Sumi sticks

Each bag contains a random selection of various types of sumi stick, perhaps including broken pieces. They are used for making 'bokuju' - liquid sumi for calligraphy or printing.

Break them up into small pieces with a hammer, then leave them soaking in a bottle of water for perhaps half a year. After they have softened up, they can be ground into a thick paste in a mortar, and then strained through cheesecloth to remove any remaining hard pieces. The resulting thick rich liquid is thinned with water to 'taste' ...

'Neri-zumi' and Sumi sticks

Neri-zumi

This jar contains a thick black 'concentrate' sumi paste. Spoon some into a dish, and add water until you arrive at the dilution you wish. It is capable of making a pigment that will print to unbelievable levels of deep blackness ...

Glue and size

'San zen bon nikawa' is the most traditional form of glue in Japan. The product is very similar to the 'hide glue' traditionally used in the west, formed into twisted brittle sticks. They are soaked in water and then slowly heated to melt them. The sticky fluid is used as a base for making size, as an additive to pigments, or simply as glue.

Alum powder is used in combination with the liquid nikawa to make size for the printing paper.

Mica powder

This is actual mica, ground into an extremely fine powder. When applied to the surface of a print it has an iridescent effect. It can also be mixed with pigment to add 'sparkle'.

Gofun powder is also available. This is a fine white powder obtained from ground up shells. When mixed with powder pigments it gives them an opaque and sometimes chalky texture..

Watercolours

These 'Sakura' brand watercolours are designed for people doing their first experiments in woodblock printmaking. Mix them with a little water, apply them to the block along with a little rice paste, then brush the colour out smoothly.

The set of four contains: red, blue, yellow and black, and the set of seven adds green, brown, and 'gold'.

Watercolour pigments

Order form for these products

Select the items you wish to purchase from the forms above, then click on the 'Add to Cart' button.

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