In English, the Japanese word shikishi is sometimes translated as “colored paper.” At first glance, it seems to make sense: the kanji characters 色紙 literally mean “color” (色) and “paper” (紙). But in practice, this translation is both misleading and reductive.

Explore the tradition of tegata — sumo handprint autographs on shikishi boards — featuring Yokozuna Chiyonofuji Mitsugu.

Clotilde Clotilde Aksin-Frappier’s approach to oil pastels demonstrates the medium’s full potential as both a painterly and graphic tool.

Halna du Fretay recently started to work with Japanese shikishi, either as a direct painting surface or as a mounting board for Arches paper

The artist's pseudonym, "Suito," meaning "A city with beautiful rivers and lake," further enhances the artwork's contemplative ambiance.

This post provides valuable insights into the sizes, Japanese names, and uses of traditional shikishi boards.

A shikishi is a type of traditional Japanese mounting board or card that is often used for calligraphy and artwork.