Sumingashi ~ Japanese Paper Marbling

Objectives

 

v        Students will explore the ancient Japanese traditional art of “suminagashi” or Japanese paper marbling.

v        Students will use suminagashi as a form of monotype printmaking.

v        Students will use traditional and contemporary materials to recreate a traditional non-western decorative technique.

v        Students will create spontaneous designs using line through the experimenting with suminagashi.

v        Students will use their marbled paper in a future lesson on personal symbols and Japanese motif design.

Materials

 

Plastic bins (at least 8.5 X 11”)

Water

Sumi brushes, or watercolor brushes

Small palettes

Sumi or India ink

Watercolor paper

Construction paper, white and a variety of colors

Cutting board

“Photoflo”

 

Motivation

 

Discussion of history of suminagashi.

Bulletin board with visual references and notes on suminagashi

Teacher demonstration of suminagashi technique

 

Procedure

 

1. Discussion of sumingashi in circle group
2. During discussion students write important features/notes on technique and post on bulletin board started by teacher.
3. Overview of materials (sumi/india ink, photoflo, brushes especially)
4. Demonstration of technique      
1. Fill shallow plastic tub with about 1 – 2” of water
2. Set up ink and photoflo in small palettes or empty film canisters
3. Using two different brushes, gently dip one brush in photoflo and one brush in ink
4. Gently touch the tip of the ink brush onto the surface of the water.  IMPORTANT: do not dip the brush under the water, simply touch the surface
5. The ink will form a circle
6. Next take the photoflo brush and gently touch the inside of the ink circle with the tip of the brush
7. A clear ring will from ~ the photoflo repels and pushes away the ink, forming a ring
8. Repeat the ink and photoflo dipping process until the entire surface is covered in rings
9. The water will move during this process and create swirling patterns.
10. You may also blow gently on the surface of the water to accentuate the swirling patterns
11. Once the water is covered in ink rings take a piece of paper…using two hands quickly and gently put the paper onto the surface from corner to corner, never leaving the paper on the surface for more than a second or two.
12. This paper dipping should be done in one swift motion.
13. Make sure students initial corner or back of each page they marble!
14. Have students work in groups to create at least three sheets of suminagashi paper.
15. Continue the next day as a full workshop.

 

Conclusion

 

Visit each small group and troubleshoot any problems that arise.

Review vocabulary and history of the suminagashi marbling technique.

 

Evaluation

 

v        Did students participate in discussion on sumingashi?

v        Did students use and clean all materials properly?

v        Did students create at least three of their own marbled papers?

v        Did students follow directions in their suminagashi technique and not dip brush into pan?

v        Did students form the typical “rings”?

 

 

MA   Standards

1.9, 1.12, 3.9, 5.10, 7.2, 7.8, 8.7, 8.9,