Painting With Mineral Pigments

I paint with mineral pigments and techniques borrowed from an ancient art form of Japanese painting called Nihonga. I use sumi ink or pigments from minerals, shells, corals, and even semi-precious stones like malachite, azurite and cinnabar. The pigments are ground into 16 gradations from fine to sandy grain textures. I use a hide glue as a binder.

Nihonga is known for its delicate washes and pure, luminous color. One specific hallmark is the way in which light is captured and bounces off the edges of the various ground edges of the mineral pigments allowing the various built up layers to play off each other. The colors in Nihonga appear to shimmer ever-so subtly by bouncing light off the edges of the various ground pigments.

I’m not a master in Nihonga nor have I used strictly traditional materials. I have borrowed and modified processes to work within my own studio and aesthetics.