MY MATERIALS:  Technicalities

I use high-quality, nontoxic paints. They are fairly light resistant but will eventually fade if left in direct sunlight for hours a day.

I use a lot of “rice” papers, which are not actually made from rice but mainly from mulberry leaves or natural plant fiber filaments. Many are handmade. They often have imperfections— bumps, lumps, small holes, creases, uneven edges—that are considered their charm and also complement the spontaneity of the brush strokes.

To strengthen the paintings, I mount them on other mulberry papers. They can be framed or stretched onto a light-weight frame, according to your taste, but framing them under glass can cause condensation. The humidity mars the work. If you like the look of a regular frame, I suggest not using glass.

Some of the paintings are designed to hang from bamboo sticks that I collect at the correct moon phase and dry for a long time, turning them so that they dry straight. They are not treated and have irregularities. I may have some available in various sizes for $10-15 each.

The marking 1 SF or 2SF indicates that the painting has either a fold at the top (1SF) or a fold at the top and at the bottom (2SF) into which a stick can be inserted, so it can be hung. A stick at the bottom prevents the painting from blowing around if it’s near a door you keep the windows open.

Materials up until 2021  sennelier water colors, various sumi-e and calligraphy brushes

Since 2022 natural non toxic dyes and pigments.