Last Updated on: July 10th, 2024
Throughout human art history, we have been using metal leaves to create mesmerizing designs and decorations, and gilding techniques have been treasured all over the world. Metal leaf creates a luster finish that fascinates people and sometimes it’s even advocated as eternity.
Metals are precious and heavy, so they need to be pounded and stretched thinly into metal leaves for easy use in various forms, from paintings to sculptures; in Japan, unique processing and technical methods have been established for various uses and expressions, including ornaments, temple architecture, Buddhist statues, paintings and furnishings.
In addition to metal materials such as gold, silver, copper, tin, aluminum and platinum, there are also alloys, as well as new types of tinted metal leaves called Shinkohaku, which are made by dyeing silver leaf, so they can add more colorful sparkles to our daily lives.
Although we are surrounded by products and artworks decorated with metal leaves, there may be few opportunities to learn about the techniques.
Therefore, PIGMENT TOKYO regularly holds workshops where beginners can learn Japanese metal leaf techniques through lectures and hands-on workshops.
This time I would like to introduce our workshop called “Introduction to Metal Leaf.”
【Introduction to Metal Leaf】
Schedule: Once a month on Sunday
*The schedule may vary. Please check the reservation page for more information.
Time: 14:00 — 15:30
Venue: PIGMENT TOKYO
Fee: ¥6,600 (including tax and materials)
Age recommendations: : Age 5 and up
Reservation: https://pigment.tokyo/en/collections/workshop
What to bring: None
<Ticket Options (Please select if you need this option)>
◾️ Parent/guardian seat (1 person): free of charge
One additional chair will be provided.
*Please note that there is a limit to the number of chairs available.
*One parent/guardian is allowed to sit with one student per workshop.
*Materials are not included (You can assist the participant during the workshop).
◾️Others
*Animal glue is used in this workshop. Feel free to ask the instructor if you prefer plant-based gum arabic as an alternative.
*This workshop is lectured in Japanese, however, an English handout will be provided for non-English speaking participants.
Among many manufactured metal products, metal leaves are difficult to handle because they are too thin and fragile to carry around with our hands. Moreover, many of the specialized tools for metal leaves require knowledge of how to use and maintain them, so it may be challenging to start using this technique immediately, even though you are interested in it.
However, if you overcome these hurdles, the unique beauty of metal leaves will lead you to irreplaceable expression.
This workshop is an introductory course designed for beginners who want to try metal leaf for the first time. You will learn classical gilding techniques and simple modern metal leaf techniques.
Furthermore, all tools will be provided, so there is no need to worry about preparing anything.
You will create an A5-size(148mm×210mm) artwork filled with metal leaf techniques by experiencing classical techniques handed down in Japan called Hiraoshi, Akautsushi, Sunago and Kirihaku*, as well as simple modern ways.
*All the mentioned Japanese terms and techniques are explained in the second half of the article.
All ages and art-making experiences are welcome, so anyone interested in Japanese art materials and techniques or artists who wish to expand their field are welcome to participate.
Although technical terms and special tools will be used during the workshop, PIGMENT TOKYO's art materials experts will explain everything clearly through lectures and demonstrations, so please feel free to come and join us for a fun time!
Now, let's take a look at the details of the workshop.
The workshop space
◾️Metal Leaf Technique : Preparation for Hiraoshi 14:00 — 14:10 (approx. 10 minutes)
Let's start working on the artwork. The first step is to decide the composition.
To help you concentrate on the metal leaf applications, we will provide you templates of a full moon and a silhouette of a person standing on a ridgeline. Feel free to move the Washi board around either vertically or horizontally.
You can make a composition by simply placing the templates, and also, their positioning and the way you sprinkle Sunago will create different depth and expression to the artwork. Therefore, the artwork can be arranged depending on how you would like to express it.
Furthermore, you will learn three techniques using two different types of metal leaf adhesives (glues). One is animal glue which is commonly used in Japanese traditional metal leafing and another one is a gilding size (Missione all'Acqua) which is a modern adhesive.
At the beginning of the workshop, you will start with the most basic technique of Japanese metal leafing called Hiraoshi which means applying metal leaf on a flat surface.
A water-based gilding size (Missione all'Acqua) is used for the Hiraoshi technique.
After deciding on the composition, you will apply the gilding size to where you want to apply Hiraoshi.
This gilding size is used for not only the Hiraoshi application but also for certain materials and substrates which could make it difficult to paste metal leaf with animal glue.
Since it is made of acrylic resin and has high viscosity, it will stay sticky for a while, even after the surface is dried. Therefore, it allows you to work at a slow pace, which means the gilding size is more suitable for beginners and people who want to work on small details.
You will see the advantages of each metal leaf adhesive by actually using them.
◾️Lecture : 14:10 — 14:25 (approx. 15 minutes)
While waiting for the gilding size on the Washi board to be ready for Hiraoshi, I would like to talk about tools and art materials.
In this workshop, along with the traditional gilding tools used in Japan, there will also be tools with some adjustments to make this challenging technique a fun and casual experience.
◾️Metal Leaf Technique : Applying Hiraoshi, Kirihaku and Sunago 14:25 — 15:30 (approx. 65 minutes)
Metal leaves used in the workshop are Brass Leaf Akakuchi (reddish) and Aluminium Leaf.
Brass leaf Akakuchi is an alloy of brass and zinc and is often used as a substitute for gold leaf.
On the other hand, aluminum leaf has the advantage of being less prone to tarnish than silver leaf.
Now, it is time to prepare for applying metal leaf.
Since a metal leaf is so thin that even the slightest breeze can cause it to fly off, it is easier to have your working station ready before applying it.
Furthermore, metal leaves will stick to our hands due to the oil on our skins, so in Japan, we carry the metal leaf using bamboo tweezers or with a transferring technique called "Akautsushi".
The process of Akautsushi transferring
Let’s see how to prepare Akautsushi here.
Akautsushi transferring paper, also known as wax paper, is used in this workshop.
The process can be done smoothly on a gilder’s leather pad. First, place the Akautsushi paper on the metal leaf and slide the bamboo tweezers horizontally to push the air out and allow the metal leaf to adhere to the paper.
Transferring a sheet of aluminum leaf with the wax paper.
Even though the metal leaf is difficult to handle, it can now be easily carried around by hand thanks to Akautsushi paper.
The key to creating a beautiful flat Hiraoshi is to hold the metal leaf in a diagonal line. Our instructor will provide further explanation during this process, so feel free to ask if you have any questions.
Next, it is time to apply Hiraoshi.
Place an aluminum leaf on the area where the gilding size has been applied, then flatten the leaf gently with a cotton ball. Please note that rubbing too hard at this point may cause the delicate metal leaf to wrinkle, so try not to apply too much pressure to it.
Left image: Creating Kirihaku
Right image: Applying Kirihaku while applying animal glue with the tip of a brush
The next technique is Kirihaku.
Kirihaku is a technique of applying patterns with finely cut metal leaves.
In this workshop, we will use a paper punch to create circular shapes of metal leaves to represent stars and distant planets.
You can pick up the metal leaf cut out with the tip of a brush dipped in water. Then, you will need one hand to hold a brush dipped in animal glue and the other to pick up the little pieces of metal leaf with another brush. Thus, you will be performing a two-hand metal leafing technique.
Left image: Aluminum leaf applied by Hiraoshi and Kirihaku techniques
Right image: Removing excess metal leaf after applying Hiraoshi
Since animal glue dries quickly, you need to place the cut metal leaf immediately.
When the glue dries, gently remove excess metal leaves that have not adhered after Hiriaoshi with a brush or cotton ball.
Although there are many delicate hands-on practices, this workshop may be unique to PIGMENT TOKYO, where participants can experience several different gilding techniques at one time.
Lastly, decorating artwork with Sunago.
Sunago is a Japanese gilding technique that creates small metal leaf flakes and then sprinkles them on the surface where glue has been applied.
Place the templates of a person’s silhouette and ridges where you like and decide the area where you want to sprinkle the Sunago stars.
In this workshop, you will use a simple tool called Sunago-zutsu which is a bamboo tube with a mesh net stretched over it (a type of sieve specially made for Sunago technique).
Metal leaf is put inside the Sunago-zutsu and rubbed with a stiff brush made of deer hair called Tataki-fude to sprinkle the metal leaf flakes. The fineness or coarseness of the Sunago depends on the size of the mesh.
The glue used for the Sunago technique is an animal glue solution diluted to a concentration suitable for gilding.
Since animal glue loses its stickiness after it dries on the surface, it is suitable for applying glue randomly and scattering something very fine, as in the case of Sunago.
By creating areas with different densities of Sunago particles, the luminance can be varied.
Therefore, you may imagine what kind of scenery you want to create, whether if it’s a starry night full of stars or a star shining faintly in the darkness of dusk.
By only sprinkling the Sunago, the flakes are not yet fully adhered to the Washi board, therefore, you need to press down gently with Washi paper to make the Sunago adhere to the surface.
Here’s the final result, a small night sky spread out on black Washi paper.
This glowing artwork with shimmering light is created with only metal leaves.
We hope this will inspire you to spend a relaxing holiday where you can learn traditional techniques and only focus on making art! Moreover, this would be a great opportunity to learn about Japanese culture too!
PIGMENT TOKYO Workshop
Schedule:
・Introduction to Metal Leaf (Once in a month/ Sundays)
・Introduction to Mineral Pigments (Once in a month/ Sundays)
・Make Your Own Watercolors (Twice in a month/ Sundays)
Reservation: https://pigment.tokyo/en/collections/workshop
*The schedule may vary. Please check the reservation page for more information.
Translated by Atsumi Okano
PIGMENT TOKYO Art Materials Expert
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PIGMENT TOKYO
白石 奈都子
多摩美術大学 染織デザイン専攻卒業。オリジナルの和紙、書を主体とした制作に携わり、アーティストとして活動中。
多摩美術大学 染織デザイン専攻卒業。オリジナルの和紙、書を主体とした制作に携わり、アーティストとして活動中。
![Workshop [Introduction] Make the night sky with foil](http://pigment.tokyo/cdn/shop/articles/MV-metal-leaf-workshop-s_5e0a33ee-f55d-4497-a618-d207af45cba0.jpg?v=1707731824&width=1100)
