JAPANESE RIMPA PAINTINGS

Japanese Rimpa Paintings

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create a Japanese Rimpa Painting using techniques learned in class
• Use warm/cool colors (red orange yellow; green blue purple), line variation (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), and value (tints, shades) relating to Japanese Painter (1761-1828) Sakai Hoitsu
• Use multicultural connections (Cherry Blossom Festival, Chinese Calligraphy) and design principles (composition, balance, variation) inspired by the Song Dynasty
• Define Sumi-e (Japanese word that literally means "ink picture")

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Four Gentlemen (960-1279) Song Dynasty
2. Informational Book "Japanese Ink Painting" by Susan Frame
3. Reflective Discussion "The Four Gentlemen, also called the Four Noble Ones, in Chinese Art refers to the four plants (plum, orchid, bambo, chrysanthemum). These four plants represent the four seasons as well as having their own symbolic meaning. The plum blossom represents endurance, orchid represents virtue/beauty, bamboo physical/mental strength, and chrysanthemum celebrating the loner." 

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 8" by 15" Traditional Rice Paper
2. Choose Plum Blossom, Orchid, Bamboo, or Chrysanthemum to represent one of the four seasons
3. Use a pencil to draw a plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, or chrysanthemum onto Traditional Rice Paper 

Reminder:

• Initials & Home Teacher on Back of Paper

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Japanese Rimpa Painting for Assigned Table
2. Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan known as Hanami (Flower Viewing)
3. Sumi-e- Japanese word that literally means ink picture. What are some historical facts we know about Japan? What type of world was Sakai Hoitsu born into? What significant event occurred in Japanese history during his lifetime? Did any significant events influence Hoitsu's artistic development?

Lesson Activities 

1. Use warm/cool colored ink to paint plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, or chrysanthemum
2. Use diluted ink to make different lines for bamboo, leaves, flower, grass, or branches
3. Add details with black ink to Japanese Rimpa Paintings

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Japanese Rimpa Paintings for Assigned Table
2. Set Up Studio Area (ink, quills, paint brushes)

Lesson Activities

1. Choose calligraphy (decorative handwriting/lettering) for erasers
2. Use erasers to carve rubber stamps/seals for a personal artistic signature
2. Use red ink to add personal artistic signature to Japanese Rimpa Paintings

Artist Examples