Hiromi Paper, Inc. 30th Anniversary: Chigiri-e

Our 30th Anniversary Reception and Workshop Extravaganza is fast approaching! The second of our FOUR workshop stations that we’ll reveal today is Chigiri-e. The Japanese art form of Chigiri-e is now well over 1,000 years old dating back to the Heian Period. Chigiri-e neared death in the 1800s but the creation of Tengujo/Tengucho provided a new way of approaching the method. In Japanese chigiru roughly translates to “tear” and e translates to “image”, “picture”, or “painting” thus Chigiri-e can be roughly translated as “torn picture”. More accurately though, Chigiri-e is, an image made of thin pieces of Japanese paper torn and shredded and then affixed to a stiffer surface, such as board or thick paper stock, and adhered with PVA, Funori, Fueki-kun nori, or Jin Shofu.

Thin layers of Washi (Japanese paper) allow the artist to build depth, perspective, and value in the image. Skilled Chigiri-e artists can achieve a sophistication reminiscent of watercolor paintings, however, it can be an art form suitable for all ages–from children to older communities. All of the different kinds of Washi (Japanese papers) possess many characteristics that lend themselves well to different techniques.

Tengujo/Tengucho, Color Kozo, and Color Gampi, for instance, can be used to layer on color and value due to it’s highly translucent nature. It can be used to quickly and subtly cover large swaths of space with color or texture.

Amate Swirl

 

The fibers of Kinwashi, Unryu, and Amate Swirl can be easily dissected from their surfaces to create gestures that resemble branches, stems, flower stamen, hair, etc.

While there are traditional shikishi boards used to house the Chigiri-e, any sort of paper will suffice as the base, depending on the needs and desires of the artist. Papers like our Black, White, and Natural Shikishi, Bhutan Stationery, Amate Solid, and Yucatan make excellent bases, though the latter 3 diverge a bit from tradition.

 

 

Now available in store only is the Cavepaper Scrap Pack ($9.00) which comes filled with ends and bits of Cavepaper’s experiments and left overs, often one-of-a-kind pieces. These are helpful in adding unusual textures and patterns to your Chigiri-e.

Chigiri-e Session with Washi

This past weekend the Zenshuji Terakoya (Little Tokyo, Los Angeles) had their a chigiri-e session for their little participants. Natural washi paper were used as backdrops for the colorful images created using decorative Japanese paper. The session started with a little introduction and a reading of one Keiko Sena‘s picture books. It certainly looked like a fun event for the kids!

Upcoming Workshops

Collage Workshop with Bruce Meade
Date: August 5, 2012 Sunday
Time: 1 pm – 3 pm
Location: Hiromi Paper/ Bergamot Station
Price: $45.00

– Learn the basic techniques of Collage
– Taught by Bruce Meade, whose collages are in private collections in both the USA & Europe.
– Hands on and fun! Bring your own images or pick from a selection at the workshop

Reserve your spot today with payment. Full refund given only if cancelled more than 2 weeks before the workshop.

The LightRoom: Japanese Paper Workshop
Date: September 15, 2012 Saturday
Time: 10 am – Noon
Location: The LightRoom 2263 Fifth St. Berkeley CA 94710
Price: $50.00, 15 person limit

-See printed samples on a variety of Japanese papers (coated and uncoated for inkjet printing) and learn about the benefits and challenges of printing on these papers & how they differ from the popular European and American papers.
-What are the color characteristics, what kinds of pictures work best, what sizes are available?
-A bit of history of paper making in Japan and how the tradition of printmaking there was influenced by the papers.
-Bring your own digital files of photographs or other artwork for printing.

For more details, please contact Rob Reiter (510) 649-8111 at The LightRoom, reserve your spots now!

The LightRoom: Workshops in Printing on Japanese Papers

The LightRoom
2263 Fifth St. Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 649-8111  toll-free (888) 649-8111

Date: April 28
Time: 10:00 a.m. – noon
Location: The LightRoom Studio
Cost: $50.00

Registration via phone or email starting April 5th, first come first seved. Call or email the LightRoom after 9 a.m. Payment by check or credit card.

Second workshop scheduled for May 12th, with possibility of another one in the summer.

Printed samples on a variety of papers will be shown, including papers from Hiromi Paper. Discussion on benefits and challenges of printing on these papers, how they differ from European and American papers, and detailed printing subjects. With history of paper making in Japan and tradition.

For more information, click here.

Stripping of Kozo Bark Workshop

On January 18, 2012, a mini workshop of kozo bark stripping was taken place at Tosa Washi Kogeimura (Arts and Crafts Village) in Ino Machi of Kochi Prefecture.

Kozo is the main fiber used to make washi; the bark that is used in 70% of washi made today. These kozo trees are cut down every winter to make the fibers and soon after, the plant will grow new buds, sprouting vibrant green leaves in the summertime, and will again be ready to harvest by next winter. This is one of the reasons that washi is considered to be eco-friendly.

Drypoint Woodblock Printing & Kite Making Workshop

Date: Sunday, September 11, 2011
Time: 1 pm – 5 pm
Location: Bergamot Station/Hiromi Paper G-9
Class limit: 12 maximum
Price: $60.00

Class: Join our group of artists at Hiromi Paper, Inc. to learn how to
drypoint on wood and print your design on your choice of handmade
paper suitable for kitemaking. You will learn simple bamboo sparring
techniques to make your print into flyable art kite.

Skill Level: Adult or 14 years+ with adult assistance

Teachers:
Scott Skinner, Art Kitemaker
Christine Yuengling-Niles, Print Artist
Jose Sainz, Art Kitemaker

Materials Needed: Will be supplied, you will only have to purchase paper.
*Materials listed are subject to change.

Reserve your spot today by sending us your full payment in-store, by phone,
fax, or email.

No refunds if cancelled less than 2 weeks before the workshop date.

Learn more about art kites at http://www.drachen.org/

Bookbinding Workshop Sunday May 22, 2011

“13th Century Binding in the 21st Century”

Date: Sunday, May 22, 2011
Time: 12 – 4 pm
Location: Hiromi Paper, Inc. (Bergamot Station)

Class: Learn to do tape binding.
Class size limited to 12 students maximum.
It is recommended that students have had experience
handling paper & some experience with bookbinding.

Teacher: Christopher (C.K.) Wilde
Founder of Revolocien Wreckidz and the Booklyn Artists Alliance and The Bookstrap and Alternating Currency.Com. In 2010, his works were on exhibition at Rosamund Felsen Gallery. He also taught a Coptic Bookbinding workshop at Hiromi Paper in 2010.

Price: $60.00
Materials Needed: Straight needle, Binder’s Tape, Linen Thread, PVA Glue, Awl, Folder, Binder’s board, Beeswax
–All available for a packaged price of $40.00
Materials Supplied: Paper, brushes, some materials above for sharing
Optional: Your own paper or bookcloth for the cover, cutting board & razors
*Materials listed are subject to be changed.

Reserve your spot today by sending us your payment in-store, by phone, fax, or email.
No refunds if cancelled less than 2 weeks before workshop.

Mini Shikishi Preschool Project

with Miki Yoshimoto

When our friend Miki came to our Mini Shikishi Workshop and thought of the idea of having her child’s preschool art project be centered around it, we had no idea they would come out with such works of art! With the tenryu shoji roll, calligraphy brushes, sumi ink & suzuri stone, the preschoolers were transformed into little sumi artists.

Click on the link below for more pictures.

Otis Letterpress Workshop + New Product Sneak Peak

Last Wednesday I got the exciting opportunity to visit Otis and learn how to letterpress using their machinery onto various papers. The workshop was led by Professor Linda Dare, a long time friend of Hiromi Paper.

JACCC Ukiyo-e Demonstration Recap

This past Sunday was the JACCC Ukiyo-e demonstration in which two master printers from the Adachi Institute in Tokyo, Japan, Horishi (carver) Chikura Kishi and Surishi (printer) Yoshio Kyoso recreated traditional printing of Hiroshige’s prints. Originally, this type of printing was used in merchant circles for daily life, such as posters and flyers. The key point was how to most economically reproduce the prints. Click on the link below to view more pictures from the event.