Art Supply Insiders Podcast

ASI 39 "Japanese Art Supplies" interview with Beth Wild, Managing Director of Aitoh

August 02, 2022 Jeff Morrow
Art Supply Insiders Podcast
ASI 39 "Japanese Art Supplies" interview with Beth Wild, Managing Director of Aitoh
Art Supply Insiders Podcast +
Become a supporter of the show and help us continue making great content!
Starting at $3/month
Support
Show Notes Transcript

In this interview, Beth Wild, Managing Director of Aitoh, does a deep dive into all of the Japanese Art Supplies they carry. Everything from Simi Inks, Gansai Watercolors, Shikishi Boards, Brush Pens to Lokta Paper (a completely renewable resource). Don't let any of this intimidate you. There is information here that artists and crafters of all abilities should learn about. To learn more about all of these great products from Aitoh click here.

Art Supply Insiders
Click here to subscribe & follow (and be notified of every new podcast): Subscribe & Follow
Please leave a comment (we love feedback!): Comments



Support the show

Jeff00:05

Welcome back to Art Supply Insiders. My name is Jeff Morrow, and today we're talking with one of our guests that we've had on a number of times, and we are extremely pleased to have her back. That's Beth wild, who is the managing director of Aitoh Beth, how are you doing?

Beth00:22

I'm hot. it's the summer. It's Arkansas.

It's hot.

Jeff00:27

you know what? It, it's hot where we are and that's why I just stay indoors all the time. I just don't want to go outside.

Beth00:34

Yeah. I don't have that option. Really. We

Jeff00:36

talked a couple of times about papers and so forth. Let, let's talk a little bit about what are the other things that Aitoh carries in their line?

Beth00:45

Well, we made the decision to expand into Japanese art. And we did that in a couple of ways. One is that we felt that there was a dwindling amount of supplies for Sumi. So Sumi painting is still very popular. The, in is popular with manga artists just regular Penn and ink artists brush artists that are doing black and white work, as well as Sumi and calligraphy people.

So we reinstated just some basic Sumi in. So we have the regular black Sumi, ink is so beautiful. It is great alternative to India, Inc. It's it has a lot of different, it has the ability on the higher end, certainly, but even in the lower ones to bring you bring out these beautiful, beautiful tents.

So as you thin it, you get a, a nice range of grays. So we did that. We work with wonderful manufacturer in Japan, they're in Nora and they ha they make some of the most superb inks for master calligraphers all over Japan. So they're like a number one resource for that. So in conversations with them, we brought in some basic stuff.

The other thing is, is that, you know, people buy these really pretty ink stone. Sticks and stones and they don't have the other things that go with it. So we brought in the accessories, so a water dropper a brush breast paper weight, because if you're using the rolled washy, you know, you gotta hold it down with something.

We brought in stones and sticks, but I got a real education from them. Because when I went to go and look at their catalog, they had 35 pages of sticks and they range everything from really, really basic to the most exquisite 24 care gold ink sticks. What? Yeah. Unbelievable. Do you carry that? No, but I can get it.

I can get. And so that was, so I really learned about ink sticks. And so we brought in a basic one for price point, and then I said, okay. And I talked to them and I said, what I want is a step up because what I quickly discovered, because not only do they have 35 pages of ink sticks, they've got 17 pages of liquid to me.

And so in discussing it with them, what I discovered was. That Sumy ink that we are all really, really familiar with is like pan cheap watercolors in Japan. It's the lowest common denominator. And I was like, okay, let's raise the bar. And so in talking to some retailers, they said that there were people out there that were looking for thicker, wider range of tints, all different kinds of things.

So that's what we've started to do. So now we have two additional sticks out of 35 pages and that's gonna expand. One is just got a nicer range of grays. But it's still a calligraphy. It, it, it, the tint is really, really beautiful. It's a beautiful blue. Tint. It's a, it's a cool tint. And then we have another one that has a really wider range of tints.

So it's a painting stick. So they, the Japanese really differentiate sticks for calligraphy and sticks for Sumi painting.

Jeff04:29

When you say stick, are you talking about like a stick you'd find outside that just dropped from a tree or a brush? What is that?

Beth04:37

No, no, no, no, no. So in a, in, in Western watercolor, We're used to two paints and pans.

Imagine a pan, but in a three and a half to four inch by one inch chunk brick. Okay. Whatever. And that's, that's what a stick is.

Jeff04:59

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, okay. Now I understand.

Beth05:03

So the methodology is it's compressed full strength. You take your stone, your Zu stone, which is a special stone that has a very soft abrasive in it.

And you rub the stick on the stone and add your water drop by drop, depending on what tint, what tone you, you, what gray scale you want, how light or dark you watch your gray. And that is the very traditional way of doing. It's a very Zen thing, you know, for lack of a better word, it's very, you know, meditative and a lot of people do, but you best ink is in a, is in the stick form because the ink doesn't want to stay in solution in the liquids.

So if you're progressing up higher, you wanna get away from the liquids and stay with the. So we do, we do have three sticks, but we also expanded out. We now have actually four advanced liquid inks. One is a big step up and it's gorgeous. It has a wider range of grays. It's much denser. Oh my gosh. You just put that thing down and it's powerful.

You know, it's just deep, deep, deep, deep block. I mean, it makes indie ink look like water. And, and it tints out. Okay. And then we bought two, one is a warm tint and one is a cool tint. So that as you tint it out, you go on the warmer side or than the cooler side. And then we brought in one that is actually quote thicker.

And that is for calligraphers specifically Japanese polygraphers really want that thicker ink. So it makes a longer denser. So we've been doing that. So there's like a whole book that could be written about Sumi and just the supplies for that. And it's really interesting. And so we're starting to introduce this into the market to get people to understand.

The other thing is, is that we saw the demise of Shikishi boards now, Shikishi boards. Our Japanese version of a watercolor board, for lack of a better word.

Jeff07:20

How, how do you spell, how

Beth07:21

do you spell that? Shikishi S H I K I S H I, Japanese is so easy. It's it's spelled exactly how it sounds. So Shikishi boards are basically a board with either with a paper surface on it.

Now we have five different surfaces. And then it has a beautiful gold border on it. So, you know, I've always liked Shikishi boards are really cool, you know, and we have a ho show, which is a plane. Gaan has a slight laid pattern to it. Toco is yellow with this beautiful Mica flake in it. And then we have a gold and then we have a silver paper.

All of these can be used for. Any wet media, for lack of a better word,

Jeff08:05

our audience, they could use watercolors on that they could use. They, they could use gush. They could use all of the same kind of things. As long as it's water soluble,

Beth08:15

right? You don't wanna put acrylic or oil, I guess you could put oil on it, but, you know, whatever.

But I had a couple of customers that were just ordering Shikishi boards and they're not Japanese stores. They were ordering Shishi boards. Significantly higher numbers than everybody else. So I got on the phone with them and I said, who are you selling this to? What are they using it for? Because I wanted to learn, I know what they use it for in Japan.

And they came back and they said some interesting things. They said that they have a lot of people that are doing Penn and ink work right on it. Traditional Western Penn and ink. Obviously the Japanese calligraphy Sumi painting those kinds of things. But also manga artists and anybody doing InCorp and watercolors and calligraphers.

And I said, how interesting. And one of the people, one of the staff members that I was talking to said, it's cheaper than watercolor paper, watercolor board. And I went. Of course. Oh, and it is, you can get a five, I think it's four by six somewheres around that for under a dollar you can't and it's already precut, so it's cut.

It's gold. You know, the edges are gold, so it's perfect. Perfect for framing. And it is fabulous. Now my Sumi artists tell me that they, they always start with the Gansai. because the Gansai board has that lot, that laid pattern on it and acts as a resist. So your colors don't spread as much, but I've been sharing that information and more and more people are being introduced to Shikishi boards.

They are, you know, what are color paper expensive right now? And the boards are really expensive and they're available in like one size. And if you wanna go to 300, well, this is thicker than 300. So, you know, again, You know, it's, it's, you know, it's, it's just the synergy that's going on. And so if you're doing ink work, if you're doing black and white drawing markers, you know, and you don't have to use watercolor markers, but be careful if you're doing the zine to make sure that you know, or any of the alcohol markers to see how it works, just get one and try it.

But it's a fab. Really truly wonderful. And then all you have to do is just shove it into, you know, whatever frame you want to cheap frame that you want to in Plex, flame frame or whatever you want. And you're done, you're, you're done it's on a board, you know, cover it to make sure it doesn't get damaged, but it's, it's done.

Or you can get our Shikishi frames, which is a Japanese frame that's made to hold the Shikishi board. We don't have all of them, but we have a lot of 'em.

Jeff11:09

Can our audience go to your website and see all of this

Beth11:14

stuff? You know what our website's up? Yay. So yes, you can. And it's under sum.

Jeff11:21

And, and so the website is, is spell it out for our audience.

Beth11:26

A I. There are some missing items. There are some things I've gotta fix. It's a work in progress, but it's coming, it's coming, coming, coming along. So, and we'll be adding you guys to it in our communities so that people, well, thank you. Go and out. So we are working on it. I've just had a bit of an over full plate moving.

You know, we did move to Arkansas since the last time I talked to. Wow. Yeah, we're beautiful. Hot Springs. It's a national. Yeah, we have 4.2 acres. Big, huge, massive building. Yeah, it's it's gorgeous. I mean, my drive to work. Unbelievable. You're driving through at national park to get to work. How cool is that?

We

Jeff12:11

talked about Sumi inks and then ink sticks and Shikishi boards, which is a new word for me. What else do you guys, what else do you guys have?

Beth12:23

And also we have some Gansai watercolors now. Gansai watercolors are Japanese, traditional watercolors. They're a little bit more opaque. They're just a little bit different.

The, the, their spread is different when you get them wet and things like that. The first one we introduced was shadow watercolor and I absolutely, I just went Gaga over it. So a lot of people have seen the graphite that is green when in the tent or blue or whatever. And that certainly is just to start our shadow watercolor sets come in six, come with six colors.

So yellow. Purple green, blue. Red and brown and they're gorgeous. They're really gorgeous. So as you work with them, when they come out like that, it's more of a natural color. It's not a bright, bright, like synthetic organic color. It's more of a natural color, but in the full strength, it looks black. And so when you use it, it's deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, almost black, but then you bring out that tint and it's gorgeous.

And then the other thing. I noticed was that they had some again side metallic watercolor. So I've seen Gansai metallic sets and generally comes with a black, a white, a red and a golden, a silver, and they call it, oh, that's the metallic set. Or they have a set of Pearl, you know, these are so much better.

So we have six of them. We have a standard metallic set gold, silver, Pearl. Red blue something else I can't remember. And then we have one, that's like the secondary group of colors. So there's a really gorgeous red, pink, you know a different color gold, a copper. So there's two metallic sets and then there's a set that uses interference pigment.

So you, we are all more familiar with interference. In that it's pretty transparent, but when you put it on color, it shines back a different color. So if it's a blue interference, it'll make a regular blue paint with blue metallic, but you can put it in red and get a red with a blue shine back. So we also have that and that's really cool.

And then I'm introducing another one. It should be to me probably within about six weeks and it's the may colors and those are brighter. It's a different palette than the shadow watercolors. So we are introducing those people are really enjoying the heck out of them. I really love 'em. Are these

Jeff14:55

watercolors, are they in pans?

Are they just, they're all in

Beth14:59

pans. They're in traditional pans and I have to tell people use it sparingly because there's not a lot of binder. So if you use it really thick, which you can't, it'll SL the pigment will actually slough off. So if you wanna use it thick, add more gum arabic, honey, whatever you wanna add to it, really get that on there.

But E in those thin, and, and the, the inter the interference ones, the Pearl, what they call Pearl colors are. You know, on a darker color, they're just, they're just fab in a watercolor.

Jeff15:36

Now you said something about shadow watercolor. What is a shadow watercolor

Beth15:42

shadow watercolor is that, is that Gansai paint that is deep, deep, deep bar dark, you know, in the pan, it looks like a, it looks like a set of six pans of black, but when you take it out, you get those six colors, red, blue, green, brown, yellow, purple.

So it's, it's really cool. It's really cool. And a huge favorite from manga artists and anime people. Yeah. So one other group of products. So I never thought I would get into the marker business. You know, I always feel like it's overwhelmed with options and I got sent some really fabulous brush pens. Now, these brush pens are a long length out and they use a very deep, deep, deep black.

We actually have them in four, five colors. But it's that nib on it? I mean, it's not that normal round brush. This is a long, like a brush Summy. Brush length out and it is so incredible. So for brush calligraphy, for calligraphers, for anime artists, for people that are doing black and white ink work, they are wonderful.

They're refillable. If you want, you can put any ink you want in, and actually I've got the water brush to go with it. But I've got them because of this exquisite long length out. So are they come in a black, a white, a Navy and as sepia. Standard anime. And then champagne gold, which is, you know, kind of glitzy and things like that.

But then for NAMTA, we reintroduced them because they came out with a super white, so it's a real opaque white, how they're making that happen. I don't know a super black, so it's even denser block. And three longer lengths out. One of these is 12 millimeters length out. Yeah. So I think it's an eight to 10 to 12.

Wow. It's unbelievable. So for people that are really into brush calligraphy, it is exquisite. Cuz you just would take a lot to run out of the ink and again, they're refill. So we introduced those, but they also had something that I thought was really cool. They sent me the sample of sample of manga markers.

Manga markers are opaque, metallic markers, but they have a black that's really cool, but what they have is white and it's the white that's sold me. This white is the most opaque white marker I've ever seen. It is really opaque. Works on, just on anything, paper, board, plastic, would you name it? But it's the tip as well?

The tip is really hard. So I use white markers fairly regularly. And one of the thing and metallic markers, one of the things that always bother me is that I'd use it for a little bit and then I'd cap it. And this is especially true with the white you cap it. And then you go back to use it two weeks, three months later, whatever.

And the nib is all dried out. And the pen's unusable. I used these and I specifically used it, got it out, used it used, it used, it used, it, used it for a day, kept it, set it on a side, threw it in a drawer, set. A timer, went back two weeks later, started just like that. And I went, wow. Capped it again, set it aside for three months, untapped it ready to go.

I have used all the way through until there was no more ink. Every one of those colors and the nib is still sharp. It's a very sharp nib. You can lay it on side for a lot, for a larger, you know, for a bigger mark, but there are nine colors. So there's black, white, gold, silver, and. and then there's a metallic blue, a metallic green metallic red, and a metallic purple.

And they are wonderful. And they're now introducing them in calligraphy markers. So the. Black white gold, silver set is available as a calligraphy set, and then the colors are available as well. So for calligraphers, if they want that metallic and the metallics really beautiful, I wish I could show it to everybody.

But I think if you go to our website, you can see some pictures of it, but it's beautiful. And the nibs are the calligraphy. nib is not to say nib as the regular marker, but they give you an extra nib so if you kind of mush it out, you've got an extra nib. With your bed, which is really cool. Now the calligraphy markers are only available in the set.

Jeff20:38

Boy, you guys have so much more than just paper so much

Beth20:43

more than just origami yeah, no kidding. You came by our booth at NATA and you saw it. It was a 20 foot booth and it was Chuck a block. And we, we had a great NAMTA and it was so good to see everybody and introduce them to everyth. You know, we've got a couple of other things, our bamboo paper tool, I think I've mentioned before the paper drill, those are coming from China.

I, you know, I'm constantly on the lookout. As a matter of fact, we just got Facebook. So if you look for Aitoh there's a Facebook page for Aitoh and we'll be posting more and more to that. But I'm constantly looking at origami and, and, and paper. But I also keep running across really cool things you know, hot Springs.

I know we're running out of time and we may have to do one more so we can cover Nepal. So hot Springs, a sister city to a city in Japan called HANA. And it's unlike most sister city programs. It's a very vibrant sister city program and they do a lot together. So we have a new sake brewery opening up here in hot Springs.

And the head brewer actually went to Japan for two years and trained with them with, because there's a big brewing sake brewing Guild in Haak. And so he went there, so I'm divesting. But anyways, I found out that Hanamaki has a paper making tradition, and I didn't know that. So we are working through the Japanese embassy you know, All of that kind of stuff so that I can get samples of the paper made in Hanamaki to be able to bring to America and, and do that.

So I heard that, and then they also have a glass making tradition as well. So I'm interested in looking at that, but I thought that would be really cool and different, you know, to do something with our sister. They're really excited about us coming. So we're gonna have a big grand opening. It's being sponsored by the chamber of commerce, where, you know, government officials and all of, and the Japanese consulate, all those guys are gonna be here to, to do a grand opening.

Jeff22:57

But there was also something that I, I know we talked about and maybe you mentioned it already Lokta papers. What is, what is that?

Beth23:06

So Lokta. So along with the Japanese items that we have, I'm a paper junkie. I really, really love paper. One of my favorite papers is Lokta paper. Lokta is the name of the paper that is the traditional paper that's made in Nepal.

So it's made from a Bush, not a treat in October. The guys climb up to the highest parts that they can get to and they harvest these bushes and they bring them. From the mountain down to cat Mandu. Our, our particular factory is outside of Kathmandu. And so it's renewable resource, which is really cool.

It's not a tree, the Bush that grows naturally and you cut it down and it grows again. So that's kind of really great. And they have been making paper that way for more than four. It's see. I can't never remember. It's either 1600 years, which I don't think so, but I, for more than 400 years and it is a fabulous paper and I think most retailers have done Lokta papers for my competitors or Laly or whatever you wanna call it.

And it's, it's a very sturdy paper. It has beautiful, colorants coloring to it in the natural state. And it takes a dye. So the fact, the mill that we work with uses natural dyes and has like 300 colors or something like that. I think I only have like 80 or 90. You can see pictures of them all, and then they do textured lock tos which are really cool.

And then they also screen print on them. And we introduced 15, 16 new screen pen and papers. One of 'em have, has octopi more than one octopus. But we got, we got just rave reviews on the new papers at NAMTA and they should be arriving at the port of New York at the end of the week. So we're hoping to have them maybe two weeks after that.

Get them through customs, off the boat, through customs, on a train to a truck and, and back. But they're, they're wonderful. And what I love about Lokta papers, they're very, very strong. They're very inexpensive. Our start at three. Well, the dye sheets are 3 75 and we do have some that go up to 5 75. So if you're just getting into paper, And you want something that you won't be so precious with?

I would recommend they love acrylic. They love acrylic. So it's a great collage paper. You wanna cover a box? No matter what you wanna do with it, it cuts it folds. I mean, we did our paper notebook kit out of lock top paper. So how about that?

Jeff25:57

Well, we're beginning to run outta time here. I know know it's, it's, it's amazing the type of product that you have that I would believe that most of our audience isn't even aware that it's available

Beth26:13

out there.

You know? I mean, the cool thing is if you're a retailer and you're listening to us, Our minimum orders are quite low, so you can get a wide range of papers for the consumer. That's a benefit because the consumer can then go to their local store. And if your local store doesn't have it point to our website and say, you need to talk to them because they got some cool stuff and tell 'em

Jeff26:34

your website.

Again,

Beth26:36

it's Aitoh.Com

Jeff26:42

Well, Beth, as always this has been a very eyeopening conversation and Aitoh is an amazing company that brings you amazing products. So please go out there, check it. Experiment. If you don't see any of these products at your retailer or brick and mortar that you go to find out who the general manager or owner is and ask them to bring it in.

So, Beth, again, thank you very, very much for all of

Beth27:14

your time. Oh my pleasure. My pleasure. And if anybody's got any questions, be sure. Jeff, Jeff knows how to reach me. Or you can just email me@foldito.com, origami ito.com and, and we can chat. But we're real

Jeff27:30

excited. And I can tell you this for a fact, if you want to talk to somebody with extensive knowledge, you just go ahead and take Beth up on her offer because she will get back to you and she will give you information.

You can't find any place else. So again, Beth, thank you very much. You've been listening to the art supply insiders. Check back with us often as we talk about the world of art and craft Supplie. If you'd like to hear more of these podcasts, please hit the subscribe button and we'd really appreciate it. If you'd tell a friend, if you'd like to show your support, please do consider joining our Patreon campaign at patreon.com/supply insiders.

Now go out and create something.