During the current pandemic, many countries have restrictions in place, part of which is receiving international mail. This means that unfortunately you may have difficulty to source materials direct from Japan at the moment.
This is a short list of places you might be able to source materials in your own country to complete the online workshop with:
| Australia | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier | Shina Plywood | Carving Tools | Baren | Brushes | Pigments | Nori | Washi |
| Melbourne Etching Supplies | 4.5mm | basic - buy elswhere | black plastic | no | not suitable | Yamato Nori | Yes (most Awagami washi is unsized) |
| Notes | (luan core) | only very cheap or very expensive |
avoid the other baren listed | Mizu-bake only |
Available in general art shops |
Yamato nori - tapioca starch, not rice paste as advertised |
Awagami washi - Bamboo Select 170gsm recommended |
| Melbourne Art Supplies | Ho | Gouache | |||||
| Notes | solid wood, good for carving | not suitable | no | no | Holbein Japan and other brands available | ||
| Ema Shin | A Selected range of most things | (I don't know how much stock is available, and have never bought from here) | |||||
| Zart | 4.5mm | Yamato Nori | |||||
| (I have never bought from here, but found them while researching this article) | |||||||
| Eckersleys | 4.5mm & 6mm | Black Plastic Baren | Substittute | Gouache | Yamato Nori | ||
| Neil Wallace | Black Plasitc | Awagami... | |||||
| Japanese Tools Australia | Woodblock set |
Professional Tools *reasonable prices! |
Sumi and Beta Baren | Hake, Burashi, mizubake | |||
| Roslyn Kean | a range of very good ball-bearing baren | Ball Bearing Baren | |||||
As far as I know, mokuhanga brushes are not available anywhere but as a substitute brush - a stencil brush will work such as these: https://www.eckersleys.com.au/jasart-stencil-brush-set-3
Carving Tools - a variety of very cheap tools are available, but I would recommend tools from Japanese Tools Australia. They are the only supplier in Australia of Michihamon tools, baren and brushes. Japanese Tools Australia also have a beginners set, with everything you would need.
Paper - I've had good results for smaller projects with Zerkall 145gsm, smooth, but it seems out of stock right now....
In general, supplies are limited in Australia and shops do not understand mokuhanga technique, and often have wrong information.
I haven't bought fom these USA Suppliers, but they have a good reputation:
| USA | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier | Shina Plywood | Carving Tools | Baren | Brushes | Pigments | Nori | Washi |
| McClains | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| (Best mokuhanga range outside of Japan) | |||||||
| Washi Arts | Yes (small) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Sumi | Yes | Yes |
| Hiromi Paper | (Mizubake & Surikomebake) | Yes | |||||
Likewise, I haven't bought from these UK suppliers, it was what I could find on the internet.
| United Kingdom | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier | Shina Plywood | Carving Tools | Baren | Brushes | Pigments | Nori | Washi |
| Handprinted | "Asian Ply" Shina | Yes - Individual professional tools and Power Grip set Available | Good Range - Sosaku Sumi and Beta available | Yes | No | Yes | Awagami |
| Jackson's | Shina & others | Professional only |
Black Plastic (out of stock) School King - Not recommended |
Yes | Gouache | Yes | |
| Intanglio Printmaker | Shina 6mm | Individual professional tools and Power Grip set Available | Black Plastic (out of stock) | 15mm hake only | Yes | Yes | |
Jacksons has some Zerkall in stock https://www.jacksonsart.com/zerkall-printmaking-paper-smooth-53x76cm-120gsm-white-25-sheets
