Sumi on Masa Statement

I start by immersing Japanese masa paper in water for about 10 seconds. Then I crinkle it into a ball. Spreading the wet paper out on a towel, I paint with diluted sumi ink. The crinkling is repeated several times until the cracks in the paper’s sizing take on the look of batik fabric. The surface mirrors the visible and invisible connections we see and feel in the natural world. By working with this method, I discovered my love of art techniques which talk back to me, becoming partners in creation, not mere tools. (For more detail on working with crinkled masa paper, see my daughter’s cartoon on this page.)