Sumi-e is the elegant, age-old art of Japanese brush painting; paintings consist of just a few simple brushstrokes, but depict graceful fish, birds and grasses that seem to move on the page.

This portable kit from Chronicle Press contains all the materials you'll need to get started, and the enclosed book by Shingo Syoko will lead you through the history of sumi-e and teach you how to shape the four sets of basic strokes necessary to complete any painting. Includes a 96-page instruction book, 16 sheets of Japanese paper, 2 ink sticks (one each red and black), palette for grinding ink, and 3 bamboo brushes in different sizes.

For more colorful Sumi-e paintings, you may also wish to purchase the Colored Inks Set, which will expand your color range to all hues of the rainbow.