Art-Bio.Com, More Intrest of Nhat Tran

More Items of Interest about Nhat Tran

Nhat's medium of choice is urushi. Urushi (the Japanese word for lacquer) is an organic fluid material made from the sap of several varieties of Asian trees belonging to the Anacardiacea family. The sap must be boiled, skimmed and filtered to remove impurities. It is stored in wooden barrels and graded according to a number of criteria. Once a support, a base for the urushi, is properly primed and cured, it is water-proof, insect-proof and mold-proof and will not bend, warp or crack under fluctuations in temperature or humidity. Urushi lacquered artifacts dating back 6,000 years have been found in Japanese tombs. The colors do not fade with the impact of light or time. Amazingly, as the years go by and the pieces age, their colors keep getting deeper and more luminous.

The Part Unknown to your Heart - 47 x 47 - Urushi Painting

Making an urushi painting is a long and demanding process. An urushi painting may take several months, depending on the technique of the artist, the number of urushi layers, and the atmospheric conditions. Every surface of a wooden or polystyrene support must be primed before urushi painting can begin. Ten layers of urushi, mixed with very fine clay, are applied to each surface with curing and sanding between each layer. Atmospheric conditions must be within certain limits for the urushi to cure properly. The work is put inside a muro, an urushi curing chamber, which is kept between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit and 75 to 85 percent relative humidity.

Curing Racks

Once the priming is complete, Nhat may begin the painting process. Dry pigment mixed with the highest quality urushi lacquer is applied in layers. Crushed eggshell, mother of pearl, plant fibers or metal leaf may also be applied. Each layer must be cured and sanded. Wet-sanding with a finely grained sandpaper allows Nhat to reveal patterns and designs. She must be careful not to sand too hard or too quickly, as she could remove more of a color than she intended. After Nhat has revealed the image she wants, she cleans the piece and applies a very fine layer of highest grade urushi with a piece of fine silk wrapped around a cotton ball. This finishing layer is applied in a circular motion and the silk is discarded as soon as it starts to darken. The work is again cured and sanded. Three coats of clear urushi are then applied for additional protection. Finally, Nhat polishes the entire surface of the work by rubbing it with a soft cloth or the bare palm of her hand until adequate depth of appearance and a wonderful sheen is obtained.

The Conductor - 12 x 12 - Urushi Painting

All artwork is protected by copyright of the artist.

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