3. Materials

 Japanese painting has a lot of materials. I introduced history of Japanese painting last week. Materials of Japanese painting were used from of old. So I would like to introduce them in this week.









Colors

 （http://www.art-maruni.com/gazai/gansai/
kishoiwa/jpg/kissyou12set.jpg) ↓

 Colors that is used on Japanese painting is original colors of Japan. So they aren’t used other country. I take up representative colors.

 First, I explain mineral pigments. It is grains of rock and has from fine pigments to coarse pigments. Fine pigments are pale-colored, but coarse pigments are deep in color.

 Mineral pigments don’t fix without fixative. So when we use it, we have to use glue as fixative.
 Second, I explain dyed mud pigments(水干絵具). It has no grains and has thin board. It is used for undercoat. Comparing with mineral pigments, it is easy to fix on picture. How to use is the same as mineral pigments.
 Finally, I explain gohun(胡粉). Ingredients of it are shells. And it is kind of dyed mud pigments. Gohun is important on Japanese painting. It is used for undercoat and coloring. 

Papers


 Mashi (麻紙) is commonly used on Japanese painting. It is the paper that is made from making fiber of hemp. Especially, kumohada mashi(雲肌麻紙) is strong. So it is easy to paint thickly.

Paint brush

(http://item.shopping.c.yimg.jp/i/j/hakuoh_efd0020)

　Brushes of Japanese painting have all kinds of it. I introduce typical brushes.
 Fine-point brush(面相筆)
 This is the brush to paint fine line. It is use when we do kotsugaki(骨描き). Kotsugaki is work that paint no strength and weakness line.(I will introduce this detail on week 5.) This is the brush to paint mainly ink.
Color brush(彩色筆)
This is used frequent. And it is used to paint. Raw materials are mainly wool. So it is easy to absorb water
 Sokumyo(則妙) brush
 This brush can draw soft line because it has long tip.Raw materials mainly wool and hair of cat.

Other

Japanese painting has lot of some other materials.
 Sumi
There are work of kotsugaki on Japanese painting. Sumi is used for the work. It has an ink stick made from lamp soot and a torch smoke sumi. An ink stick made from lamp soot is made in Japan.
Glue
 We use glue to fix mineral pigments and dyed mud pigments. What is particularly commmon is sanzenbon nikawa(三千本膠three thousand glue). A component is protein. Bones and hides of animal contains collagen. Glue is made by boiling them to bring out the collagen and processing it. Mineral pigments and dyed mud pigments are used by dissolving glue in water.
  Decorative plate(絵皿)
 Mineral pigments and dyed mud pigments are dissolved on decorative plate. Size is various.
 Mortar and pestle
 Mineral pigments don’t have to grind however gohun and dyed mud pigments has to grind because they are thin board. A mortar and pestle use for the work.


There are a lot of other materials of Japanese painting. I introduced some of them I’m going to explain how to use them on week 5. Next week, I explain differences between Japanese painting and Western painting. Please look forward to next week.


reference date: (http://nihonga-style.com/gazaitotsukaikata.html)