Suminagashi: Discover the Ancient Japanese Art of Floating Ink with Beatrice Basso
Some artistic practices teach us how to create.
Others teach us how to observe.
The ancient Japanese art of Suminagashi invites us to do both.
Known as the oldest form of paper marbling, Suminagashi translates as "floating ink" and is a centuries-old Japanese technique in which ink is gently released onto the surface of water before being transferred onto paper, creating unique and unrepeatable patterns.
Today, artist and facilitator Beatrice Basso brings this traditional Japanese practice into contemporary life through Suminagashi Experience, offering workshops that combine creativity, mindfulness, and slow living.
What Is Suminagashi?
Originating in Japan over 1,000 years ago, Suminagashi is considered one of the earliest forms of marbling art.
The process is deceptively simple.
Drops of ink are placed onto water. Rings expand, interact, and transform. Gentle movements of air, breath, or touch create patterns that can never be replicated exactly.
Each print becomes a unique record of a single moment.
Unlike many artistic techniques focused on precision and control, Suminagashi encourages presence, intuition, and acceptance of the unexpected.
The water leads.
The ink responds.
The artist observes.
This is what makes the practice so compelling today, particularly for those seeking creative experiences connected to mindfulness, meditation, and slow living.
Meet Beatrice Basso and Suminagashi Experience
Through Suminagashi Experience, Beatrice Basso introduces participants to the beauty and philosophy behind this ancient Japanese art form.
Her workshops create a space where creativity becomes a form of listening rather than performance.
There is no need for artistic experience.
No need to achieve a specific result.
Instead, participants are invited to engage with water, movement, and intuition, allowing each artwork to emerge naturally through the process.
The result is not only a print, but also a moment of reflection and connection.
A Suminagashi Workshop at Villa Castellani Fancon
On June 20, Beatrice Basso will lead a special Suminagashi workshop at Villa Castellani Fancon, in Malo, near Vicenza, Italy.
Hosted within the beautiful setting of La Serra Rossa, the experience offers participants the opportunity to discover traditional Japanese paper marbling through a guided and immersive workshop.
The afternoon includes:
• An introduction to the history and philosophy of Suminagashi
• A guided meditation
• Creating original floating ink compositions on water
• Transferring the artwork onto paper
• A moment of observation and interpretation of the final work
The workshop is designed for anyone interested in creativity, mindfulness, Japanese culture, and slow living experiences.
Workshop Details
Suminagashi Workshop with Beatrice Basso
📅 June 20
🕓 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 La Serra Rossa
Villa Castellani Fancon
Malo, Vicenza, Italy
Places are limited.
A gentle invitation to slow down, trust the process, and discover what emerges when ink meets water.