Bonsai, by Mishima Shoso

This is another 'reverse engineered' print - without access to the original blocks, it is completely impossible to discern the exact way that the separations of the various leaf colours were made. I traced the outlines of the design with no problem, then created what I thought made a reasonable breakdown of the various shades and tones.

When comparing my finished print with the original, I see that yet again, I have been a bit too 'careful' - my colour divisions run pretty much along the lines of the drawing, but the original is quite a bit more 'messy' and random. It's not really a question of right or wrong, as they both look OK, but this is another example for me of why I have found the right job for my character ... reproducing existing designs instead of trying to 'draw' with my knives ...

Blocks: 8 cherrywood
Printing impressions: 9

• Pale background tint
• Key block
• Dirty yellow base tone on leaves
• Vermillion overtone on upper section
• Reddish highlights on some leaves
• 'spotty' vermillion tapped over leaves
• Grey for trunk, soil, and leaf shadows
• Green moss ...
• Blue tray gradation ...