Hempen paper, silver leaf sulfurization technique, mizu-hoshi, mineral pigments, gold paint, and silver paint. Square panels used. Silver leaf, a technique unique to Japanese-style painting, is sulfurized with sulfur, baked, and then further pigmented. Japanese painting is based on a style of painting that has existed for more than 1,000 years, and the materials used are old, traditional, and historically cultivated. The technique involves painting on Japanese paper, silk, wood, etc., using natural pigments such as sumi ink, iwa-enogu (mineral pigments), and gofun (gofun), and glue as an adhesive. Gold and other metal materials (gold leaf, etc.) are also used. Iwa-enogu, made from ores, is a beautiful, sand-like powder. Mizuhigure, made from clay, is a fine, stretchy, fine-particle paint. Artificial versions of iwa-enogu and mizuhoshi-enogu are also made, and are available in a wide variety of colors. Goko, made from shells, is a white pigment with fine particles.
