Woodblock prints and printing

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 3 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #4,480 in Arts , #104,564 overall

So, what is woodblock printing?

Dragonfly Woodblock in Aqua II



Woodblock, or woodcut, is a method of printing in which an image is carved into a block of wood, which is then inked, and the image is pressed onto a sheet of paper. The print is a mirror image of the woodblock, and the areas to show as white are cut out of the wood

It has its origins in China where it was first used to print on textiles, then Buddhist scriptures. Today it is mainly used as an art technique.

Dragonfly Woodblock in Aqua II Art Print - Zarris, Chariklia - Buy at AllPosters.com

Some basics about woodblock printing 

Woodblock printing
A brief history from Wikipedia.
What Is Moku Hanga?
Moku hanga is the Japanese term for woodblock print and has been practised there since the 8th century when it was introduced from China.
Ukiyo-e
Ukiyo-e is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints. This article from Wikipedia details the history and outlines the method.
Woodcut
The woodcut is the wooden printing surface used in woodblock printing.
Ukiyo-e Periods and Movements
Ukiyo-e art can be divided into five different art periods and movements: The Edo Period, the Meiji Period, the Shin Hanga movement, the Sosaku Hanga Movement and Moku Hanga.

Moku Hanga Printmaking 

Graham Scholes demonstrates a 17-colour print

See Grahams work at woodblockart.ca.
powered by Youtube

Learning about woodblock printing 

Woodblock Workshop
Graham Scholes offers a very informative hands-on Moku Hanga workshop they call Boot Camp. This is an informal,very motivational and important learning experience as attested by numberous students, from around the world, who have attended during the last 6 years. Graham has been studing with Noboru Sawai, a Japanese Canadian master printmaker who was taught by Toshi Yoshida in Japan.
The Technique of the Color Wood-cut
An online version of the book by by Walter J. Phillips, published August 1, 1926, by Brown-Robertson Co. Inc. (New York)
Guide to Print Workshops in Canada and the United States
An extensive list of open workshops: about 500 places, techniques and press sizes, paper and book arts, photo and computer facilities, galleries, classes, handicapped accessibility, more.
Ukiyo-e Techniques
This site is intended to help students, collectors and researchers better understand the Ukiyo-e technique. It focuses on techniques utilized in prints and is not meant to be a survey of Japanese prints or a history of Ukiyo-e. Photographs and video clips show demonstrations of the techniques.

Some books on woodblock art 

One Hundred Aspects of the Moon: Japanese Woodblock Prints by Yoshitoshi

Yoshitoshi (1839-92) was the last great woodblock print master of the Ukiyo-e tradition. He was interested in preserving traditional Japanese culture, and his prints celebrate Japan in its mythology, literature, history, the warrior culture, and fine woodblock print tradition. The series 'One Hundred Aspects of the Moon' is regarded as his greatest achievement.

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 11/28/2009) Buy Now

Japanese Woodblock Printing (PH)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 11/28/2009) Buy Now

David Rabinowitch: Carved Woodblock Monotypes 1962

In the early 60's Rabinowitch moved from painting to sculpture. In 1962 he created 100 woodblock monotypes at the time that his first sculptural works were being formulated. They provide a fascinating insight into the process that produced his early sculptures. Although they are not studies for them, they are directly expressive of sculptural issues.

Release Date: 01/02/2004

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $30.83 (as of 11/28/2009) Buy Now

The Woodcut Artist's Handbook: Techniques and Tools for Relief Printmaking

This profusely illustrated book is ideal for artists, printmakers, designers and collectors. It provides the basics of this craft with a detailed analysis of the tools and the media. Artists can improve or develop considerable skill in this art by following these instructions and helpful tips. Beginners and advanced woodcutters and collectors will gain a deeper understanding of and appreciation for this craft and this art.

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 11/28/2009) Buy Now

Ukiyo- e 

A Japanese artform

Ukiyo- e is the main artistic genre of woodblock printing in Japan. Prior to the 17th century, printing in Japan was restricted to making text and illustrations for books. Ukiyo- e originated with the single-color works of Hishikawa Moronobu in the 1670s and the art form rose to great popularity in the metropolitan culture of Edo (Tokyo). Traditionally, ukiyo-e was made with a collaborative system where the artist, carver, printer, and publisher engaged in division of labor. During the twentieth century revival of Ukiyo-e, some practitioners began taking responsibility for the whole process. This came to be called Sosaku hanga, which struggled at first to gain acceptance, but has come to be the dominant school of practice in post-war Japan.

FEN News Feature: Ukiyoe

FEN News Feature on Ukiyoe, Ancient Japanese Artform on Display at Kintai Kyou in Iwakuni, Japan c.1992

Runtime: 229
132 views
1 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

 

If you enjoyed reading this lens, then why not help others find it too!

Add this to your lens »

Bookmark and Share

Latest news about woodblock prints and printmaking 

Utagawa Kuniyoshi at the Royal Academy
The 19th-century prints of Utagawa Kuniyoshi are on display at the Royal Academy in London. According to the Telegraph's art critic, the prints expose the Japanese artist's creepy imaginative vision, and explain where Japan's taste for manga comics comes from. Includes a short video. (30 March 2009)
After Hiroshige: A Century of Modern Japanese Prints
"This exhibition at the Johnson Museum emphasizes the push during the Meiji period in Japan for modernization and industrialization, a move reflected in the shin hanga (new prints) and sosaku hanga (creative prints) that became popular during this time. With this new modernization, artists reflected a nostalgia for the past, as well as the growing influence of the West." (1 April 2009)
19th Century artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi's woodblock printed art work
Blogger Kim Dellow reviews the current exhibition of Utagawa Kuniyoshi's work at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. (April 4, 2009)
James D. Havens carved his legacy into woodblock prints that captured the world around him
Rochester printmaker James D. Havens (1900-1960) is considered part of the color woodblock revival of the early 20th century, generally viewed as an outgrowth of the arts and crafts movement. (April 5 2009)
Interview with UK printmaker Mark Mason
Mark talks about how he became fascinated with printmaking, his creative process and inspiration. (April 6, 2009)
Master of the Skies
Paul Binnie has created an intimate series of small, directly carved cloud studies. These clouds are explicit and bold renderings of the sky's landscape captured in evocative woodblock prints. (April 9, 2009)

Woodblock supplies on eBay 

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

Organizations 

The American Print Alliance
The American Print Alliance is a consortium of non-profit printmakers' councils in the United States and Canada. Lots of on-line resources. Some require subscription.
WorldPrintmakers.com
Serves two clear-cut collectives worldwide: working printmakers, and fine-art print lovers. The former deserve all the help they can get, and the latter, a select-but-devoted minority, need a dedicated printmaking center on the Web where they know they can always turn for reliable information, up-to-date news, interesting work for sale and sheer visual delight.
PrintMakers.info
A website where printmakers from around the worls can showcase their work and their websites.

Woodblock Supplies 

Aboveground Art Supples
Toronto based supplier whos Lino/Block Printing range includes Water Soluble Ink, Oil Based Ink,
Blades & Handles, Lino Blocks, Brayers and Accessories.
The Japanese Paper Place
supplies several thousand different kinds of Japanese paper.
McClains Printmaking Supplies
Dedicated to the Art and Artists of Relief Printmaking
Block printing supplies
from DickBlick.com

Woodblock dreams 

An artist exploring moku hanga, traditional Japanese woodblock printing

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Woodblock RoundTable 

The work of woodblock printmaker David Bull

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

by seafoam

I live in rural Nova Scotia, Canada where I make my living as a woodturner. If you need a spurtle, I'm your man.

I have an interest in how the intern... (more)

Explore related pages

Create a Lens!