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Chinese Ink Painting

I learned Chinese Ink Painting when I lived in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaido in Japan. I was lucky to have gotten a very patient and kind teacher. I have been painting watercolors on rice paper ever since then.

I now live in Sendai on the main island of Honshu, Japan. I recently joined a Chinese Ink Painting class to brush up on this art. I haven't done any traditional paintings since Sapporo and am happy to be in touch with that art form again. My teacher in Sendai is very kind (I have been lucky again). She is at least 60 years old and about four feet tall. All the students have been in her class for years; and I feel, as though, I have joined a family.

When I am in the States, I order my rice paper and brushes from
Oriental Art Supply. You can order paper samplers which gives you a chance to test and find the paper you prefer. For watercolors, their Japanese Cake Watercolors are very nice. I use these in addition to western watercolors in my paintings.


Comments

Lindsay said…
I found your lovely blog through Vivien's and I'll be subscribing to yours! I just wondered if the rice paper is as sturdy as watercolro paper. It sounds like you can use western watercolors on it? But I bet the behave diferently.
GalleryJuana said…
Hi Lindsay,

Thanks for subscribing. You are right in thinking that the rice paper behaves differently from watercolor paper. There are many types of rice paper. they range in absorbancy, texture, color and whether or not it is handmade or machine-made. The more absorbant, the more delicate the rice paper is. Also, the more absorbant the paper is, the more quickly the paint will travel. I tend to use rice paper that has texture (you can see fibers in the paper); this kind of paper holds up to repeated washes, drying and rewetting.
Lori Andrews said…
I'm amazed at your talent, and now you have me excited to try rice paper. Is there a particular brand texture that is your favorite.?? Lovely lovely work.
Rgds,
Lori

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