Printmaking - Japanese Woodblock

This course will introduce the beginner to the beautiful and sensitive tradition of Japanese printmaking. You will learn and practise the skills of cutting and printing to create your own distinctive images. In this wonderfully tactile process, the printing is done by hand using a bamboo pad called baren. This, together with the use of water-based colours, makes Japanese printmaking a thrillingly simple alternative to Western methods. It is also eco-friendly, involving no harsh chemicals.

Topics covered

At the onset of the course, each student will be given a set of tools and a woodblock so they may continue to cut the block at home.

During the course you will learn key technical skills such as:

• mixing pigments with rice paste (nori)
• moistening the paper
• making the unique registration marks (kento) for multicolour designs
• image composition
• tool sharpening
• developing an appreciation of the qualities of different Japanese papers (washi)
• understanding historical contexts underpinning Japanese printmaking practice
  

Who should take this course?

The course will benefit professional artists and art students interested in learning a unique printmaking technique. It will be especially attractive to those who paint and wish to print.

Entry requirements

A love of fine craft and patience are the requirements of this course.
There is no need to have any previous experience of printmaking, but you will need to provide your own images from which to make prints. The image size should be 11cm x 17cm. When planning your image, try to keep areas of detail to a minimum.

Level: Beginners

Please note: This course is for students aged 18 and older