The Process

Making mokuhanga prints

I am always humbled to work with this traditional craft. Throughout the centuries, many great carvers, printers, and designers have contributed to the world of ukiyo-e and shin-hanga prints, and I find there is so much to learn each and every day.

Here, I’ll give you a quick tour of how I create my mokuhanga prints.

First, I usually sketch using pens, pencils, brushes, and watercolor paints. This process is both fun and creative—similar to an athlete's warm-up. It allows me to visualize the final artwork, work out the compositions, and consider the colors that will be used in the final print.

Next, I begin carving the wood blocks, which is one of the most meditative processes in the production of my mokuhanga prints. I start by carving an outline block, or keyblock, from harder woods like cherry. Using this outline block as a guide, I then carve multiple woodblocks—one for each color in the design—creating an intricate ensemble of colors for my final print.

After all the blocks are carved, I create a set of proof prints to check the color registration of each block and assign all the colors.

Once all the test runs look good and ready, I cut the handmade kozo paper from Echizen and coat each sheet with warm dosa (sizing) liquid made from nikawa (animal hide glue), myoban (alum), and water. It takes a few days for the dosa to be fully absorbed and dry. Once it's dry, I then moisten each sheet with water to prepare it for the actual printing. 

Next, I apply a dab of rice starch to the moistened block and then add finely ground pigments or watercolor paints. After mixing them with a fine, soft horsehair brush on the block, I place the moistened paper onto the block, aligning it using two kento, the printing guide marks.

Using a baren, a traditional Japanese tool made from bamboo leaves, I transfer the image from each block onto washi paper. This step is repeated for each color, carefully aligning the paper with each block to ensure perfect registration. The pressure applied with the baren allows the ink to transfer smoothly and evenly, producing the rich, vibrant colors that characterize mokuhanga prints.

Letterpress Blockprints

Letterpress printing is a relief printing process similar to mokuhanga. The printed image is created by inking a raised surface and then pressing it onto a sheet of paper. Historically, these raised surfaces have included a variety of materials, such as woodcuts, wood engravings, linocuts, and typefaces.

For our limited-edition block prints, I first create sketches using watercolor. Then, I carve multiple woodblocks and linoleum blocks for printing.

After preparing all the color blocks, I mix oil-based etching inks and print one color at a time using the antique letterpress printing press.