi-e can be very joyful yet challenging. Sumi-e requires simple materials such as ink, water and white paper. The strokes made with an ink filled brush is spontaneous and cannot be erased which can be intimidating to some. The paper is fairly inexpensive which gives the artist freedom to practice.
The sumi-e practice can be very calming. The results can be beautiful once you are comfortable with the materials and the techniques. I’ve been dabbling in ink painting for over 20 years and do not consider myself a master of the art form at all but I do enjoy a degree of success by mastering the tools and materials and am surprised by the beauty of the images.
Make your own gifts!
On Friday, November 16th from 1-4pm I will be teaching a workshop at Arizona Art Supply in Phoenix. We will create artful gifts and cards inspired by the Japanese art of gift giving. Explore sumi ink painting techniques and make a unique presentation with origami, mizuhiki and washi tape. No previous ink painting experience is required. Contact me for more information.