Beginner's Etegami - Japanese Postcard Art Using Watercolor

What You Will Learn?

• Welcome to my first ever Skillshare class! I am a creative arts teacher and love to share different art techniques I have learned during my art adventures. When I lived in Japan, one of my friends shared her mother’s etegami art with me. I loved the simple and child-like style of using ink and watercolors that create beautiful pieces of art on postcards. .
• In this class, you will use ink, ink brushes/paint brushes, and watercolors to form playful lines and shapes. You will learn to look at everyday objects and break them down to their most simplest form and color. Lastly, a simplistic hand-lettering technique is used to add a special touch to your piece. .
• This class does not require any previous knowledge of art skills to create a beautiful piece. The desired result is more about “making living lines” and creating  imperfect art. The father of etegami, Kunio Koike, shared, “Clumsiness is no problem. Clumsy makes it better.” .
• Since you are given freedom to be “clumsy” with your lines and watercolor technique, it is a perfect class for beginners to stretch their new skills using an ink brush or paint brush. It helps you to become familiar with using art tools. .
• For someone who is familiar with art tools and mediums, etegami art pulls the artist back to a simpler technique that helps to stretch the imagination. Taking your practice back to “making living lines” can be therapeutic, allowing for a reset of your creativity. .
• All you will need for this class is sumi ink, ink brushes, gansai watercolors, washi postcards (gasenshi). However, I understand that these materials may be hard to come by. I have tested this technique using watercolor paper, watercolor paintbrushes, waterproof black ink (Dr. Ph. Martin’s Star India Ink), and any type of watercolors (a cheap pan set is preferred). You will still achieve the desired effect. .
• For your project, you will put the etegami practice seen in the lessons in your own work. Choose some items around your house or look on Pinterest to get inspiration for your pieces. You can also download the PDF listed under projects that have a few line drawings you can use to inspire your art. .
• I would encourage you to practice the etegami technique along with the video lessons once you feel comfortable. Feel free to copy the subject matter I show you so you can concentrate on making “living lines”. This is the most important part of the etegami practice. There is no need to focus on perfect work but explore how to make your subject matter dance on the paper. .
• Try the techniques explained in the lessons to create a few postcards. If you only feel comfortable showing your practice lines on your scratch paper, that is ok! The point is that you try!.
• Upload your projects to the Project Board so I can see what you accomplished. .