Bush Warbler, by Takahashi Shotei

Biggest challenge - by far - is getting the upper wide gradation printed without too much goma zuri (sesame seed printing). There has to be plenty of moisture on the wood to produce a smooth gradation, but too much water causes the impression to become speckled. Fine for Hiroshi Yoshida type prints, but not what I want here ...

The slight 'mess' up at the top right corner is a result of the paper being fitted tightly into the registration marks at that point; because the colour areas are so 'close' there, it is inevitable that some ink smears into the border area.

Blocks: 7 cherrywood
Printing impressions: 11

• Key block
• Base tone on background
• Wood surfaces
• Green on bird and bamboo
• Grey overprinting
• Yellow
• Water gradation
• Blossoms
• Upper gradation on background
• Lower gradation on background
• Seal