Hello everyone! This is Miwa Hiduki This time I would like to talk about one of the paints used in Nihonga, “Gansai”. Gansai So, what is Gansai? Gansai is a transparent water-based paint used in Nihonga. All you need to use it is a brush, and it is probably the simplest kind of Nihonga paint to use. I will explain how to use these paints later in this video when I give a demonstration, but they are very similar to paints you have probably used in a class at school and I think they can be easily used by anyone. For those looking to study Nihonga from here, I think using these are good for practicing brushwork and getting used to the colors. Also, they are a great medium to paint a simple seasonal greeting card or other small projects. From here, I will demonstrate how to use Gansai to paint a tulip. Please use it as a reference for how to use these paints! Now, let’s get started :)! First, let’s take a look at the Gansai. The set I am using today is a 48-color set, but you can buy the paints individually or in smaller sets of 12 or 24, so it’s okay to start with fewer than this. Rather than being in a tube like some watercolors, Gansai typically come in these pans. The colors are not overly saturated and are often the calm hues typical of the Japanese palette. If you look on the back of the lid, the paint names are listed and it has a nice aesthetic. Basic Gansai Technique There isn’t much to it to explain, but let’s see how to use these Gansai. If you rub the color paint you would like to use with a wet brush, the color will easily come off. If you would like to use a different color, I recommend rinsing your brush off between paints. This is very similar to how you would use regular watercolors. Coloring the Tulip Okay, let’s try actually painting this tulip! First, start by making a thin color. Mix white and yellow to make a soft base for the tulip. Once you’ve gotten the color you want, go right to painting. Here I am using a Japanese painting palette (Umezara), but any kind of dish is okay. Next, make a color that is a little bit darker. Imagine making a slow gradation as you mix your color. Paint this next color on top, but without completely hiding the yellow. When changing colors, do your best to wash your brush thoroughly. Next I will add a bit of red. I will paint the right tulip pink. Once you have the light base down, add more concentrated colors one by one. Typically, strong colors are added after a large area of a lighter color has been laid down. When painting the petals, keep in mind the direction and form of the veins and indicate them with a strong color. This will give the flower a sense of dimensionality. Once you have a bit of color on the flowers, let’s put a base on the stem and leaves. It is easier to paint all parts of the composition equally,
rather than focusing on the flowers until completion, and then moving on to the stem and leaves. It is hard to remove a concentrated color once painted, so remember to start thin. Bit by bit, using strong colors, let’s create the details of the flower. This is quite difficult to do with Iwa-enogu, but since Gansai can be mixed easily with water, you can do it smoothly and quickly. If you layer Gansai too much it will start to become muddy, but if you add many thin layers bit by bit, it will result in a beautiful feel to the color. I will continue layering on more concentrated colors. Next, I will add concentrated colors in the same manner on the leaves. I am adding a green that has a bit of blue in it. Within “green” there are blue-greens, yellow-greens, and many possible variations we can create. As with the flowers, by painting in the veins you can add dimensionality to the image. Adding concentrated colors one by one, adjust the leaves and stem until they feel about the same as the flowers. Alternating between the flowers and leaves, add paint bit by bit. Applying light colors and tightening the composition with strong colors, continue until you feel it is completed. Again, if you add too many layers of paint it will muddy the colors, so be careful. Here is the completed painting. This is just my way of using Gansai, but I would be very happy if it served as a useful reference for you. So, that was my introduction to Gansai! How was it? Honestly, didn’t you think it looked simple to use? When using the brush to draw and paint, there are times that things don’t go the way you expect, so you might find it difficult when you try it. However, if you keep at it you will improve bit by bit, and I’m sure you will come to love the process. When you find a cute flower or something that excites you, it might be a good idea to practice drawing it with a brush. I will continue uploading videos like this with instructions on how to paint Nihonga. Please subscribe to my channel if that interests you! Let’s meet again soon!
