No. 01 — 水張り Mizubari

Before pigment, before the first line, the paper has to be prepared.

For this first study, I begin with 水張り mizubari — wetting the paper, mounting it onto a wooden panel and leaving it to dry under tension.

It is a simple process, but one that sets the foundation for everything that follows. As the water slowly leaves the paper, the surface tightens and settles, ready for drawing and, eventually, pigment.

For now, there is only paper, water, wood, and time.