How to Paint White Lacquer

Lacquer painting has a long historical tradition in parts of Asia. Through layering, lacquer is applied to the painting board. This process produces many unique effects when the finished painting is buffed to reveal or penetrate to different levels of the lacquer. Undisturbed, the many layers of lacquer create a depth of field that transforms a painting into a luminous and somewhat mysterious piece of art.

Things You'll Need

• Artist board (masonite)
• Fine grit sanding block
• Tack cloth
• White chalk (optional)
• Powdered duck egg shell
• Fine sieve
• Lacquer sap (clear)
• Brush
• High humidity closet/bath ("urushi-buro")
• Clear lacquer
• White lacquer (optional)
• Powdered clay (very fine)
• Thin cotton strips
• Water
• Silver leaf
• Squirrel hair brush
• Burnishing tool

Instructions

1. Build a finished size artist board using masonite. Lightly sand the board until it is very smooth. Wipe sawdust away with a tack cloth. Draw any design on the board with white chalk.

2. Apply lacquer sap to the board with a paint brush. (Lacquer sap is a natural excretion of the lacquer tree.) Using a sieve, spread powdered, crushed duck egg shells over the board surface in areas where white lacquer is desired. Press the shells into the sap.

3. Place the board in a high humidity closet, sometimes called a lacquer bath, to dry for 18 to 24 hours. Lacquer dries through a humidity/oxygen transfer process (oxidation of urushiol). Dry each layer thoroughly.

4. Apply clear lacquer over the shell layer. (Refined lacquer is not completely clear but has a brown undertone so traditional white lacquer finishes will not be a bright white.) Dry in a lacquer bath as noted above.

5. Mix clay and water so that the clay is runny thin. Dip thin cotton strips in the clay and apply the clay to both sides of the board (this will prevent the board from warping to one side). Allow the clay to dry completely and rub the surfaces of the board lightly. This is a traditional between layer burnishing process. Clear away all residue with a tack cloth.

6. Apply silver leaf to the lacquer to add a luminous reflective quality and added depth. Play with different application techniques (such as floating on with a squirrel hair brush) to allow the white to dominate in the finished piece. Apply clear lacquer over the leaf. Dry and burnish with a clay layer between each application of lacquer. Continue adding lacquer until the appearance has the depth and color desired. There are non-traditional white pigments which can be added to lacquer to brighten the white color, if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash the lacquered board and carefully burnish. It is possible to burnish through different layers of lacquer through rubbing which is why real lacquer painting can create such beautiful effects.

References

• Down To Earth
• Laluna Gallery