'Shibaraku', by Utagawa Kunimasa

The toughest part of this one - by far - was to get the mass of the hair dark enough, without smashing up the other parts of the same block. It helps to do the impression twice, with a bit lighter pigment; doing it this way means less vigorous pressure is necessary, but the registration - getting the paper into the exact same spot - becomes difficult.

If I had a young apprentice just starting here (this will never happen, this is just 'for example') I would start him out with printing black. He would learn how to print a basic black outline, how to print varying wash tones of black/grey, and how to print these rich dark blacks. Then, after a couple of years at this kind of practice, I would let him move on to colour work. He wouldn't need any more training actually, because that first couple of years working with black would teach him all he needs to know ...

Wonderful training ... maybe I should put my tools away, then bring them out fresh and try it myself! :-)

Blocks: 8 cherrywood
Printing impressions: 10

• Key block (faint grey)
• Background pale green
• Teal blue
• Yellow
• Light brown
• Dark rust brown (2x)
• Vermillion makeup
• Dark black (2x)