Written on January 3, 1990 [Permalink]

January 1

Out early in the morning to deliver the New Year cards (the ones going to Hamura people), and then back to peruse the pile we received. I was a little disappointed that only three of the print customers had sent one, as I had quite enjoyed making and sending a 'thank you' card for them.

In the afternoon mail, a surprise from the Fureai people - a copy of their New Year's Day issue, with a front page colour feature on the project! It's a typical description of what is going on, plus a blurb about the little exhibition next week. I had known they were planning a mention of my work, but I certainly didn't expect this ...

There's one small problem - the dates they give for the show (9th to 13th) don't match the ones I got from them earlier (9th to 14th). As I have already mailed out notices to the other newspapers, I may be in for a few problems on the 14th!

January 2

Looking ahead to this month's print shipments, I noticed that there are no 'shippable' copies left for either Kiyohara no Motosuke [1-5] or Semi Maru [1-4], so ... 50 sheets of paper moistened and under cover. I'm also quite disturbed by the poor quality of the carving of Motosuke's face, and I suspect that some of the customers are also. The last two people who quit, did so immediately after receiving this print! I certainly don't want to try re-carving the entire sumi block now, but if I 'fix' just the face, it should make a big difference. Prepared a mini-hanshita, stuck it down on an unused corner of the sumi block, and started re-carving the face.

Finished the Sarumaru Dayu [1-9] key block - the final hairs, borders, and general clearing. He looks great, and I think that this is definitely the most professionally carved block yet. All the edges are very sharp and smooth. The last few times I went to the stone to touch up the carving blade, I noticed that it was loose in the handle, and discovered that I had used up almost the entire length of the blade. When did I change it last, two prints ago?

January 3

Printed the sumi on the 50 sheets of Motosuke. No problems. Michiyo's new nori is working very well. When Seki-san was here a week or so ago, he showed her how to 'cook' it up properly, and it is really making a difference. It's much less sticky, and doesn't cause so much 'tamari'.

Finished the new face for Motosuke, and started in on the colour blocks for Sarumaru Dayu. When I took the first impressions off the sumi block to do the transfer to the colour blocks, I could see how all those whiskers and hair turned out, and am very pleased with the results. This will definitely be the best one yet!