Sumi-e Art Group of New Jersey

The Sumi-e Art Group of New Jersey, founded in the 2000s, has flourished for over two decades as an informal collective of artists, enthusiasts, and admirers dedicated to the art of Chinese and Japanese brush painting. Sumi-e, or brush painting, is a long-established form of artwork that uses ink and watercolor on rice paper, employing traditional Chinese or Japanese brushes. The medium’s versatility, combined with the absorbent nature of rice paper, allows artists to achieve unique aesthetics through expressive brushstrokes. This style emphasizes the qualities of the strokes—such as shape, gradation, and flow—while valuing simplicity and the use of white space in compositions. Typical subjects include flowers, birds, and landscapes. The group hosts regular virtual paint-together sessions via Zoom, along with occasional in-person meetups and exhibitions.