Posted on September 21, 2012 [Permalink]

Continued from [Arts of Japan #4 - 4] : colour blocks ready | Starting point of the thread was [Arts of Japan #4 - 1] : work begins

So here we go ... the blocks are all done; time to get printing!

Because there are is a fair amount of detail in this image - hair, etc. - it is important for me to get the paper into 'good' condition, so before beginning the printing with pigments, I gave it an impression on a blank woodblock. This left the paper (in the central area only) with a nice smooth surface, and also helped me get the moisture to the proper 'soft' level. Once the paper had recovered, I began the main printing, starting of course with the key block:

At the end of that day, I then took the stack out from its moistening sheets, and dried them all off completely. I did this because if I simply pressed ahead with the colour printing in the usual way there would be a lot of 'transfer' of these black lines. Key block printing is normally done with a not-so-dense black pigment and very little paste, giving a result that doesn't usually transfer while printing colours, but in this case, in order to get her hair to a nice dense level, I had to use a pretty rich mix (along with plenty of paste) and that is a perfect recipe for transfer.

Drying the sheets and letting them sit for a day or so before re-wetting helps obviate most of the transfer, and early this morning, I was able to continue with the printing, beginning with an under-tone for the main kimono:

Most of this will be covered up by subsequent tones ...

The thread continues in [Arts of Japan #4 - 6] : printing steps 3~5 ...

Added by: Ken Morgan on September 22, 2012

Dave-Willow Lane is prepared to ADD this to it's collection. From what I can see now the hair will present it's self as advertised.

This is a very fine addition to the set

Added by: Jacques on September 22, 2012

It shouldn't come as a surprise that I'm following your carving and printing of this Harunobu print with keen interest. So far, the results are absolutely wonderful!

Added by: Dave on September 22, 2012

Thanks Jacques ... It's the main colour overlay on the kimono area that is going to 'make' this print ... I'll be starting work on that in a few minutes, as soon as I finish up my morning email and blog updating!