Iwaenogu

Being curious and trying to enrich my professional career through a new technique from Japan, began to be interested about “IWAENOGU”.
The literal translation of this word is “ROCK PAINTING”.
It is a style of painting that has nothing to do with what I knew so far. It is not oil painting, or watercolor, or ink, or acrylic or pastel. It is another discovery of the Japanese culture.

In “IWAENOGU” technique, the materials used are made from natural minerals. There is a large range of different sizes of grains, from the fine sand texture to the thick salt grain.
“IWAENOGU” materials are marketed exclusively in Japan. There are many types, too many to describe. The sands are mixed with different glues that must be diluted according to the result to be obtained prior to apply.

Could be classified in this way guidance:

• White: oyster shells
• Blue: lapis lazuli, turquoise
• Green: malachite
• Red: coral, amber
• Yellow: citrine
• Black: jet black
• Purpure: amethyst
And a long etc…

This technique has the particularity that the colors are incredible fade resistance because the sands are derived from natural products which guarantees an extraordinary conservation.
Usually this style works on silk and is coated to protect the work from behind with special glues. This technique is called “URAUCHI”. This is pretty complicated process that requires a great experience that I am far from having.
Also falls outside my experience, following a Japanese style. I want to use these new materials adapted to my ideas and mix them with wax paper using acrylic and linen as a working basis. We could say that I am trying the experiment with these sands to add a new element to the style I have created and enriched my work with something learned in Japan.
It's a new experience that right now excited me.
I leave here exposed the first works I've done although some have already been sold.
It is a first step in this new facet.