Last Updated on August 6, 2026

Deepening your knowledge of art materials and tools can expand your perspective and inspire your creative practice.  This summer 2026, pigiment.live is thrilled to hold five workshops featuring Brush-Making, Crayon-Making, Silk Painting, and Suminagashi Marbling, designed to be enjoyed by both adults and children.

For the Brush-Making experience, we will be inviting a long-established brush maker from Kyoto, while the Crayon-Making workshop will explore the color-mixing and how these familiar everyday tools are made. Moreover, the Silk Painting course offers an opportunity to learn how to prepare silk canvas and its unique painting techniques. If you are interested in exploring traditional Japanese art through the element of chance, Suminagashi marbling lets you enjoy the natural flow of ink, while Sunago teaches the art of scattering delicate metal leaf powder.

In this article, we would like to look into each workshop to find out more details.

Special Course by Kyoto-Nakasato– Understanding and Making Brushes

Workshop Overview

Special Course by Kyoto-Nakasato– Understanding and Making Brushes (180 min)

*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: Saturday, July 25, 2026

Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Venue: pigiment.live

Instructor: Fumihiko Nakasato (President, Naksato Co., Ltd.)

Fee: ¥9,900 (Tax and material fees included)

Recommended Age: 5 years and above (participants of all ages are welcome)

*For children in lower elementary school or younger, assistance from a parent or guardian is required due to the detailed work involved. 

*Please select the free "Parent/Guardian" option if the participant will be accompanied by an adult.

Reservation: Special Course by Kyoto-Nakasato – Understanding and Making Brushes – July 25.2026

Click here to find out more details about the Brush-Making workshop.

Creating Original Crayons

Workshop Overview
Creating Original Crayons (90 min)

*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: Monday (Public Holiday), July 20, 2026 / Sunday, August 2, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Fee: ¥9,900 (Tax and material fees included) 
Recommended Age: 5 years and above (individual adults are also welcome to join) 

*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.

Reservation:
Creating Original Crayons July 20. 2026
Creating Original Crayons August 02. 2026

Click here to find out more details about the Crayon-Making workshop.

Make Your Own Galaxy with Suminagashi Marbling and Sunago Flakes

Workshop Overview

Make Your Own Galaxy with Suminagashi Marbling and Sunago Flakes (120 min)

*Note:

This workshop will be conducted in Japanese and no English materials will be provided. If you are concerned about understanding the content, we kindly recommend applying for one of our workshops where English course materials are available. Thank you for your understanding.

Dates: Sunday, August 16, 2026 / Sunday, August 30, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM 
Fee: ¥9,900 (Tax and material fees included)
Age: 5 years and above

*Children younger than 10 years old required parental assistance due to the fine detail work.

*If attending with a parent or a guardian, please select the optional free ticket.

Reservation:
Make Your Own Galaxy with Suminagashi Marbling and Sunago Flakes August 16. 2026
Make Your Own Galaxy with Suminagashi Marbling and Sunago Flakes August 30. 2026

Click here to find out more details about the Make Your Own Galaxy with Suminagashi Marbling and Sunago Flakes workshop.

 Introduction to Eginu Silk Canvas (Porcelain Berry)

Workshop Overview
Introduction to Eginu Silk Canvas (Porcelain Berry) (120 min)

*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.

Date: Sunday, August 23, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM 
Fee: ¥8,800 (Tax and material fees included)
Recommended Age: 10 years and above

*Please select the free "Parent/Guardian" option if the participant will be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

*Animal glue (nikawa) will be used during the workshop. A plant-based alternative, gum arabic, is available upon request. Please let the instructor know if you prefer to change the glue.

Reservation: Introduction to Eginu Silk Canvas (Porcelain Berry) August 23. 2026

Click  here to find out more details about the Introduction to Eginu Silk Canvas (Porcelain Berry) workshop.

Eginu is a silk fabric made for painting purposes. It is thinner than silk used for garments and it has a unique shimmer and softness. It features a translucent texture and allows paints to adhere to the surface with vibrant color. Other than that, it has a characteristic of shrinking significantly when exposed to moisture, meaning that using it for artwork requires specialized techniques and careful preparation. 

In the workshop "Introduction to Eginu Silk Canvas (Porcelain Berry)," participants will paint on Eginu silk that the instructor has already pre-treated. If you would like to learn this preparation process and incorporate it into your own creative practice, we highly recommend taking the following workshop. 

Preparing Eginu Silk for Painting

Workshop Overview
Preparing Eginu Silk for Painting (170 min/Excluding break)

*Note:

This workshop will be conducted in Japanese and no English materials will be provided. If you are concerned about understanding the content, we kindly recommend applying for one of our workshops where English course materials are available. Thank you for your understanding.

Date: August 11 (Tue/ Public Holiday), 2026
Time: 11:10 AM – 4:00 PM
Workshop Schedule:
11:10 AM – 12:00 PM: Morning Session (Doors open at 11:00 AM)
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch Break (Please note that eating inside the store is not permitted)
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Afternoon Session
Fee: ¥9,900 (Tax and material fees included) 
Recommended Age: 10 years and above

*Please select the free "Parent/Guardian" option if the participant will be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

*This is a full-day workshop and there is a lunch break between morning and afternoon sessions. Please check nearby restaurants for your lunch (Area Map).

Reservation: Preparing Eginu Silk for Painting August 11. 2026　

Workshop Purpose

This workshop is designed to experience the whole process of preparing silk as a painting substrate through both lecture and hands-on practice. It offers a rare opportunity where you can have time to learn how to treat Eginu silk.

What You Will Learn 

・Stretching Eginu Silk onto a Wooden Frame 

Stretching the silk onto a wooden frame not only makes it easier to paint on, but it is also essential for painting techniques that utilize the translucency of silk. Mastering this preparation skill allows you to incorporate advanced traditional techniques into your artwork, such as Urazaishiki (coloring from the backside of silk) and Urahaku (applying metal leaf from the backside). Furthermore, keeping the silk nicely stretched on the frame allows you to create smooth gradients and blending effects.

・Applying Dosa Solution (Sizing for Bleed Prevention) 

Applying dosa sizing to the raw silk prevents paints from bleeding and enhances color adhesion. Coating the entire surface creates a smooth texture that is perfect for painting. This process also utilizes the silk's natural tendency to shrink when wet, ensuring the silk canvas becomes perfectly and evenly taut across the frame.

*A paper bag to carry the final wooden frame will be provided.

Workshop Schedule
11:10 –12:00 Morning Session (50 min)

・Stretching Silk Canvas

To prevent shrinkage and warping caused by moisture, the silk is stretched onto the wooden frame, secured with glue and fixed in place with pushpins. Participants will use an F4-size frame (333 x 242 mm), which is easy to handle.

12:00 – 14:00 Lunch  Break / Drying Time (120 min)

We will take a break while waiting for the glue on the framed silk to dry.

During this free time, you are welcome to shop for art supplies in our store, explore nearby art galleries and museums, or spend the time as you please.

Warehouse of Art TERRADA Website
*Please note that you are not allowed to eat inside the store. Please use nearby restaurants for lunch.  (Area Map）

14:00 – 16:00 Afternoon Session (120 min)

・Dosa Sizing（Anti-bleeding Coat）

Diluted animal glue is applied to the silk surface as a dosa solution. It adjusts the threads and tension of silk evenly while preventing bleeding during painting.

・Lecture

Our instructor will introduce everything from key tips for painting on silk to the best preservation methods for finished artworks with references. You will also have the opportunity to see samples that explain which art supplies work best on silk, along with unique techniques and practical tips. We hope this workshop inspires your artistic vision and helps you continue your creative process at home with your own prepared silk canvas.

[Related Articles]

For more information about Eginu silk, including its different types, the stretching process, and the benefits of Dosa sizing, please read our articles below. It will give you a clearer idea of what to expect during the workshop, so we highly recommend taking a look!

Special Workshop for TENNOZ ART WEEK 2026

Painting Flowers on Silk Canvas

In this workshop, you will create your artwork using naturally derived pigments and dyes cherished since ancient times, such as "gamboge" (a yellow made from tree resin) and "cochineal" (a red extracted from scale insects on cacti). We provide painting silk stretched over an F4-size wooden frame with a pre-drawn design. Through the traditional urasaishiki (back-painting) technique—layering pigments on both the front and back of the silk—you can create profound depth and delicate color gradients. Enjoy this special hands-on experience and connect with the artistic sensibilities of Edo-period painters.

＜Workshop Language＞

・9/11（金）　[Conducted in English] Painting Flowers on Silk Canvas 26/09/11

・9/12（土）　[Conducted in Japanese] Painting Flowers on Silk Canvas 26/09/12

・9/13（日）　[Conducted in Japanese] Painting Flowers on Silk Canvas 26/09/13

pigiment.live Workshop

At pigiment.live, we offer special events for children as well as regular group workshops throughout the year. If you are interested, please check the link below for further details and booking.

pigiment.live – Workshops

[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)