Netsuke Paintings

07854 306569/ 01554 229707

These paintings are inspired by Japanese Netsuke figures and by Chinese and Japanese mythical figures. I do these paintings as a bit of a rest from the large gilded roundels, traditional calligraphy and carpet pages (making an illuminated page or illuminated manuscript is painful!). These paintings are done with a very small brush, with hardly any paint on the bristles. The paint is applied in tiny, barely there strokes. The first few passes of the brush, it doesn't look as though I've done anything. Gradually, layer upon layer, the detail and depth of shading are built up. The resulting painting contains thousands of tiny brushstrokes.

Priced from £300.

Gamma Sennin with Staff Watercolour on gesso panel. 7 x 5 inches.	Gamma Sennin  with Gourd Watercolour on gesso panel. 7 x 5 inches.
Man and Three Oni  Watercolour on gesso panel. 7 x 5 inches	Romeo and Juliet Chinese ink and shell gold on tea stained paper. The figures are in the style of Oni - Japanese folklore figures. Size 6 x 6 inches.
Mother and Babies Acrylic and cut Lokta Paper, on Lokta Paper. Size approx 8 x 11 inches. Figure approx. 3ins high.  SOLD	Monkey Wearing ShiShi Mask              Acrylic and cut Lokta Paper, on Lokta Paper. Size approx 8 x 11 inches. Figure approx 6 ins high.
Monkey Holding ShiShi Mask Acrylic and cut Lokta Paper, on Lokta Paper. Size approx 8 x 11 inches. Figure approx 4.5ins high.

They are painted using a Persian miniature painting technique. This involves using very small brushes - size 0 or smaller. The paint or ink is picked up on the brush, and then nearly all of it is taken back off again - either on the back of the hand or on a spare piece of paper. Using very small brush strokes, the colour and shading is gradually built up, layer upon layer. The backgrounds of these paintings is suggested with light washes, or made up of cut pieces of Lokta paper.