Suminagashi Prints
Theme
Grade Level
Class Size
Time
The ancient arts of suminagashi & book binding
High School
Varied
50 min.
National Visual Arts Standards
 (9-12P)3a, (9-12P)2a, (9-12P)5c, (9-12P)1a
Illinois State Goals, Learning Standards and Benchmarks
 27.B.4a, 25.A.4, 27.A.4b, 26.b.4d
Comprehensive Components Addressed:
 HC, AC, PF, AM
Domains Addressed
 C2, C4, C6, C3
OVERVIEW
Students will learn about the ancient printmaking art of suminagashi. Students will use the boku undo
inks to create their design on the surface of the water. Students will print their design by laying their
paper onto the surface of the water. Students will also create a simple sketchbook by following an
ancient bookbinding procedure. The cover of their sketchbook will be the suminagashi print they made.
RATIONALE
By creating suminagashi prints students will gain knowledge of an ancient Japanese art technique. By
creating bound sketchbooks students will learn about the technique of book binding. By combining
these two techniques together students will learn about functional art.
Art Making Processes and Techniques
 Painting/inking
 Book binding
Visual Art Concepts Addressed
 Printmaking
Student Pre-Requisite Skills/Knowledge
 N/A
Instructional Methods
 Direct instruction
 Teacher Demonstration
 Hand-on students involvement
 Group discussion
LESSON OBJECTIVES
As a result of this lesson, students will be able to:
Historical/Cultural
 Verbally describe the culture of origin and the ancient function of suminagashi prints, and compare
this function to contemporary artists who use suminagashi in their work.
Art Criticism
 Verbally describe elements and principles they find aesthetically pleasing in their prints, and ways in
which they could possibly expand upon their print to make a more complex work of art.
Philosophical Frame
 Verbally decide if they think suminagashi has a place in the fine art world, or if they consider the
technique mainly a functional craft, giving at least one reason for why.
Art Making
 Create an 8x12 suminagashi print using at least two colors of ink that will later be the cover of their
stab-bound sketchbook.
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Laptop
Bookbinding worksheet
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Push Pins
4 or 5sketchbook pages
(folded in half)/student
Embroidery thread
Sewing Needles
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TEACHER MATERIALS
 Paper towels
 Paper Clamps
STUDENT MATERIALS
Marbling ink, various colors
Water tubs
Absorbent paper, 2-3 per
student
 Wooden Sticks/toothpicks
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

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Paint brushes
Water cups for each ink
color
Water cups to wash
paint bruches
VOCABULARY
 Suminagashi
 Monoprint
ARTISTS
 Andrea Peterson
LESSON ACTIVITIES
Set Induction
 Students will discuss any experiences they’ve had with printmaking
Instruction
Describe Suminagashi: It is a centuries-old Japanese technique for printing on water a
drop at a time. Sumi means ink, and nagashi refers to moving or floating. It’s the Eastern
form of paper marbling. Japanese craftsmen created patterns by floating ink on the surface
of water and transferring it to a sheet of paper. Because the nature of water is ever-changing
and constantly moving, Suminagashi printers are viewed as great masters of control. Each
monoprint is unique like a fingerprint. Basically, you are painting by dropping ink on the
surface of water, and then you print the image by transferring it from the surface of the
water onto a sheet of absorbent paper.
Descibe Andrea Peterson’s work: While many artists use suminagashi as mainly a
decorative medium, Andrea Peterson is an artist who uses suminagashi in a conceptual way
in her work. As seen in this work called “Corn Sumi” [show image] she describes it the
sumi part of the piece as “dark clouds that I think are hovering over our production of corn.
The sumi clouds became part of the ecosystem represented by the paper. After the sheet
was dry, I did a woodblock print on top — the green — showing the actual corn.”
Peterson: “Suminagashi: think of a fish in the water. You see the ink floating and moving,
but in a sense it’s not in your universe. You feel that it has a plane of its own. Making
suminagashi is very fluid — if the wind blows, it will ripple your design. It’s very much
about the senses, about combining nature, yourself and art all in one.”
 Demonstrate the suminagashi process
 Show students how to dab a small amount of ink onto the surface of the water
 Build up the ink to create a marbling effect
 Students experiment with the ink by making a test print
 Each student will make their own 8x12 print using at least to colors
 Students will dry their prints using paper towels
Time
2 min.
Time
5 min.
5 min.
20 min.
15 min.
 Teacher will demonstrate how to bind their sketchbooks: Students will need 4 pieces
of sketchbook paper to fold in half. Line up each piece of paper side-by-side in a kodex
style. The suminagashi print goes on top. Students will use their push pins to poke 7
holes in the side of their paper. Students will then use their needle and thread, and follow
the binding instruction sheet. Students will each need about an arm’s length of thread.
Lesson Closure
Time
2 min.
 What will you use your sketchbook for?
Independent Practice/Homework
 If there is not enough time for students to finish their book binding they will be able to take home the
binding instructions and the thread to finish at home.
ACCOMODATIONS FOR SPECIFIC DIVERSE LEARNERS
Adaptations and Accommodations
 Hands-on involvement from the teacher may be needed in multiple areas for multiple students since
the techniques should be fairly new to the students. Teacher will assist in the printing process and the
stab-binding process.
Enrichment and Extensions
 Students will be encouraged to produce prints with some sort of imagery associated with them.
Activity for Early Finishers
 Students who finish early will be able to make more than one print.
OBJECTIVE-DRIVEN ASSESSMENTS
Historical/Cultural

Art Criticism

Philosophical Frame

Art Making

INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS
 History
REFERENCES
http://www.feltandwire.com/2012/01/09/andrea-peterson-gently-enlightens-us-about-suminagashi-dropby-drop/
http://cdn.dickblick.com/lessonplans/simple-suminagashi-monoprints/simple-suminagashi-monoprintsboku-undo-suminagashi.pdf
* Developed and written by Nicole Buettner, Art Education, Illinois State University, 2012 *