Sumi-e - Original Art by Mary Spears

The sumi-e paintings are created using a giant horsehair brush with black ink on handmade papers. The pieces are on oversized sheets of handmade paper…. 28” x 34” The symbols are fluidly produced, stylized Japanese characters.

The Enso is the circle of life and is the primary character for getting loose and warming up the mind and the body. When you pick up the fully soaked brush, it weights a little over 10 lbs so it must be maneuvered using full movements of the body. If you use the arms only, they fatigue after a few pieces.

Sumi-e painting is an offshoot of Mary’s study of Japanese swordsmanship. The practice combines meditation techniques, full-body movement and painting. Sessions are several hours long and a little like a jam session.
Click on any image for a close up. Click again to close.

Orange Enso 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	Blue Ju (Cross) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	Grey Ame (Rain) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper
Blue Kumo (Cloud) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	Orange Ichi (One) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	Blue Nami (Wave) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper
Purple Enso 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	Pink Kokoro (Heart or Soul) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	Siena Enso 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper
Green Nami (Wave) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	Peach Hana (Flower) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	Purple Ichi (One) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper
White Kumo (Cloud) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	Yellow Hana (Flower) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	White Hana (Flower) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper
Red Kokoro (Heart or Soul) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	White Ame (Rain) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	Red Ju (Cross) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper
Siena Hana (Flower) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	Siena Ame (Rain) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper White Enso 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper	White Nami (Wave) 28" x 34" ~ Black Ink on Rice Paper