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: 10 plus 1 artist’s proof
Image size: 187 x 238 mm
Paper size: 200 x 255 mm approx
Mount: 300 x 400 mm
Price: £75
This traditional Japanese water based wood block print was created with two blocks, three colours, nori (rice starch paste) and 5 passes of pigment.
In the summer 2023 we had a magical sail around Land’s End under the Strawberry Moon. A clear night with a good breeze as the moon rose it gradually turned from a rich rosey pink colour to a soft golden glowing orb with its light reflecting off the inky blue waves. It was a memorable sight, not only very beautiful but making a night passage so much more pleasant than sailing under a dark moonless sky.
As soon as we had some bad weather it was my opportunity to get out my Mokuhanga printmaking tools and I started to carve a block with the Moon and waves swirling below catching its light. I did a few test prints using an Indigo pigment and a floating kento, and then left the print to develop further when I returned home. Returning to the block again and doing some more test prints I realised the grain was creating some awkward distracting marks in the print near the horizon and some of the fine gouges made with my V gouge tended to fill with pigment making the block difficult to print. I decided to recut the block on a larger block of plywood (so I could incorporate the kento marks) and I also carved a second block for the golden colours of the Moon and its light reflecting off the waves. I also experimented with creating both a hard and soft line on the horizon ( using a Payne’s Grey pigment) but found the soft, more ill defined, suggestion of the horizon more pleasing.
Each print I learn a little more about this age-old printmaking technique!
Kay A Brown 