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Tristina Dietz Elmes, Artist

Painter - Teacher - Content Creator
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My Artist blog articles below may contain affiliate product referral links. I have added these product links by request and for your convenience. Please see my affiliate disclaimer in each article for more information. Thank you for your support! ๐ŸŽจ๐Ÿ˜

Asian Bamboo and Flowers with Japanese Watercolors Painting

April 1, 2025

In this article I introduce Asian brushes and how magically they paint bamboo and flowers with Japanese Watercolors.

This is a comprehensive workshop about Asian Sumi-e botanicals style painting including:

  • water practice on Magic Paper

  • black sumi ink on rice paper

  • colorful Japanese watercolors on rice & watercolor papers

  • how to seal watercolor paintings on rice & watercolor papers

  • how to mount sumi-e rice paper paintings with Nori paste

Morning Glories and a Bee Asian style watercolor painting by artist Tristina Dietz Elmes.


Asian Bamboo and Flowers Watercolor Painting Workshop Video Replay

Below is the full video workshop of my live painting session. The paint and accessories used in the video are listed afterwards in this article. Enjoy! ๐ŸŽจ

Here are the video timeline sections if you want to jump to a particular part of the live session:

00:00 - Intro Asian Art Supplies
17:13 - Reference Photo
18:34 - Chinese Brush Painting Book
25:22 - Asian Brush Types
31:48 - Water Magic Practice Paper
35:29 - How to Hold an Asian Brush
36:51 - Brush Stroke Practice on Magic Paper
47:17 - Practice Bamboo, Butterfly & Bee on Magic Paper
55:10 - Discuss Rice Paper
57:30 - Discuss Sumi-e Inks & Stone
1:04:40 - Ink Strokes on Rice Paper
1:10:22 - Bamboo on Rice Paper
1:31:22 - Orchids & Butterfly on Rice Paper
1:58:32 - How I Mount Rice Paper Paintings
2:02:10 - Paint Lily on Watercolor Paper
2:43:15 - How to Seal Watercolor Art with Dorland's Wax
2:49:33 - Finish the Lily with Bees Painting

Feel free to ask me follow-up questions in the comments below. Thanks for watching! ๐Ÿ˜


Bamboo sumi-e ink painting on rice paper mounted on smooth Hot Press watercolor paper by artist Tristina Dietz Elmes.

Sealing and Mounting Rice Paper Paintings

Here is the YouTube video I mentioned while live painting about mounting rice paper Sumi-e paintings on a sturdier backing paper with Nori Paste presented by my art friend Karen Elaine for Yasutomo:
https://youtu.be/F3yAMNG16j8?si=9sNqW454PNNLWU4w

Note that in the Yasutomo video for Blick Art Materials above, Karen Elaine is using a permanent black sumi ink painting for her presentation and wetting the back of the artwork. If you create a watercolor artwork, the colors will likely bleed if you try wetting the back of the rice paper before mounting.

In order to seal the watercolor painting on rice paper before mounting, I suggest using Dorlandโ€™s Wax by Jacquard. I show how to do this in my video above at 2:43:15.


Amaryllis Lily Reference Photo

Here are the amaryllis lily photos I took and used during the workshop for your reference:

IMG_4433.JPEG
IMG_4434.JPEG

Amaryllis Lily with Bees Sumi-e flower painting in Japanese watercolors by artist Tristina Dietz Elmes painted during the live workshop.

Supplies List for Japanese Sumi-e Botanicals Watercolor Painting

Here is the book and supplies list for the Asian Brushes, Japanese Watercolor paints, papers and accessories shown during my live video. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases for links below that lead to Amazon.

  • Book - Walter Foster Chinese Brush Painting by Lucy Wang - https://amzn.to/4hTNNYI

    ๐Ÿ“™๐Ÿ“˜๐Ÿ“—

  • Yasutomo Japanese Watercolors Set of 12 Colors - https://amzn.to/4hTNehy

  • Kuretake Gansai Tambi Japanese Watercolors Set of 12 Colors - https://amzn.to/4hGrxBw

  • Gansai Tambi Watercolors Individual Pans (Various Colors) - https://shop.stlartsupply.com/search?q=gansai+tambi+watercolors&options%5Bprefix%5D=last&type=product

  • Gansai Tambi Empty Tray for 6 Pans - https://shop.stlartsupply.com/products/gansai-tambi-watercolors-empty-six-color-box?_pos=4&_psq=gansai&_ss=e&_v=1.0

  • Yasutomo Black Sumi Ink Liquid 2oz Bottle - https://amzn.to/3Y7UCPe

  • Yasutomo Black Sumi Ink Liquid 6oz Bottle - https://amzn.to/444bkmi

  • Natural Luowen Inkstone and Ink Block - https://amzn.to/3G1WS4f

  • Fancy Dragon Carved Inkstone with Cover and Ink Block - https://amzn.to/3RrWvCu

  • Stone Weights Blocks For Rice Paper Set of 2 - https://amzn.to/42pWG7F

  • Basic Water-Writing Magic Cloth Fabric Paper Sheets and Accessories for Brush Painting Calligraphy Practice Set of 5 Pieces - https://amzn.to/4hT37ox

  • Deluxe Water-Writing Magic Cloth Fabric Paper Sheets and Accessories for Brush Painting Calligraphy Practice Set of 15 Pieces - https://amzn.to/3G1XkiX

  • Water-Writing Magic Cloth Fabric Paper Scroll for Brush Painting Calligraphy Practice Brocade Backing 15x30.7in - https://amzn.to/4jerbDo

  • Water-Writing Magic Cloth Fabric Paper Sheets for Brush Painting Calligraphy Practice Blank 13x17in Set of 6 - https://amzn.to/3FPYtdy

  • Yasutomo Hosho Sketch Paper Rice Paper Pad 6H Weight 9x12in 48 Sheets - https://amzn.to/41Uy6fd

  • Canson XL Watercolor White Cold Press Paper Pad 140lb 9x12in 30 Sheets - https://amzn.to/4kBBhPU

  • Fabriano Watercolor White Hot Press Paper Pad 140lb 9x12in 50 Sheets - https://amzn.to/4hMrR1K

  • Felt Sheet 36" x 18" Various Colors Available - https://amzn.to/42rAs5i

  • Calligraphy Asian Painting Practice Piston Water Brushes Set of 6 - https://amzn.to/4j6qYC0

  • Calligraphy Asian Painting Brush Set of 10 + Bamboo Drying Roll Mat - https://amzn.to/3DPiyAb

  • Yasutomo Fusion Brushes Round Set of 5 - https://amzn.to/4cds24V

  • Princeton Velvetouch Mixed Media Brush Willowโ€™s Blender โ…œโ€ - https://amzn.to/4itXe20

  • 5 Layers Stacking White Ceramic Watercolor Mixing Trays - https://amzn.to/43SxmIX

  • Crow Canyon Mini Enamel Trays White with Blue Rim 4.75x4.75 in Set of 4 - https://amzn.to/4kpzqNq

  • Jacquard Dorland's Wax Watercolor Sealer 4oz Jar - https://amzn.to/42earVZ

  • Yasutomo Nori Paste Rice Paper Adhesive 10oz Jar - https://amzn.to/42qoNUj

  • Faber Castell Collapsible Tulip Edge Brush Holder Water Cup - https://amzn.to/3Pxxyon

  • Wood Brush Rest Stand Set of 2 Holds 4 Brushes Each - https://amzn.to/3OrurOi

  • Cute Cats Porcelain Brush Rest Holders and Paper Weights Set of 3 - https://amzn.to/4ldFWI6

  • My Recommended Cloth-Like Viva Paper Towels 3 Double Rolls - https://amzn.to/3EPZhOW
    ๐ŸŽจ๐ŸŽจ๐ŸŽจ

    ************************************

    If you would like to see other paints, mediums and art supplies that I recommend, click below to go to the Supply Links page on my website:
    https://www.dietzart.gallery/supply-links


Blue Morning Glories Flowers and Butterfly Asian Sumi-e watercolor painting by Tristina Dietz Elmes. This painting SOLD on itโ€™s debut WhatNot auction show.

FREE Live Art Lessons Sunday Afternoons

SUNDAY afternoons I teach a FREE ART LESSON simulcast on YouTube Live and on the WhatNot auction platform followed by a giveaway and sale of my handmade marbled & collage papers as well as finished gift and art items on WhatNot. You can follow the QR code appearing in the YouTube video or follow the Invite link in the video description to join me on WhatNot for some great Live Auction Art & Gifts deals.

If you're new to Whatnot, sign up with the following link and get $15 in Whatnot credit to use to shop on the platform:

https://www.whatnot.com/invite/tristi...

I hope you'll join me and the thriving Artisan community over on WhatNot soon!


Where to Find My Links

Sign up for my Artsy Newsletter here:
https://www.dietzart.gallery/newsletter ๐Ÿ“œ

Follow my other social channels for cool painting hints and tips:
https://www.instagram.com/dietzart/ https://www.pinterest.com/dietzart/ https://www.facebook.com/TristinaDietzArt/

Check out and purchase my artworks on Etsy here: ๐ŸŽจ https://www.etsy.com/shop/TristinaDietzArt

If you found my information helpful, I always appreciate tips at Buy Me a Coffee! Thank you for your support.โ˜•
https://ko-fi.com/tristinadietzart

Happy Arting! ๐ŸŽ‰

In Art Lessons, Workshops Tags free art class, free art lesson, free painting lesson, Kuretake Gansai Tambi, Japanese Watercolor, Asian painting, Bamboo painting, Asian Flower Painting, Asian brushes, Yasutomo
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