Last Updated on July 9, 2026

Deepening your knowledge of art materials and tools can expand your perspective and inspire your creative practice.  This summer 2026, pigment.mom 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. Also, 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: pigment.mom

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

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

Age: 5 years and above (Open to all generations)

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

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

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

Find out more details about the Brush Making workshop here.

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) 
Age: 5 years and above (Adults attending alone are also welcome)

*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

Find out more details about the Crayon Making workshop here.

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 (JST)
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

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

 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 (JST)
Fee: ¥8,800 (Tax and material fees included)
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

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

Eginu Silk is a silk fabric made for painting purposes. It is thinner than silk used for garments, yet it has a unique shimmer and softness. It features a translucent texture, and paints appear with vibrant color on the surface. On the other hand, 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 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: Tuesday, August 11, 2026 (Public holiday)
Time: 11:10 AM – 4:00 PM
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) 

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 take enough time and focus on 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, it is essential for painting techniques unique to 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 suspended on the frame allows 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 a wooden frame will be provided.

Workshop Time-line
11:10 –12:00 Morning Session (50 min)

・Streaching 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.

Tennozu Art Portal Site
*Please note that eating inside the store is not permitted. 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 on 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 reference materials. You will also have the opportunity to see samples that explains 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 prepared silk canvas.

[Related article]
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!

pigment.mom Workshop

At pigment.mom, 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.

pigment.mom – 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)