Yuriko Kitamura's Mixed-Media Paintings

I grew up with rice paper and love the feel of it.

- from Edmonton Journal interview with Gilbert Bouchard, 5 Sept. 2003

Yuriko's mixed-media painting is a "wet on wet" technique, using dyes or other pigments. The media are typically painted on rice paper, which has a non-uniform texture that causes pigments to bleed and concentrate in interesting ways, giving texture to the image itself. To make hard edges, though, she applies wax, which blocks the flow of the fluid carrying the pigments (i.e. a wax-resist technique). Then, when the painting is complete, she applies wax to the entire work to protect it from damage from moisture.

Despite the physical and visual demands, nothing can replace the sense of wholeness nature provides; the smell, sound and tranquility.