Mokuhanga' Japanese woodblock printing- 'Japanese Gardens' with Julie Evans

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'Mokuhanga' Japanese woodblock printing. 'Japanese Gardens' with Julie Evans

Join printmaker Julie Evans for an exciting foray into the art of Mokuhanga, explored through the theme of Katei (Ka-house, Tei- Garden)

This is a fascinating and full on day learning the basic processes of this ancient traditional Japanese technique which uses wood, watercolours, rice starch and paper. You will come away with the skills you need to continue exploring and developing at home.

In the morning Julie will guide you through creating a simple 3-5 colour 'garden' image inspired by the rocks, gravel, stone paths, water and plants found in a Japanese garden. Your print will be 16 x 11 cm in size and you are invited to bring your own ideas or use those supplied by Julie. Each element of your design will then be transferred onto the individual colour blocks - iro-ban ready for carving. You will learn how to cut the registration kentou that ensure each block prints exactly on top of the previous one.

Using a set of woodcutting tools you will outline each element of the design and carve a gully all around it to isolate it from the surrounding wood. The shina plywood is very soft, but if you have any injury or arthritis in your fingers or shoulder Julie will help and adapt your design to reduce the amount of carving required. You will have the choice to work on a large woodblock in the traditional way, or use smaller blocks with the more contemporary soto-kento which requires much less carving.

After lunch you will prepare your paints, rice starch and paper ready to begin printing the woodblocks. Julie will show you how to apply the paint and rice starch - nori to the wood, lay the damp paper into the block and then print by applying pressure from a circular hand held baren.

After that you will be free to spend the afternoon printing your blocks and exploring different colours and paints effects. You will be supplied with a variety of papers, western and Japanese so that you can experience how differently they print. Julie will also bring along some of her professional tools and barens for you to try out.

Your woodblocks are yours to take home along with a baren, some nori and paper so that you can continue printing at home.

After booking the workshop Julie will send you more detailed information about what to bring and some design ideas.

Typically this course runs with 8 students.

9.30am -5.15pm
£82 Lunch included
Material Charges £18