Biography

Yoshiko Yamamoto’s artistic journey began with a deep appreciation for Edo-period ukiyo-e prints. Growing up in Tokyo, she developed a passion for collecting woodblock prints, with a special fondness for the works of Utagawa Hiroshige.

In her twenties, Yoshiko moved to California, and in 1995, she and her husband, Bruce Smith, founded The Arts & Crafts Press, a letterpress-printing studio. Inspired by the craftsmanship ideals of the Arts and Crafts Movement, she printed and hand-bound periodicals and publications dedicated to this historic movement, while Smith took on the roles of editor, writer, and researcher, contributing to the publications' content.

At the studio, Yoshiko learned the art of block carving and printing them using letterpress techniques. Over the course of thirty years, she managed the printing studio and created a wide range of woodblock prints, greeting card designs, and books. She also collaborated on various projects with notable organizations such as Peet's Coffee, Motawi Tileworks, Patagonia Books, and the Gamble House, a National Historic Landmark, among others.

Yoshiko led block-printing workshops and delivered lectures, including the keynote address at the 2023 Arts & Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn. She was also featured in numerous magazine articles and television programs, most notably in an episode of the award-winning PBS documentary series Craft in America: Celebration.

Now residing in Kamakura, Japan with her family, Yoshiko continues to pursue her passion for traditional mokuhanga woodblock prints. Using handmade paper from the Echizen region, a bamboo baren burnishing tool, and pigments mixed with starch glue and water, she remains dedicated to both preserving and evolving this craft. Her prints, inspired by landscapes from both the West Coast and Japan, beautifully blend her Japanese heritage with the natural beauty of her surroundings.

Story

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