A Mokuhanga print hand printed with a baren on 64 gsm Japanese Pansion kozo washi with cut edges float mounted on white conservation board with kozo hinges.
Edition size: 10 plus 1 artist’s proof
Image size: 150 x 225 mm
Paper size: 160 x 245 mm approx
Mount: 300 x 400 mm
Price: £80
This traditional Japanese water based wood block print was created with two blocks, four colours, nori (rice starch paste) and 6 passes of pigment.
Nine years ago on our first trip to Japan we visited Fujikawaguchiko in the hope of seeing Mount Fuji across Lake Kawaguchi, but sadly, she was shrouded in cloud. So I was thrilled when, having been upgraded to a suite with views towards Fujisan on our last night in Tokyo, the following morning she gradually emerged – only a distant view but so memorable. My latest mokuhanga print is inspired by that view looking over the tower blocks of Tokyo and the beautiful Somei-yoshino that filled the city with clouds of pale pink cherry blossoms. Haru no fujisan translates as Fujisan in Spring.
I used a @ryobitoolsuk rotary tool burr to makes some of marks in the plywood as I wanted a particular mark to represent the tower block glazing – something I couldn’t achieve with traditional mokuhanga tools. Two years ago I was asked to demonstrate using Ryobi rotary tools in making my mokuhanga prints and found it a useful (but noisy) tool for extending the range of mark making in my practice.
April 2025
Kay A Brown 