Hello everyone, this is Miwa Hiduki. This time I would like to introduce how to use iwa-enogu pigment paints. In my previous video, I talked about what iwa-enogu are. For those of you who know nothing about these paints, please start with that video. In this video, I will focus on how to mix and use iwa-enogu. Like in my previous demonstrations, I will show you my process using these paints to make a small painting. Please use this painting as a reference for how to use iwa-enogu. So, let’s get started! First, let’s mix the paints. Start by putting the necessary amount of iwa-enogu pigment onto a small plate. I think it is easiest to use one color per plate, but it is also possible to mix several sizes and colors of iwa-enogu together. I always use a Häagen-Dazs spoon for this because it is easy to adjust how much pigment you take. Once you have the pigment you need in a bowl, mix it with nikawa. I don’t think there is a rule for how much nikawa to add, but with an amount of pigment like this I usually add 2-3 drops of nikawa and start mixing. Rotating the dish as I mix is a habit of mine to try and mix the paint evenly. Once the nikawa and iwa-enogu have been thoroughly mixed, add in water, adjusting to your preference. This may seem obvious, but please remember that as you add water it may dilute the adhesion of the nikawa, so you may have to add additional nikawa after the water. One more time- First, put the necessary amount of iwa-enogu pigment onto the plate. Unlike suihi-enogu paints, you don’t have to grind the iwa-enogu pigment, so you can use it right out of the bag. After adding a couple drops of nikawa, mix the paint with your finger until there are no dry pigment particles left. I think there are people who mix pigments with a paint brush, but for me it is easier to get a feel for the concentration of the pigment and the stickiness of the nikawa by using your finger. (Note: avoid mixing with your finger if you have any open wounds/cuts and always clean your hand thoroughly after mixing.) Once the paint concentration is to your liking, it is ready to be used. Like last time, I will be painting a goldfish. I think iwa-enogu is easiest to paint starting with thin/weak colors. In other words, it is easiest to start with very finely ground pigments of the byaku (白) size. It is easy to spread the byaku sized pigment very far with only a small amount. But even with many layers, it will not have much depth, So we will add larger sized pigments bit-by-bit. The orange I used here is a mix of a byaku and a number 12 pigment. This time, I am being conscious to paint thinly, so the amount of paint in my bowl is very small. However, I think it is easier if you mix a larger volume of paint to have ready. This is in part due to me painting very thinly, but one of the characteristics of iwa-enogu is that it is easy to see through to the bottom layers. This is why you can still see the ink outlines (called “kotsu-gaki”) I originally drew. Of course, the more layers that are added, the more it will cover up what is beneath. But it does not have the same opacity as gofun or suihi-enogu, so even with many layers it will not muddle the colors beneath. I will add stronger colors bit-by-bit. I will also add a strong color to the leaf. As I mentioned before, iwa-enogu will not really muddle the colors in the lower layers, so by mixing different numbers and types of iwa-enogu you can achieve some exquisite colors. As you continue painting and adding larger sized pigments, the painting will become rough in texture, a characteristic of nihonga. It may be hard to see in a video, but even though at first glance it may look similar to watercolors, this variation in particle size leads to a unique, thick painting. Lastly, add gofun to parts of the image you want to stand out, then it is finished! The final painting is like this. By the way, this is what the surface of the painting looks like if it is magnified. I think you can see the rough texture achieved by iwa-enogu. So, that was my introduction to how to use iwa-enogu paints! I started this how-to-use series of nihonga paints with gansai - for the time being, this iwa-enogu video will be the last in that series. Teppachi, suihi-enogu, and iwa-enogu. One-by-one they have become more difficult to use, but I think each one has its own appeal. It would make me so happy if these videos sparked an interest for you! I will be continuing to upload videos on how to paint nihonga, so please subscribe to my channel and give this video a like! Let’s meet again soon!
