Shukado Newsletter#17

Dear Customers & Friends

Hello! Bonjour! Guten Tag! Goedemiddag! Konnichiwa! from Ginza Tokyo.
This is Ikuko, sending Shukado Newsletter vol.17.

July is already over and the hot weather has arrived in Tokyo.
In this week, we Shukado published our NEW catalog "SHUKADO vol.15"!!
If you want to receive our catalog please click here!
We are waiting for your requests and order!

************
NEW CATALOG :http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/100000012/
************

Today, I would like to introduce you to the artist who pursued the
beauty of color-on-paper artworks: KOSUGI HOUAN. In addition, we
talk about how attractive art works are on paper.

**********************
Kosugi Hoan "A Witch": http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/108000420/
**********************

There are two major kinds of Japanese style paintings: color-on-paper
and color-on-silk.

Although most of Japanese style painters paint on paper these days,
color-on-paper artworks became popular only recently. It used to be
considered that color-on-silk artworks were ranked at the top and
they are still very expensive. On the other hand, color-on-paper
artworks are less valued than color-on-silk artworks.

However, color-on-paper artworks have their own attractiveness.
Sumi ink(Indian ink) can spread smoothly on paper and pale tone colors
stand out there. Moreover, the beauty of running ink can only be
made on paper.

Now I will talk about Kosugi Houan. He (1881-1964) was born in
Niigata prefecture, and he first became a western style painter then
later switched over to be a Japanese style painter.

Around 1935, he began to use custom-ordered paper called "Houan
Paper", which was invented by paper artisan in Imadate, Echizen
(currently Fukui Prefecture) solely for Houan. Imadate is very
famous for high quality handmade WASHI (Japanese paper).

While the most widely used fiber plant for Washi is the paper
mulberry (kozo); this paper and the mitsumata and gampi plants
account for almost all traditional Japanese paper. Hemp is mixed
into those fiber plants to create Houan paper. As a result of this,
the surface of the Houan paper is rough and ink or colors easily run
on this paper; therefore, it is extremely difficult to control
painting effect with this paper.

Despite these difficulties, Houan skillfully controlled ink and
colors on this paper by using a dry brush. He gracefully and
competently used the effect of running colors and ink to create
forms. As a result of this, he mastered painting sold, and firm
shapes and creating a natural feeling even though it was extremely
difficult.

Therefore Houan's artworks have some kind of "lightness" or
attractiveness. I sometimes find some of his works on Houan paper
too blury but the ink and colors are part of their charms. He was
able to create an effect called "kegaki" which means fine, thin
bush-strokes employed to depict animal fur or human hair,
especially sideburns, beard, or eyebrows. If you are someone who
enjoys this kind of accidental effects, you will be able to find a
joy of appreciating his artworks.

The advantages of color on paper artworks are fascinating
effects of ink and color pigments and direct reflection of the
artist's personality and techniques. I believe comparing
color-on-silk artworks to color-on-paper artworks reveals the
artist's true self. I recommend you to see your favorite artist's
color-on-paper artworks.

In addition, you can not appreciate even half of the delicate
details of the color-on-paper artworks without seeing the original
with your naked eyes. Therefore, if you encounter the actual
color-on-paper artworks of your favorite artist, you will be filled
with indescribable happiness.

Please look at such detail of his work on paper.
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list3/108000420/

Thank you for reading our news letter until the end! Today we will list
some ukiyo-e of Chikanobu and hanging scroll of Uda Tekison. We are
very happy if you could find your favorite new arrivals among them!

************
NEW ARRIVALS: http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/search.php?md=0725
************

We will join a ukiyo-e market next week, I have a hunch that we can
purchase some interesting items there, so please DON'T FORGET
to browse our site again!!

SMILES to you from all of us at Shukado.

Have a wonderful and amazing day!

Ikuko Kuwata-Kelly