I just decided on Monday I wanted to take part in the Okami competition, so here is my very rushed entry!
I love Sumi-E, and was inspired by the game's style. What I love most about it is the dynamism the line variation, swirls, and flowing movement gives the image. My first idea was to make a sculpted version of the game style- that is to say, take the 2D image and convert it to 3D. It occurred to me, however, that such an act would be at complete odds with the spirit of Sumi-E, the life, the movement, the emotion. It seemed sort of forced and contrived.
So instead I took the things I loved about the Sumi-E style and tried to put them into this sculpture. I really am not sure it it comes across the way I wanted it to, but I concentrated on line, movement, and spontaneity- trying to give the sculpture the overall movement of an unconscious and intuitive mark- but concentrating on small details in certain areas. I really enjoyed making the sculpture.

She is 12.5" tall, sculpted from polymer clay. The eyes are 100% handmade by myself. She's painted in acrylic.