Gig Harbor artist Darlene Dihel is the featured artist at Enumclaw’s Gallery 2014.

Her exhibit runs through Aug. 5 at the gallery in City Hall council chambers.

Dihel is a SUMI-E artist, having studied the ancient art for several decades, teaching herself by studying books from the masters as there were no sumi teachers in places where she lived. She was born in Seattle, graduated from Renton High School and received a teaching degree from Central Washington College. Teaching school on Kwajalein, in the Marshall Islands of the South Pacific was the highlight of her career.

Coming full circle, She moved to Gig Harbor in 1998. She joined the prestigious group called Puget Sound Sumi Artists and has been an active member since. One of her goals is to share this Japanese art with others. Participating in local festivals, teaching classes and workshops, and doing demonstrations are ways that she shares.

Sumi painting is spontaneous with no pre-sketching, each stroke being the final one.

Technically, it is painting with black ink called sumi, which is made from pine soot and glue. The ink stick is ground with water to produce a beautiful black ink that is applied to rice paper with animal hair brushes. Visually it is simplicity of design, plainness of color, uncluttered lines, and simple grace and proportion. The painting begins with a subject, the artist’s interpretation, and then the viewer’s interpretation and reaction.

Hours for Gallery 2014 are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.