The Yasutomo Japanese Sumi Ink is a liquid black ink designed for traditional sumi-e painting, calligraphy and drawing with brushes or pens. Made from vegetable oil soot, it produces a deep, clean black with rich tonal variation.
Sumi ink is highly expressive, as the result changes according to the amount of ink, dilution with water, brush pressure and speed of movement. It can create everything from dense black areas and strong gestural marks to soft grey washes, fine lines and watercolor-like tonal transitions.
Use it with sumi and calligraphy brushes, bamboo pens, mapping pens and other metal nibs suitable for liquid ink. It is an excellent choice for characters, lettering, gestural drawing, botanical studies, monochrome landscapes, illustration and expressive black-and-white compositions.
The ink is ready to use. For lighter tonal values, dilute a small amount with water in a separate palette or container. As the ink is permanent, clean brushes and nibs immediately after use, before the ink dries on the tools.
👉 Features:
- Traditional Japanese black sumi ink by Yasutomo
- Designed for sumi-e painting and calligraphy
- Made from vegetable oil soot
- Deep black colour with rich tonal variation
- Can be diluted with water for grey tones and transparent washes
- Suitable for calligraphy brushes, bamboo pens, mapping pens and metal nibs
- Ideal for painting, drawing, lettering and illustration
- Permanent
- Made in Japan
- Conforms to ASTM D4236
- Content: 170ml / 6oz
👍 Ideal for:
Sumi-e, Japanese and Chinese calligraphy, ink painting, pen-and-ink drawing, bamboo pens, brush lettering, hand lettering, illustration, botanical painting, monochrome landscapes, gestural drawing, art journaling and black-and-white compositions.
✨ Inspiration Tip:
Prepare a small tonal palette by diluting the ink to three or four different strengths. Use the undiluted ink for the darkest marks and strongest lines, then use the diluted mixtures for shadows, atmosphere and soft transitions. This allows you to build a complete monochrome composition with depth using a single ink.
