This figure is not a self-portrait, but it is loosely based on myself.
Using techniques established in Nihonga (or Japanese painting), of mixing pigments into heated animal glue (Nikawa) to affix them to washi paper, enables a denser opacity and richer texture than water color, whilst letting the quality of the paper retain function as both a textured visual element, and influencer to the flow of paint and line.
The use of these techniques also made possible the transcription of the artist’s real Japanese, English, and mixed language working notes over the top of the art work in ball pen.
