Posted on March 24, 2012 [Permalink]

Continued from [Arts of Japan #1 - 7] : embossment blocks part 2 | Starting point of the thread was [Arts of Japan #1 - 1] : making the first print ...

Seems like the block count for this print will probably be ten 'faces' (not including the 'series' blocks for outline and embossing).

We saw the key block the other day, but it looks a lot more 'real' now:

And here are the colour blocks - some done, some ready to carve, and one not yet pasted down:

 

The thread continues in [Arts of Japan #1 - 9] : one colour block in detail ...

Added by: Lorenzo on March 25, 2012

Wow, This is truly amazing. I know its your "regular" process but the detail of the cuts, the care in the wood removal and the neatness and intent of the prep work continues to hit me each section I look at. I'm just starting, but these photo explanations are so helpful. Thank you.

Added by: Dave on March 25, 2012

care ... neatness ...

This kind of approach kind of 'goes with the territory' when you want to create the kind of prints that I do. I read about my friends over on the Baren Forum preparing their designs by using a pencil to trace over some carbon paper onto the wood, or some other such method - and just smile ...

Of course, their entire conception is different. But if you want to create a woodblock print that is as 'perfectly formed' as possible, then this is the only way to get there - by taking a high control approach from the very first stages right to the last ... Every fraction of a millimeter on the wood, and every fraction of a degree of moisture in the paper, it all has to be controlled as tightly as possible. For those Baren friends, such an approach is not 'art', but - looking at my finished work - I would disagree with them! :-)