**From the back cover:**

"Sumi-e is the classic painting style of Japan, and its graceful simplicity has been admired all over the world. This book is an ideal introduction to sumi-e, suitable for children (10 and up) as well as adult beginners. Each new brushstroke is explained step by step, with easy-to-follow illustration. Sumi-e strokes build on one another, so that after learning just a few strokes, you will be able to paint a variety of elegant trees, flowers and animals."