Nihonga painting is a traditional Japanese technique in which I create my works, combining mineral pigments, gold and silver leaf, and washi paper with the experience I gained in Kyoto and Japanese studios. My paintings grow out of a deep fascination with Japanese culture and a love of craftsmanship, where the process of preparing my own paints becomes a form of contemporary alchemy.
Traditional Japanese painting Nihonga has become the central focus of my artistic practice and life's passion.
Japanese culture and art hold a profound place in my heart. My deep connection began during the two years I spent living in Kyoto, where I learned traditional Japanese arts: shodō calligraphy, haiku poetry, nō theater, kintsugi ceramics repair with lacquer, and ikebana flower arrangement. My knowledge of Japanese allows me to continue learning directly from Japanese masters.
I have enriched my painting and drawing skills at the University of Fine Arts in Łódź. A particularly significant moment in my artistic journey was my practice at the legendary Nakagawa Gofun Enogu pigment manufacturer in Kyoto, where I immersed myself in traditional methods of working with pigments, cultivated through generations.
I create my works in the traditional style of Japanese painting Nihonga. For me, this process is a contemporary form of alchemy, where Japanese culture and artistic intuition meet pharmaceutical precision. Preparing my own paints reminds me of developing ancient medicinal recipes - from careful selection of mineral pigments to laboratory accuracy in combining raw materials. From this harmony emerge works of extraordinary depth and permanence.
Nihonga is a style of Japanese painting that utilizes traditional techniques and natural materials.
Color
Instead of oil or acrylic paints, I handcraft my paints by combining pigments with natural nikawa glue, completely eliminating synthetic additives. These pigments are naturally sourced – from stones, shells, soils, and metal ores – then ground into powders of varying fineness. Unlike synthetic oil or acrylic paints, they remain unchanged over time, ensuring centuries-long durability.
A special place in my palette is reserved for gofun, the white pigment made by grinding Itabo oyster shells dried for 10–30 years. It captivates with its delicate, pearlescent glow, lending paintings an ethereal depth and natural luminosity impossible with synthetic whites.
Gold and silver leaf
Gold and silver leaf in Nihonga technique are ultra-thin noble metal flakes, just 0.1 micrometers thick, applied to create a diffused shimmer. They come from Kanazawa – the world's center for haku (metal leaf) – where Hakuichi has crafted them for four centuries.
Washi Paper
I use exclusively Japanese washi paper, which I size myself with dōsa solution. The papers are handmade by Japanese artisans and mainly come from the Echizen region, which is the most famous paper-making region in Japan. Iwano Heizaburou in Echizen, has been making washi for over 150 years and is my favorite manufacturer of washi.
"Inside the Japanese garden" employs the classic Nihonga technique, featuring paints manually prepared from mineral pigments, gold and silver powder and leaf, on high-quality Japanese papers: Kumohada Mashi, Shiromashi, and Torinoko.
