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Japanese Painting
Japanese Painting
Definition
The word Japanese painting first appeared during the Meiji period (1868-1912),
after the termination of the national isolation policy, in order to separate
the paintings created in Japan from those paintings imported from the western
world (mainly oil paintings). Most of the people might think that Japanese
paintings are those paintings having the Mt. Fuji or cherry blossams as
a motif and are created by a Japanese artist. However, the main characteristic
of Japanese painting, excluding the verval term, is the material used.
Material
1. Coloring
Powder mineral pigments (natural precious stones or shells) mixed with
hide glue and water
Blue: ultramarine (copper carbonate in copper mineral)
Green: verdigris (malachite)
Red: cinnabar
Gloden brown: tiger's eye
Black: obsidian
*The above is just a list of stones for basic coloring. Many other stones
are used depending on the needed colors.
Top clear layer of powdered earth or shell melted with water
(Picture)
Ocher: earth made of weathered iron ore or feldspar
Red: earth containing iron oxide
Burnt sienna: earth containing iron oxide with manganese
White: powdered shell
(Picture)
Leaf (gold, silver, copper)
Gold, silver, or copper metal sheet.
Powdered Leaf
(Picture)
2. Canvas
Silk, hemp paper, or Japanese paper
(Picture)
3. Tools
The brushes used for Japanese paintings are traditionally used original
ones. There are many types and the material used has a wide variety, but
the main category is made of four types (brush for lines, for shades, for
coloring, and wide ones for coloring large spaces).
(Picture)
Essence of Japanese Painting
Traditionally, western art has used face, or surface, as a way of expression.
By drawing the face and the light on the motif, it becomes possible to
express the reality. Lines are something that appear on the border of two
faces, and are understood as a result of gathering faces to express the
reality of the motif.
On the other hand, traditional Japanese paintings have used lines as a
way to express the art. This is an oriental concept towards art and is
shared in many scenes of art in asia. The traditional way of thinking is
that motif is first mentally filtered inside the artist, and the artist
uses lines as a way to express the fundamental characteristics of the motif.
Therefore, what is not essential tends to be deleted in the process of
filtering the motif inside the artist.
The fundamental essence of Japanese painting was brought up by combining
this concept with the original spacing of the blank born in Japan.
Process of Japanese Painting
Making the hide glue
1. The hide glue is soaked in water for a while and then simmered.
2. The simmered hide glue is strained using cloth.
Melting the powder pigment with hide glue
1. Hide glue is added to powdered pigment and is mixed using fingers.
2. Water is added depending on the painting
Making the canvas with Japanese paper
1. Japanese paper is wet with water by using a brush
2. The wet paper is stick to the panel by using glue and then dried under
shade
Application of hide glue mixed with alum
1. Hide glue mixed with alum is applied to the canvas to prevent the blot
of pigment
How to use leaf (gold, silver, copper)
1.
How to use powdered leaf (gold, silver)
1.