Course in Mokuhanga (Japanese woodcut)

We are very pleased to offer a 5 day course in the Mokuhanga technique with master carver Shoichi Kitamura. In the course you will learn about transfer of image to the plate, carving, registration, inking and printing.

Mokuhanga is quite different from how we are used to work with oil based woodcut in the western tradition. In Mokuhanga, water based inks provide a wide range of vivid colors, and transparency. This makes it possible to create a natural fading of colors, and by doing so offering a different sense of depth. The inking process is also applied with a brush, while in the western style woodblock it is typically done with a brayer.

Another beautiful aspect of Mokuhanga is that you don´t need a printing machine. It can be done anywhere as long as you have the materials, tools and a table.

The printing is done by your own hand pressure using the flat barren tool. This also gives a wide range of possibility as you can then vary the pressure for different parts of your motif.