Last Updated on:June 3, 2026

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Creating Original Crayons Learn Japanese Traditional Art Materials PIGMENT TOKYO Workshop

This summer, PIGMENT TOKYO will be offering two special workshops that are perfect for your children's summer break: “Creating Original Crayons” and “Learning Japanese Traditional Art Materials.”

In the “Creating Original Crayons” workshop, participants will create their own crayons through the process of mixing art materials and pouring the mixture into molds.

By exploring what gives crayons their soft drawing texture and vibrant colors, both children and adults can deepen their understanding of art materials in a fun and simple way, while also developing a richer appreciation for drawing and painting.

In the “Learning Japanese Traditional Art Materials” workshop, participants will create artwork while also preparing a research report on art materials that have been passed down through generations in Japan. Children may attend on their own or with a parent or guardian.

IBy exploring the history and uses of these materials, this workshop is designed for participants to enjoy both creative expression and hands-on learning, allowing your kids’ summer research project to feel fun and fulfilling!

Both workshops offer children and parents the opportunity to experience lectures and hands-on creative activities together. They can also serve as art education programs that nurture creativity through an exploration of art materials.

Starting with the question, “Why does it work this way?”, participants are encouraged to discover and understand the underlying processes, turning curiosity into enjoyment and learning. We invite you to join us for an authentic and exciting creative experience.

To help inspire your child's enthusiasm for making art, we encourage you and your child to explore the following images and step-by-step process together, so you can imagine and know what to expect in our workshops together.

Parents and children can look at the images and steps to imagine what kind of experiences and productions they can create to stimulate their child's creative desire.

Creating Original Crayons

Workshop Overview

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 20 (Mon, National Holiday) & August 2 (Sun), 2026

Time: 14:00 – 15:30

Venue: PIGMENT TOKYO

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

Eligible Age: 5 years and up (Individual adults are also welcome)

*Children aged 9 and under must be accompanied by one registered parent or guardian per child (For example, if two children aged 9 or under attend, two parents/guardians must also be registered).

*Adults other than parents, such as grandparents or relatives, may also register as guardians.

*The electric stove used during the workshop will be shared by two participants. Therefore, if the group of participants is an odd number, one participant may be required to share a device with another attendee (Please refer to the diagram below).

*Seating is available only for registered participants (Please refrain from watching while standing or you may cause disturbance to other participants).

*Aprons and rubber gloves will be provided. However, we recommend wearing clothes that can get dirty (Aprons: Adult free-size / With adjustable straps for children).

Reservation:

July 20th (Mon/Holiday)  Creating Original Crayons  July 20.2026

August 2nd (Sun)  Creating Original Crayons  August 2.2026

◾️Demonstration:  20 minutes (14:00-14:20)

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

For some of you, this may be your first time seeing ingredients like pigment and beeswax.

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

In this workshop, there will be three types of pigments.

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

◾️Crayon-Making Experience: 70 minutes (14:20-15:30)

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.

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.

Learn Japanese Traditional Art Materials

Workshop Overview

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 26 (Sun), August 9th (Sun), 2026

Time: 10:00 – 12:30

Venue: PIGMENT TOKYO

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

Eligible Age: Preschool to middle school students

Reservation:

July 26th (Sun)   Learn Japanese Traditional Art Materials   July 26.2026

August 9th (Sun) *Reservation Opens: July 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM (via the reservation page)

*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.

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

In the hands-on session, participants will create artwork based on a sketch inspired by the Edo-period painter Suzuki Kiitsu and his work “Morning Glories”. They will get to experience the full process, from making pigments to painting.

First, participants will use their fingers to knead paint in a palette dish and color the background. The instructor will carefully explain the pigment-mixing techniques and each step of the creation process through live demonstrations.

Left: Worksheet designed for upper elementary school students and above

While waiting for the painted layers to dry, the instructor will move back to the original worksheet prepared by us and talk about the materials and pigments.

Although some topics may seem complex at first glance, our instructor, who also works as a university lecturer and artist, will provide clear and easy-to-understand explanations for children, using slides and real-life experiences, so you can participate with confidence.

By filling in information about traditional materials such as mineral pigments, participants will be able to complete a report suitable for the summer homework.

Worksheets will be prepared according to each child’s grade level, and of course, you are welcome to ask any questions at any time.

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

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.

Artwork detail (during workshop)

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!

This is a valuable opportunity to see, touch and learn about real art materials and tools firsthand. After returning home, you may enjoy spending time admiring your finished artwork or use the worksheet to quiz one another as a family and revisit what you learned in a fun and engaging way.

May the subtle, elegant hues of natural mineral pigments that feel like a summer breeze turn into an unforgettable memory to remember this time of year!

PIGMENT TOKYO – Workshops

Other than these summer workshops, we also offer regular workshops that can be enjoyed by both children and adults, as well as special summer classes designed exclusively for adult participants.

For detailed information and schedules, please visit the reservation page and book your next workshop!

[Reservation Page]

PIGMENT TOKYO – Workshop

[Regular Workshops]

Make Your Own Watercolors  (Twice a month / Sundays)
Introduction to Mineral Pigments  (Once a month / Sundays)
Introduction to Metal Leaf   (Once a month / Sundays)