Darlene Dihel

Sumi-E Artist (Japanese Ink-Brush Painting

Sumi-e, Japanese ink-brush painting, captured my heart and my spirit many years ago. The more I learn about this ancient art, the more evident it is that I’ll always be an aspiring student. I love the simplicity of calligraphy strokes and variations of tomes that represent an image such as a bird, bamboo, or landscape. It’s magical.

I paint traditional images using black ground semi ink, but also incorporate Asian watercolors as well as creating collages and abstracts. A painting session begins by grinding a black semi stick, made from pine soot and glue, onto a slate stone to make liquid ink. A bamboo animal hair brush is loaded with ink and applied to rice paper to form the subject matter. NO sketching is done. Once a stroke is made, that’s it!

I’ve received may wards for my paintings, am an active member of Puget Sound Sumi Artists, participate as a vendor in festivals, have group and solo shows, and teach sumo painting to children and adults. My journey as a Sui artist is passionate. Time spend in my studio escapes me when I have a bamboo brush in hand. “Creating a work of art is an experience within itself, recording a brief moment in time.”

During my 38 years of teaching K-12, mostly art, I spent half my career in the South Pacific (Guam and Kwajalein), and theater half in Washington, Nevada, Florida, and Oregon. My late husband and I came full circle as our years of teaching began in Enumclaw in the late 1950’s. Our daughter and family live in Maple Valley and our son and family live in Coos Bay, OR.

I live in Enumclaw, WA on the Plateau of Mt. Rainier. Some of my sumi paintings are displayed and available for purchase here at Arts Alive! Gallery.

Contact Info: 360.625.8756 mddihel@aol.com