ARTS618Japanese Woodblock PrintmakingKeiji ShinoharaThursdays, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
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Course Overview
This traditional art form, more than 1,000 years old, relies on hand-pressing techniques, watercolors, and rice paste. Quite distinct from Western printmaking traditions, it uses no oil-based inks or presses. In this course, we will learn the core techniques of Japanese woodblock printing and carving.
- Full Course Description & Course Objectives
This traditional art form, more than 1,000 years old, relies on hand-pressing techniques, watercolors, and rice paste. Quite distinct from Western printmaking traditions, it uses no oil-based inks or presses. In this course, we will learn the core techniques of Japanese woodblock printing and carving. In order to understand these techniques, we will begin by practicing simple black and white printmaking techniques (of modern, Western origin), and jigsaw-cut square plate printmaking. Students will make all prints by hand, will apply color with watercolor and rice paste, and will practice advanced techniques using gradation (bokashi). In addition, we will study traditional design, composition, and techniques of wood block carving. To contextualize our work in the studio, we will study the history of ukiyo-e printing, using the outstanding print collection at the Davison Art Center, to understand the evolution of printing techniques and changes in design and image-making from the 11th century to contemporary work.
- Faculty Bio
Keiji Shinohara, a master Ukiyo-e woodcut printmaker, is artist in residence in art and East Asian studies. His work has been exhibited at the Library of Congress, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Worcester Museum of Art, the Asia Society, and the Smithsonian. He is known for highly sculptural landscape prints, which speak to the spirit of Ukiyo-e in a modern voice. His Sumi-e paintings were featured in the collaborative artists' book, The Language of Her Body, with photos by Derek Dudek, fragments of text by Amy Bloom, and typography by Robin Price.