For a more extensive list from M.I.T., go here Zokin: A small wooden block covered with cloth primarily used to print bokashis.Washi: traditional Japanese paper made from the bast fibers of the mulberry plant.We are continually adding to our range of tools and materials so please keep. Born from the traditional craft of creating Japanese Ukiyo-e prints, it is a technique that can be adapted to suit a range of abilities and allows for a wide range of creative possibilities. Ukiyo-e: Literally, 'floating pictures' referring to 17th>mid/late 19th century prints depicting secular subjects. Moku 'wood' Hanga 'printmaking' This is a water-based method of printmaking that has gained popularity across the globe.Tokibo: or hakobi a small brush used to apply pigment to the block.A movement that became popular during post WWII Japan. Sosaku-hanga: 'self-prints'- prints that are designed, carved, and printed by the artist.Shina: Japanese basswood or lindenwood often used as easily-carved woodblocks.Shin-hanga:'new prints'- refers 20th century woodblock printmaking revival often featuring layered color landscapes.Sakura: Japanese cherry often used for woodblocks.Ōban: a print size about 15½ by 10½ inches (39 by 26.5 cm).Nori: Paste to keep pigment in suspension made of rice, potato or tapioca.Nishiki-e: Multi-coloured woodblock printing.Moku hanga:Japanese for woodblock prints.Ita-bokashi: 'block shading' a technique for producing gradation achieved by sanding or abrading the edges of the carving.Hanshita: The drawings used as a guide to later carving.Keyblock: Roughly, line blocks often containing color.Chūban: a print size about 7 by 10 inches (18 by 25 cm).Bokashi: A graduated color impression often seen in traditional ukiyo-e print backgrounds.Beta ban: A flat, consistent color block.Baren-suji: Impression marks made with a baren- intentional or not.Baren: The traditional printmaking 'pad' that is used by manually pressing the inked block.Hanga bake have long handles, maru (round) bake resemble shoe brushes. Bake(hanga or maru): traditional Japanese printing brushes made of horse or hog hair.I’ve noticed that this reconstituting doesn’t work as well with commercial tube watercolors since there is gum added and it results in a grainy texture. I’m also not quite sure that the step of pushing the pigment through the sieve is necessary since the ground particles are much finer than the screen.Īfter printing, mixing bowls are left to dry around the printing desks and are reconstituted (unless starch paste had been added) by simply adding a little water and stirring with the tokibo without apparent problems. I was a little suprised at the Ultramarine since it is a mineral pigment. I suspect that this will result in less hard-won pigment being lost and may go a bit faster.Īs of several days later, both the Ultramarine and the Indigo did not separate to clear water. Mokuhankan is planning to compare this traditional method of grinding pigments with using a western-style glass muller/ glass slab combination. The idea of keeping a selection of pigments stored in ‘paste’ form in an alcohol/water mix is discussed in ‘One-Point Lesson’ #6 in another section of the Encyclopedia. Additional references: Preparing powdered pigments can be found in a “Tools and Materials” section David Bull’s Encyclopedia article.They've even included pictures of cute brushes and baren discs. It covers Japanese woodblock history, technique, materials and printing. I've just found this interesting article (with pictures) by Eva Pietzcker and Miriam Zegrer on Japanese woodblock, known as moku hanga in Japanese. If you're printing a small block, it's possible to set up and print in just about any space, even the floor! I've travelled with my tools (including carving tools) on international flights (post 9/11) with no trouble at all (not in my carry-on luggage of course!). And what I really love is the portability of art form itself.

There are so many cute things about the Japanese method of woodblock printing: the lovely little bamboo leaf covered baren used for rubbing the paper during printmaking, the small, funky horse hair brushes used to place the ink of the wood, bowls of watercolour inks, the small carving tools, and the use of beautiful Japanese papers. I think a lot of people are quite fascinated by the carving of the actual wood blocks which are an artwork in themselves. Sosaku Hake Brush for Mokuhanga / Japanese Woodblock Printing from 7.95 Japanese Sosaku Hake Brush in three sizes for applying color. Other kinds of printmaking techniques like etching are more well known than woodblock printing in Australia. People often ask me about the process of making a Japanese woodblock print.

Moku hanga shoeshine brush