Suminagashi

For our first project of the year, the girls worked with the ancient Japanese art of Suminagashi. We used special inks to create beautiful and original designs on paper. The elements of color, contrast, and harmony were very important with this assignment. It also requires a lot of patience as well as a careful and delicate touch. The girls each created their own designs which they inked onto a heavyweight paper. We then showcased their paper creations as the covers of a journal for each of my little artists. See for yourself what a fabulous time we had!

Suminagashi marbling inks are carefully dropped onto the surface of the water.
The inks flow with the tiniest movement of the water and begin to form patterns and ripples. No design can ever be perfectly replicated - each is original.
The inks can be manipulated by blowing them gently across the water, or by using the end of a paintbrush.

The finished project:
The girls did a beautiful jobs making their papers for the jounals. Once their artwork was dry, we used hot glue to adhere the paper to journals. Then they got to select ribbon and other embellishments to complete their one-of-a-kind journals. I think they are beautiful!
Alyssa and Jocelyn's journals
Emma and Delaney's journals

We used embellishments to personalize our creations.

They were so cool, I just had to make one too!


The artists: