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| Skelligs Setting Sun original Japanese Woodblock print by Teresa Newham |
I've been continuing my exploration of Japanese Woodblock (mokuhanga), using the design for my Skelligs Golden Light linocut. I reduced the size of the image to fit the blocks for this multi block process and cut four of them. I also cut the registration marks (kentou) with a chisel for the first time, and hoped they would fit.
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| adapting and cutting the design, including the kentou © Teresa Newham |
The trial prints on proof paper got me back into the swing of things, but I didn't like any of the colours, the birds didn't work and the blocks needed some tidying. The registration on one of the blocks was slightly out but I was confident that I could correct that during printing, as long as I remembered . . .
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| early colour trials © Teresa Newham |
The materials and method for Japanese woodblock are quite unlike anything else I have done, and even just thinking about how I might move forward with the design was useful. The blocks can be used again and again with different colour combinations - the possibilities are endless.
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| studio set-up for Japanese Woodblock © Teresa Newham |
I was far happier with my next attempt, and progressed to making prints on Shiramine Japanese washi paper from the Awagami Factory in Japan. The paper was probably a little too wet, as the prints were softer than I'd intended, but as I was after a misty effect that didn't matter too much.
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| Skelligs Misty Blue original Japanese Woodblock print by Teresa Newham |
I decided to make another version using just three of the blocks, and did two more colour trials. One was a sunset based on one of my photos, and the other a more stormy scene reminiscent of my earlier linocut. I preferred the sunset but when I posted the proof prints on social media my followers chose the storm as their favourite!
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| baren, inking brushes and colour mixes © Teresa Newham |
What else could I do but print them both? I managed this in the same print session, which was a challenge but also great fun. Skelligs Stormy Skies is below, and Skelligs Setting Sun is at the top of this post. Which one do you like the best?
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| Skelligs Stormy Skies original Japanese Woodblock print by Teresa Newham |
