Last Updated on August 17, 2025

At PIGMENT TOKYO, we are excited to announce two special workshops for children in the summer of 2025: “Creating Original Crayons” and “Learn Japanese Traditional Art Materials.” 

Both workshops are part of our art education program, designed to nurture creativity through a combination of lectures and hands-on experiences with high-quality art materials that children and parents can enjoy together.

The instructors are artists and experienced professionals who provide clear, beginner-friendly guidance on using art tools and materials, so everyone is welcome to join.

We begin with engaging questions like "How does this happen?" to encourage participants to explore and discover how art materials are made. This exploration transforms learning into a joyful and captivating experience. 

This is a wonderful opportunity for children to engage with authentic artistic techniques in a fun and interactive way. 

We invite you and your child to take a look at the following images that illustrate the making process and imagine yourselves in the workshop! Let your imagination flourish and be inspired to create!

*These workshops have ended.

Find the latest information about our workshops here.

WORKSHOP–PIGMENT TOKYO

How Are Crayons Made?

“Creating Original Crayons” is a fun and creative workshop where you can make your own crayons by mixing various ingredients and shaping the colors using molds. 

As you follow the process of why crayons have their soft texture and vivid colors, you'll gain a deeper understanding of art materials and discover new ways to enjoy drawing.

The conversations that naturally unfold between parents and children during the making process are also a meaningful part of the experience, enriching both creativity and connection.

Workshop Overview

【Summer Workshop / Parent & Child】Creating Original Crayons

*Note
Although this workshop will be delivered in Japanese, English course materials are available.
If this sounds like working for you, you are welcome to join our workshops.

 

Dates: July 21 (Mon, National Holiday) & August 3 (Sun), 2025

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Venue: PIGMENT TOKYO

Fee: ¥15,400 per parent-child pair (tax and materials included)

Eligible Age: 5 years and up

Reservation Opens: June 1 (Sun), 2025 at 12:00 PM (via the reservation page)

Workshop Schedule:

July 21 (Mon, National Holiday) 【Summer Workshop / Parent & Child】Creating Original Crayons

August 3 (Sun)【Summer Workshop / Parent & Child】Creating Original Crayons

*This workshop has ended.

*Please check the reservation page for more details.

*Grandparents, relatives or family friends are welcome to attend as adult guardians in place of a parent.

*Young children (lower elementary school and under) will require assistance from their guardians as the workshop involves delicate works such as leveling with measuring spoons.

*Preschool children may also participate, but please be aware of the above considerations.

*Aprons and rubber gloves will be provided, however, wearing clothes that are allowed to get dirty is recommended. 

(Apron: free size for adults / can also be used for children by adjusting the length of the string)

◾️Demonstration : 20 minutes (2:00 PM-2:20 PM)

The instructor will give a demonstration while explaining the steps involved and how to use the art materials.

You may be seeing ingredients like “pigment” (color powder) and “beeswax” for the first time. 

Please remember to pay attention to all the steps so you will be ready when it's your turn. After the demonstration, there will be time for everyone to start creating their own crayons.

In this workshop, we use three types of pigments.

By mixing them, you can create unique colors and discover the fun of color blending.

◾️Crayon-Making Experience: 70 minutes (2:20 PM-3:30 PM)

First, add the pigments, wax and oil according to the specified amounts, then heat up and stir the mixture.

Once the materials have melted and blended well, pour the mixture into molds and let it chill.

Once the crayons start to take shape, you can test them out and feel the texture on paper. You'll notice that the colors come out smoothly. 

When you're ready, you can place them in the special box we prepared for you to take home. 

Creating your own art supplies makes them even more special!

Once you're back home with your brand-new crayons, you can enjoy drawing a fun family memory together. 

Explore Traditional Japanese Art Materials and Create Your Own Summer Report!

A summer research project is a holiday school assignment for children in Japan, but choosing the right topic each year can be a bit of a challenge.

This workshop is a popular summer program that is specially designed for children to explore traditional Japanese art materials by touching and feeling them.

Children are welcome to paricipate on their own or accompanied by a parent. We invite your kids to explore the history and uses of these unique materials while creating their own art pieces, making for an engaging summer research project!

Workshop Overview

【Summer Break Research Project】Learn Japanese Traditional Art Materials

*Note

This workshop will be conducted exclusively in Japanese, and no English materials will be provided. If you are concerned about understanding the content, we kindly recommend enrolling in one of our workshops where English course materials are available. Thank you for your understanding.

Dates: July 27 (Sun) & August 10 (Sun), 2025

Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Venue: PIGMENT TOKYO

Fee: ¥9,900 per child (tax and materials included)

Eligible Age: Preschool to middle school students

Workshop Schedule:

July 27 (Sun) 【Summer Break Research Project】Learn Japanese Traditional Art Materials

August 10 (Sun) 【Summer Break Research Project】Learn Japanese Traditional Art Materials

*This workshop has ended.

*Preschool children are welcome to join but must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
*Guardians attending with children should register through the free parent/guardian seat ticket option.
*Please select the options according to your child’s age to receive a worksheet designed for them.

Through this workshop, you’ll create a research report along with an artwork focused on traditional Japanese art materials passed down through generations.

The instructor will guide you and explain traditional art materials such as mineral pigments (iwa-enogu) using their original worksheet. By filling out what you learn during the workshop, you’ll complete your summer homework research report.

During the painting session, you will create an artwork based on the image of “Morning Glories” by the Edo-period painter Suzuki Kiitsu. You’ll start by making paint with pigments and use it for the painting.

Although some topics may seem challenging at first, the instructor who is also a university faculty member and artist will provide easy-to-understand explanations with slides and interesting stories, making the workshop enjoyable and accessible for children.

◾️Creation /Lecture: 40 minutes : (10:00 AM -10:40 AM)

First, you’ll knead the pigments and paint the background color.

In the painting session, you’ll start by mixing pigments on a palette to make your own paint.

The instructor will carefully demonstrate and explain how to prepare mineral pigments (iwa-enogu) and the painting process step by step.

Of course, feel free to ask any questions along the way.

Left: Worksheet designed for upper elementary school students and above

During the lecture, the instructor will explain the materials necessary to make paints.

No worries, our worksheets cater to various grade levels. You will have hands-on experience, getting to see and feel the actual paints, pigments and materials used in the workshop. 

Afterwards, you can even review the worksheet at home or challenge your family to an exciting quiz session!

◾️Painting Session: 50 minutes (10:40 AM-11:30 AM)

It’s time to apply colors to the morning glories.

Even after applying the background color, the pre-drawn sketch lines remain visible, allowing you to focus on expressing the colors of the petals and leaves in detail.

For this piece, we will use natural mineral pigments inspired by the “Morning Glories (Asagao-zu Byōbu),” such as azurite (gunjo), malachite (rokusho) and white shell pigment (gofun). These traditional Japanese pigments are made by grinding natural stones and mixing the particles with animal glue to create paint.

By feeling the texture of mineral pigments and animal glue with your own hands while preparing the paint, we hope our participants will gain a deeper appreciation for the unique qualities of traditional Japanese painting materials.

Even when working from the same design and using the same materials, each painting may turn out differently through individual choices in color and brushwork. This is one of the joys of painting. You will be encouraged to express yourself freely through color combinations, brush movements, the use of negative space and your own exploration of the materials, based on your artistic ideas or research themes.

Creating a painting involves more than just pigments. The tools also play an important role in the process. In this workshop, the participants will work with the same high-quality materials that professional artists use.

The final step, add color to the morning glories and leaves, and you’re all done!
The subtle, elegant colors of the natural mineral pigments evoke a cool, refreshing expression that would be perfect for creating a memorable summer artwork.

In addition to the workshops introduced here, we also offer special summer programs exclusively for adults.
Please check the reservation page for details and dates, feel free to join us if you’re interested!

Workshop - PIGMENT TOKYO

If you have any questions or concerns about the workshops, please feel free to contact us here:

Contact Us - PIGMENT TOKYO

*Please note that for all workshops, we kindly ask our customers to refrain from assisting others or lingering around the workshop area for extended periods without registration or a parent/guardian ticket. We appreciate your cooperation. 

These workshops are designed to provide new insights into art and materials beyond regular school art classes, sparking your child’s curiosity and creativity. We invite you and your child to dive into the world of art together this summer!

Translated by Atsumi Okano, Nelson Hor Ee Herng
PIGMENT TOKYO Art Materials Experts