Living inspiration: dialogue with nature


Japanese Painting essentially portrays the artist’s own spirit, through sincere observation and dialog with nature. Therefore this course emphasizes self-reflection, and thinking about one’s own life, as a vital part of learning.

Our thorough curriculum covers a variety of techniques, enabling students to develop deeper expression through the basic spirit of Japanese painting. Students learn to express their own sensibilities with unique yet universal methods of this style, a part of the aesthetic tradition that has been developing in Kyoto for over 1,000 years.

Department profile (May 2009):

Total undergraduate students: 174
(M: 16; F: 158

Overseas undergrad students: 2

Faculty:

Curriculum:
1st year: Learning about materials and tools; painting miniatures, and sketching; experiencing the joy of dialog with nature.
Drawing 1 & 2; painting expression 1 (using Mino paper, preparing glue, etc) ; painting expression 2 (sketching plants and trees); basic painting 1 (space expression on a theme of plants); basic painting 2 (using hemp paper and natural ochre colors); handicrafts: (round lacquer plate); basic design (essence of Japanese painting); basic 3D sculpture (plaster figure)

2nd year: Based on first year, developing from sketch to small preparatory drawings, small draft drawings, then actual works. Practicing actual paintings, expressing own ideas on various themes.
Basic Japanese painting 1 (production on theme of flowers and trees); basic Japanese painting 2 (production on theme of birds); basic Japanese painting 2 (production on theme of birds); basic Japanese painting 3 (production on theme of animals); basic Japanese painting 4 (free production on previous themes); producing facsimile works 1; study of Japanese painting materials

3rd year: Discovering the freedom of Japanese painting, mastering an expanding range of techniques, gaining greater awareness of the mental approach to painting
Japanese painting 1 (production on abstract theme); Japanese painting 2 (production on theme of people); Japanese painting 3 (sketching people); Japanese painting 4 (production on theme of scenery); Japanese painting 6 (free production on theme of birds & flowers, people, or scenery); Japanese painting 6 (sketching people); techniques for figurative arts 1 & 2; ); producing facsimile works 2

4th year: Review of graduation work from diversified points of view, considering possibilities of theme and technique, producing corpus of work reflecting four years of study.
Japanese painting 7 (production on theme of scenery); free production; practice of Japanese painting 1 & 2 (appreciation of artworks in art museums, shrines and temples); production of graduation works