Mokuhanga Fundamentals

Unit 1- Introduction to Mokuhanga Fundamentals

Welcome to our online workshop – Mokuhanga Fundamentals!

We’ve put this workshop together to allow people from anywhere in the world to be able to study and learn mokuhanga, without having to travel to Japan, or to find workshops or teachers, which often are far away…

The whole process of making a woodblock print using traditional Japanese water-based printmaking technique had been broken down into step by step units. Each unit has a number of resources intended to suit a range of learning approaches. Although it is a technologically simple technique, there are a lot of small details to learn to achieve truly satisfying results.

In the introduction we will explain a little about the context of mokuhanga, both as a historic technique and as a contemporary practice, in Japan and elsewhere. This will give you a new understanding of mokuhanga, of Ukiyo-e when you see it, and a realistic expectation of what you might be able to achieve as a beginner.

We will also have a brief look at some contemporary practice, and talk about what materials and resources you will need to complete the workshop.

Resources

Image	Video Resources	Length
	Introduction   (Free to view - please click on the thumbnail) Welcome and short explanation about the workshop.	3:39
	Workshop Oveview An overview of the workshop, units involved and what you will need	2:28
	Mokuhanga Context Explaining the traditional process and giving you a realistic expectation as a beginner,as well as showing some examples of sosaku hanga	4:58
Other Resources
What you will need to complete the workshop Explanation of the basic requirements to complete the workshop.are included in the notes
Written Notes Notes covering the resources		PDF
Materials Sources List of suppliers and links to their websites. These are also included in the full notes.		PDF
YouTube videos of interest Links to a variety of videos that you may find interesting.		PDF

When you are ready to begin, you should have your materials and tools ready, a better understanding of mokuhanga and how it was traditionally made, and what is taught in this workshop.

Unit 2- Design and Transfer of Your Image

Your design is the most important part of the whole process, after all you have been inspired to bring your image to life in the medium of mokuhanga. It is the art part of the process, where your idea is developed into a form that can them be turned into a woodblock print.

Aim

In this unit you will either use the design I’ve created for this workshop and follow along step by step, or create your own design using the instructions provided. You will then transfer the image to your woodblocks.

Resources

Image	Videos	Length
	Introduction What you will be doing and the items you will need.	3.43
	Creating your design How to develop your inspiration into a design suitable for your first woodblock print project	11.00
	Making a Tracing The procedure for tracing your design onto a suitable material.	7.29
	About Wood An introduction to the types and characteristics of wood that you can use	4.40
	Transfer onto woodblocks How to separate the colour areas onto different blocks of wood, in readiness to carve.	10.22
Other Resources
Notes Process, Materials and Sources		PDF
Layout Options Three starting points for your design, and the layout decisions that follow		PDF
Sample Design Full scale sample of the design used in this workshop, if you want to use it		PDF

Before progressing to the next step, you should have…

Created and refined your design, made an accurate tracing of the design and transferred the design to your woodblocks. The colours will be split onto different blocks and be ready for carving.

Unit 3 – The first Stage of Carving

This first stage of carving defines the printing areas for each block, so accuracy is important. Of all the carving, this is the most important as it defines what you will see in your print.

Aim

In this unit you will learn to use the knife tool in the Sosaku-hanga technique to outline and define each of the printing areas. You will learn to work accurately and efficiently to achieve a good result that will produce a clear and defined print.

Resources

Image	Videos	Length
	Introduction What you will be doing and the items you will need.	2.17
	Introduction to Tools A brief introduction to carving tools specific to woodblock printmaking, covering quality and variety	3.45
	Carving Outlines Demonstration Showing the procedure for carving outlines accurately with the knife tool.	19.32
	About the 45-degree cut A whiteboard style video about the reason and importance of the 45-degree cut.	4.50
	About small areas and lines A whiteboard style video about technique cutting around small details or lines	2.07
Other Resources
Tools Notes and information about tools		PDF
Carving Outlines Notes about the procedure of carving outlines		PDF
Notes Sharpening tools - a few notes		PDF

Before progressing to the next step, you should have…

Carved a small “v” by knife around each of your colour areas, so the boards will be ready for the next stage of carving.

Unit 4- Clearing Channels

The purpose of carving the blocks is to make them good for printing and this stage is important in that clearance is created around the printing areas.

Aim

In this unit each colour area will have a clear area carved around it to provide clearance between the paper and pigment. This ensures a clean and crisp print without unwanted marks. The shape of the channel around each colour is different for every colour and block, however a consistent width and depth is achieved without excess work.

Resources

Image	Description	Length
	Introduction What you will be doing and the items you will need.	2.35
	Gouges An introduction to gouges, the main tool we will be using for this stage.	5.51
	Clearing – How to do this stage An instruction video covering the techniques used, the width and depth of the channels needed and other tips.	14.20
	Fast Motion of the process See the whole process of one of the blocks in a fast motion video only 2 minutes long.	2.08
	The Channels Explaination of the channels, and what profile to aim for	2:29
Notes Process, Materials and Sources		PDF
Make a Bench Hook Plan and instructions to make your own bench hook		PDF
About Wood Grain Note about wood grain, and how it is in plywood		PDF

Before progressing to the next step, you should have…

Created a tidy channel around each colour area with the right depth and width. Each block will have a slightly different shape determined by the shape of the colour area.

Unit 5 – Smoothing Channels and Kentou

In this final stage of our carving we will prepare the carved block for printing. These are only a few steps but nevertheless important for successful printing. What we do in this stage reduces unwanted embossing marks from the printing process and gives us accurate registration.

Aim

We will smooth off the outer edges of the channels we carved in the previous unit. With the same tool we will also skim ridges in the channel. Then we will cut the kentou (registration notches).

Resources

Image	Video	Length
	Introduction What we will be doing and the tools you will need to use	1:58
	Smoothing How to use the tools to achieve a good result, and understanding the level of smoothness required for trouble free printing	8:30
	Kentou How to cut the kentou accurately	11:44
Notes Notes on the process and tools required		PDF
Picture Note Cutting kentou		PDF

Before progressing to the next step, you should have…

Clean and smooth channels around each of your colour areas and each block will have kentou accurately cut.

Unit 6 - Paper

Paper, as the foundation material of the print itself, naturally is quite important. Understanding which paper to use for your project, and how to prepare it properly, is one of the keys to success in mokuhanga.

Aim

In this unit we will gain an understanding of washi (Japanese paper), why it is suprior for this technique, what types are available and what to look for when you are choosing and buying paper.

Resources

Image	Description	Length
	Introduction About this unit and what we will cover.	1:43
	Paper Understanding washi – Japanese paper, the differences to Western papers, and what paper is suitable	9:58
	Cutting Paper How to measure and cut your paper in preparation for your project	11:43
	Dampening Paper The procedure for dampening paper in preparation for printing	8:25
Notes About paper, choosing the right paper, washi vs paper, and where to buy it		PDF
Getting the best use of full sheets Note about measuring and using sheets economically		PDF
Other resources Links to some useful videos, books		PDF
Where to buy Washi Information on where to buy washi, either online or when you are visiting Japan

Before progressing to the next step, you should have…

An understanding of what paper is suitable to use for your project, have it cut to size and ready to print with

Unit 7- Preparation for Printing

In this unit we will explain the different tools and materials used for mokuhanga printing. Each type of tool and material has its own video, which allows you to quickly revise. We will spend some time mixing colours and nori, the two ingredients for printing. We will also set up the table ready for printing.

Aim

You will gain a working understanding of the tools and materials for mokuhanga printing and how to set up your printing area for working efficiently.

Resources

Image	Description	Length
	Introduction Introduction to this unit and what you will need.	1:07
	Brushes Explanation of brushes, the different types available and how to select what you need.	4:03
	Baren Explanation of baren, different types available and which is suitable for the work you are doing.	7:44
	Colours Brief explanation of the types of pigment / colours to use in mokuhanga	2:35
	Nori About nori (starch paste) and how to prepare it.	3:36
	Mixing Colours Guide to mixing colours, ready for printing.	10:39
	Set up your Printing Area How to set up your printing area with the items you will need.	4:15
Other resources
Notes Notes covering the content of this unit.		PDF
Care of Baren Note about caring for traditional baren.		PDF
Make your own nori Instructions for making your own nori.		PDF

Before progressing to the next step, you should have...

Mixed your colours, be well set up and have your baren and brushes selected. Before printing you should have already dampened your paper.

Unit 8- Basic Printing

Finally, we will actually start printing! It’s exciting to see some result for all the hard work we’ve done so far. This unit will introduce the printing process and how to overcome some common problems. In reality, consistent high-quality printing takes a lot of practice to master. This proof print is an essential step on the way to produce a final edition.

Aim

In this unit we will go through the process of producing a series of proof prints, making improvements and adjustments in order to have everything right to produce an edition of our print. While doing this you will learn the printing process including how to make bokashi.

Resources

Image	Description	Length
	Introduction About this unit, what you will need and what we will do.	1:26
	Getting Ready Making sure you have everything ready to go.	3:48
	Printing your First Proof Taking you through the printing process, colour by colour to make your first proof print.	14:01
	Simple Bokashi Introduce the bokashi printing effect (graduation or fade) and learning a simple way to add it to our proof.	6:09
	Printing Problems Looking at some of the problems you will have encountered in printing and how to overcome them.	7:42
	Improvements Making improvements to our blocks to reduce some typical problems.	6:52
	Adjusting Colours & Second Proof Making adjustments to improve the colours then producing a second proof print.	7:07
	Washing Brushes How to wash your brushes to extend their working life.	2:05
Other Resources
Notes Notes covering the content of this unit.		PDF
Print Cycle Picture note explaining the print cycle.		PDF
Top Tips for Beginners Picture note with some tips.		PDF
Balance in Printing Note about balancing the different aspects of printing.		PDF
Clean your Brushes How to clean your brushes.		PDF

Before progressing to the next step, you should have…

Made your proof print, corrected mistakes and weaknesses and then produced a second proof print. With these corrections you will be able to now produce your edition in the next unit.

Unit 9 – Printing Your Edition

Printing an edition of your work is the final stage of production. You have solved the various problems with carving and printing and are now ready to make a valuable edition of your mokuhanga.

Aim

In this unit we will go through the process of printing your edition. The printing procedure is the same and there are some extra considerations, especially around managing the moisture level in your paper. This time we will be using washi, which is a lot more responsive and beautiful.

Resources

Image	Description	Length
	Introduction Briefly, what we will be doing in this unit.	1:32
	Adjusting Paper Moisture Checking the moisture level in your washi, and making some adjustments if needed.	2:02
	Printing the Edition The process of printing the edition, with extra consideration about maintaining balance as we proceed.	13:26
	Drying your Prints An effective and simple way to dry your prints flat.	2:22
Other Resources
Notes The content of this unit.		PDF
Managing Moisture in the Paper Picture note with tips about managing moisture.		PDF
Drying Picture note with two methods about drying your prints.		PDF

Before progressing to the next step, you should have…

Produced your first limited edition of mokuhanga and have them drying.

Unit 10 - Key Block

Carving a key block gives you outlines or fine details that can help define your image. Usually in Ukiyo-e this is the first stage, however for Sosaku hanga it may not even be necessary, and for beginners is certainly difficult and frustrating. We’ve included this at the end to further develop your skills. Most student’s have this in their original idea so it is included here.

Aim

To add a line or detail block to you image, we will use our original tracing and carve a whole new block. This can be printed on our existing print, or on a whole new edition.

Resources

Image	Description	Length
	Introduction About the key block and what we will cover in this unit.	3:16
	Hints and Tactics. Some hints and tactics for carving to achieve good results in shina	4:52
	Carving About carving the block and demonstrating the above hints.	11:25
	Clearing Some directions for clearing the channels, particular to the key block	6:02
	Printing Printing has a slightly different approach, and this video explains how to progress, either as a new print or on your existing print.	7:50
	Repairing a Block Showing you how to repair a section that has broken away, or been carved away by mistake. This can be used on colour blocks as well.	10:57
Notes		PDF

Before progressing to the next step, you should have…

Transferred, carved and printed your key block.

Unit 11 - Gomazuri

Gomazuri is a versatile printing technique that can be used with existing colour blocks or purpose carved blocks. It enhances your image with subtle patterned effects and enriches your image.

Aim

We will learn how to successfully print this technique, which uses the same tools and materials, but in a different way. We will add it to your existing work, or begin a new edition including this technique and understand when and where to use it in your mokuhanga.

Resources

Image	Description	Length
	Introduction About gomazuri and when to use it	1:58
	Printing Technique How to print existing colour blocks with this technique and get the best result.	10:27
Notes Content of this unit		PDF

Before progressing to the next step, you should have…

Successfully printed one or more blocks with gomazuri technique

Unit 12- Next Steps

This is the conclusion of the Mokuhanga Fundamentals online workshop. You will have gained an understanding of the fundamental tools, materials and processes of producing your own creative work in this medium.

Aim

We hope to encourage you to use what you’ve gained and make new work. Practice and repetition are the key to building your skills and mastering this technique.

Resources

Image	Description	Length
	Conclusion Thank you, conclusion and encouragement to keep going with mokuhanga. Some next steps you could take to make progress.	6:48
Notes Notes of this unit’s content		PDF

Thank you, and we hope you have enjoyed this online workshop.