Sumi-e (Japanese Ink Painting)
Sumi-e (Japanese Ink Painting)
Embedded Files
Presence and the Quiet Space Between
Presence and the Quiet Space Between
My relationship with ink began in childhood through classical Chinese calligraphy and traditional brush practice. I learnt to respect the weight of the brush, the movement of water, the resistance of paper, and the way a single stroke can hold both strength and fragility. That early discipline still lives in my hand, but my practice has gradually become less about control and more about presence.
For many years, I was drawn to botanical art and watercolour, studying flowers, branches, and natural forms through careful observation. Over time, I began to long for a way of working that allowed more breath, movement, and uncertainty. Japanese sumi-e and suibokuga offered me that space. Rather than trying to reproduce a subject exactly, I became interested in capturing its essence: the feeling of a flower, the rhythm of a branch, the quiet tension between what is held and what is released.
My work is shaped by wabi-sabi, an appreciation of imperfection, transience, and the beauty of things as they are. In ink painting, a mark cannot be undone. The brushstroke records a moment of contact between body, mind, material, and breath. A wavering line, a bleeding edge, or an unexpected spread of ink is not something to correct, but something to listen to. These traces give the work its life.
As an art psychotherapist, I am also interested in how materials hold experience. Paper is not only a surface; it absorbs pressure, hesitation, movement, and release. Ink, water, brush, and paper become a way of thinking about emotion, memory, containment, and change. My paintings often sit between beauty and rupture: a flower may appear delicate, but also weathered; a branch may feel still, yet full of movement.
Through Kapok House, I create my own contemporary ink works and teach traditional sumi-e and suibokuga workshops for adults and children. Teaching allows me to share the discipline, simplicity, and attentiveness of Japanese ink painting, while my personal artwork continues to develop a more expressive and emotionally layered visual language.
Whether I am painting, teaching, or holding a creative space, I return to the same intention: to slow down, notice what is present, and find quiet strength in imperfection, change, and the space between marks.
For more artwork of mine, please visit my Instagram or Facebook:
Gallary
Gallary
Workshop Reflections
Workshop Reflections
These reflections are from participants who joined my sumi-e and ink-painting workshops, where traditional brush techniques are explored alongside presence, breath, and creative flow.
These reflections are from participants who joined my sumi-e and ink-painting workshops, where traditional brush techniques are explored alongside presence, breath, and creative flow.
"Jasmine, your session was truly fantastic. Such a refreshing and unique take on art that felt both creative and deeply relaxing. I loved how different it was from regular painting sessions; your techniques made the whole experience incredibly enjoyable and memorable."
Yasha
"My favourite part was the way Jasmine guided us so gently throughout the session. She made everything feel easy and natural, always encouraging us to trust our own flow rather than aim for perfection."
Marta
"It wasn’t just a creative session; we also learned about the history behind this art and how important our mindset and relaxation were in the process. It felt like a much deeper experience than a standard painting class."
Olga
"Focusing on the movement of the brush and my breath, not the final result – the process was surprisingly calming once I accepted imperfection."
Hannah
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse