Hello Ladies, for my English class we had to write up directions on how to do something and I choose to write how to do Western woodblock printing, and I figure I would share them with you guys/girls. I didn’t need picture or images for my paper but if there is enough interest I will add pictures. Enjoy

Wood block printing is the oldest form of printing. Woodblock printing was developed in China and dates back to 868 AD. Woodblock printing appeared in Japan during the 8^th century and in Europe in the 1400’s. The major difference between Western woodblock printing and Eastern woodblock printing is the pigments used and how the pigments are applied. Western block printing uses oil based inks, which are rolled on to the block. Eastern block printing uses water base inks mixed with a printing paste, and the inks are applied by using brushes. Chinese block printing uses several small blocks for one design while Japanese and Western block printing use one large single block.

Woodblock printing is a relief technique, in which you cut away at a piece of wood. The woodblock is then used like a stamp. Unlike drawing and painting, where you add ink or paint to create a positive space, in woodblock printing you will be remove wood to create a negative space. The wood you remove will make a white line (assume your printing paper is white) and the wood the remains will be that color of your ink. These instructions are for a single burnish (rub) print. The image will only be 2 colors, the color of the ink and the color of the paper. The image you carve on the woodblock will end up being REVERSED on the paper, so make sure if you are put on word in your print that they are carved backwards.

Caution-

This technique involves CUTTING away at wood with SHARP instruments and is not recommended for children. ALWAYS CARVE AWAY from yourself. The inks uses are PERMANENTS so older clothing should be worn.

Supplies -

- Piece of wood – The wood should be at least 1 inch deep, and warp and dent free. I recommend shelving pine.

- Saw

- Newspaper or computer paper

- Acid free heavy paper – I recommend hosho or mulberry paper.

- Woodblock Ink – Ink can be purchased as an oil base or a water base. The water base is easier to clean up but dry faster, so extra retarder is needed. Speedball is popular brand of woodblock ink that can be found at most art supply stores.

- Woodblock Ink Retarder – Retarder slows down the drying process of the ink, without retarder the ink will dry on your block before you transfer your design.

- India ink

- Paint bush

- Rubber roller

- Pencil

- Carving tools – You will need at least a V gouge and a U gouge, but you can get kits with many more types of gouges.

- Piece of glass

- Wooden spoon

- Putty knife or palette knife

- Chalk

- A Image to carve

- Wood glue and wood putty

Procedures

Prepare the Wood –

1. Cut wood to desired size using the saw. The block should be smaller then the paper you are using by an inch on all sides. Save scarp piece to practice carving on.

2. Look at both side of the wood and pick the side that is smoother or has the nicer grain to be carved. If there are any small imperfections use the sandpaper to smooth them out.

3. Paint the India ink on the side you are going to carve

4. Let the block dry.

5. Transfer your design.

§ Rub the back of the paper with the design on it with chalk.

§ Then lay the paper chalk side down on the block.

§ Then trace the design. Note that you design will be reversed on the final print so if you doing writing you need to trace and carve the letter backwards so the appear correct in the print

Carving –

Before carving you block you should practices carving on a scrap piece of wood.

§ The V gouge is used to make lines. The more presser you apply the V gouge the wider and deeper the line you will make.

§ The U gouge is used for removing large selections of the wood.

1. Hold the gouge in one hand. Your palm should be around the round part of the handle with your finger under it and your thumb out over the blade.

2. Keep the base of your second hand on the wood and your finger on top of the hand with the gouge. This will give you more control over the gouge.

3. Lightly push the gouge into the wood at an angle.

4. Apply a forward force, as you reduce the angle. This should carve out a straight line.

5. When you get to the end of the line pull the gouge back out and push the edge of the gouge straight into the end point so the wood breaks clean. You will find the carving with the grain is easier the carving against it.

6. When carving out large selections use the V gouge to outline the selection then go back with the u gouge to carve the selection out.

7. If you make a mistake, uses the wood glue to glue in big pieces back in or use wood putty to patch small bits.

Doing a Proof -

1. Once you are done carving the block you can do a proof. A proof is quick print to check your block. Make sure you workspace is clean before you start.

2. Mix the woodblock ink with the woodblock retarder by kneading them together on the piece of glass with a putty or palette knife.

§ You should use about ¼ retarder to ¾ ink, but this varies from brand to brand. The amount of ink needed will vary depending on the size of your block.

3. Roll the ink using the rubber roller back and forth until the roller is evenly covered.

§ You have right amount of ink on the roller when the ink starts to make little points and a cracking noise.

4. Roll the ink over your carving until you have an even coat of ink on the block.

5. Lay the newspaper or computer paper over the block.

6. Careful start rubbing (burnishing) the back of the paper with the wooden spoon in small circles.

§ The harder you rub the more ink will transfer and the dark that part will look. This is great way to get contrast in you print.

7. Once you have rubbed the whole block careful remove the paper from the block.

§ If the paper stick to block, your ink is drying to fast and you should add more ink retarded.

8. Set the paper aside to dry and go wash the ink off of your block

9. Now examine your proof. This is your chance to change anything you don’t like about your print. Check to make sure all your lines came out. If your lines didn’t come out, you will need to recarve them. If you unsure of you new recarved lines do another proof.

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