Back to Bamboo: Starting the New Sumi-e Course

The new Sumi-e course has begun, and it's such a joy to welcome new participants into the studio this round! As always, we started with bamboo — a subject I've painted more times than I can count, and one that still teaches me something new every time. For those not yet used to Japanese brush handling, the first few sessions can be a real challenge while the hand adjusts — but it was wonderful to see everyone dive in with such enthusiasm.

One new addition this time: by request, I introduced an ink stick made without animal glue (nikawa) — It was surprising to see how it performed: smooth, with a nice deep black colour, just like a regular stick.

For those curious about the technical side, Kuretake — the maker — developed this using 120 years of ink-making expertise, replacing animal glue with a refined petroleum-derived carbon binder that mimics its properties: water-solubility, stable drying, and re-dissolvability. The result is a smooth, glue-free black used by professionals.

A small technical detail, perhaps — but a nice reminder that even in a centuries-old practice, there's always something new to discover. I'm looking forward to seeing where this new group takes their brushes next.

Today's Japanese words:
墨 (sumi) = ink
絵 (e) = painting
竹 (take) = bamboo
膠 (nikawa) = animal glue

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