Pigments

Pigments

Vermilion​

Gates to shrines

Painted with a traditional Japanese gansai watercolor pan in Shu vermilion. This color is traditionally used for torii gates, symbolising the transition from the mundane to the spiritual realm. Here, I also used a hake brush for the first time.

Traditional Japanese torii gate painted in Shu vermilion.
Painting at a Japanese shrine
Calligraphy
Detail of the Vermilion watercolor.
Painting a Japanese torii gate on location with Shu vermilion.
Japanese gansai
Travel sketchbook stamp from Japan.
Travel sketchbook stamp from Japan.
Hake brushes
Hake brush
Buying a gansai pan at art supplies store in Tokyo
Torii gate and shrine
Prayers in form of Torii gates.
Shrine
Torii gate and shrine at sunset
  • Nezu Shrine, Tokyo, Japan
  • 35°43'10.5"N 139°45'38.5"E
  • Thursday, 15 January 2026

Pigment recipe

Shu - Synthetic organic red (likely PR254 or similar)

Kissho Gansai 155

Prussian Blue
Beni

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