A Mokuhanga (Japanese water based woodblock print) 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: 9 plus 1 artist’s proof
Image size: 150 x 225 mm
Paper size: 180 x 250 mm approx
Mount: 300 x 400 mm
Price: £80
This traditional Japanese water based wood block print was created with one block, four colours, nori (rice starch paste) and 7 passes of pigment.
I returned from my artist in residence at MI-LAB, in Echizen Japan, late in 2024 full of inspiration for new prints and have spent the last few weeks testing and proofing ideas, I have returned to my favourite theme – the captivating movement of the sea.
The design is inspired by the study of moving waves, the oil on board, pen and ink paintings of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (often referred to as WBG!). I had a wonderful week studying Wilhemina’s paintings on a course tutored by Marion Taylor at St Ives School of Painting back in 2012. Following the course I created two small oil on card, pen and ink paintings. Propped up against the studio wall ( I must frame them!) I have been wondering how I could take the essence of these studies and represent them in a series of mokuhanga prints.
So this is the first one, the lines created in negative by fine cutting of the shina plywood block with a V-gouge, called in Japanese – a sankakuto. I have used the goma-zuri technique (literally meaning a sesame printing – texture of sesame seeds) to introduce light, using areas of washi that escape the absorption of pigment to create a rich texture to the print. I really like the effect that can be achieved, although it is difficult to control, with only a handheld baren, water and pigment, and of course the special qualities of the washi paper.
Kay A Brown 