Scribbled Lives Week 36—Etegami Postcards

Etegami comes from the Japanese word 絵 (e), which means “picture,” and 手紙 (tegami), which means “letter.” Etegami are commonly created as postcards featuring simple painted drawings and hand lettered sentiments.

The art form was conceived in the 1960s when budding calligrapher Kunio Koike became frustrated with the rigid traditions of his field. He felt that the endless imitation of the masters was an exercise that diminished his artistic expression. He envisioned an art form that could be spontaneous, honest, and personal without being self-obsessed.

Koike began combining simple images with brief but thoughtfully chosen texts using traditional Japanese tools and materials. He sent his postcards to a friend and called this idea “New Year’s cards in their everyday clothes”. He developed the catchphrase: Heta de ii, which can be translated “It’s okay to be awkward. Awkwardness has charm.” This motto gave confidence to people who wanted to make art but felt they lacked the talent to do so.

Permission to be awkward and clumsy—how liberating! After researching the philosophy and brush technique, I dug out my never-used Chinese brush. As recommended, I held it loosely between two fingers farthest from the brush end when drawing and painting. Wow, what a revelation! I do not consider myself an illustrator, but found the process produced more pleasing results than anticipated!

Etegami has few rules—traditional tools and materials are used, including brushes; sumi ink; blocks of water-soluble, mineral-based pigments called gansai; and washi postcards that have varying degrees of ‘bleed’. Drawings often depict the ordinary, especially things that bring a particular season to mind. Etegami are meant to be shared, rather than kept or mounted in frames.

So what to draw? During the summer, my husband and I were entertained by a grey squirrel who regularly relaxed on our lawn under the shade of the linden tree. In the heat of the afternoon, he would spread out on all fours and nap on his tummy. The first time he was spotted, we were worried he needed CPR! As autumn approaches, we don’t see him much, but hopefully he’ll return to dig up his summer stash!

There are several things I might have corrected—like making the whiskers finer and straightening the chop placement—but that’s the wabi sabi philosophy of etagami!

The Scribbled Lives prompt required that we add a pun, so here’s some more corn…

Watercolour and Pigma micron on Fabriano 90# HP.