I often use tracing paper or vellum to make changes and try different layers until I come up with something I like. There's nothing quite like a few hours of carving or the rhythms of printing to quiet my mind, and I hope everyone can one day experience the supreme satisfaction of pulling a finished print off the block.ĭepending on what kind of image I have in mind, I use graphite or Nero pencils, markers, charcoal or watercolor paint (shown here) to come up with my design. It is a labor-intensive method of making images which is one of the things I like best about it. Woodblock printing is a form of relief printing-the simplest (and oldest) of the four major printmaking processes in terms of technique (the others are intaglio or etching, serigraphy or screenprinting, and lithography). Here is my way, in ten steps (with lovely photos taken by the talented Andrea Wenglowskyj of Kind Aesthetic ). Just like cooking, there are lots of different ways to make a woodblock print and every printer does things a little differently.
Woodblock printing is a great medium because there's room for all levels of skill, from a first attempt at an omelette to a world class sous vide souffle. Printmaking is like cooking-it can be a highly skilled craft honed over a lifetime of practice, but anyone can learn to fry a great egg.
In honor of the occasion I thought I would share my process for making woodblock prints. I'm giving a workshop on woodblock printing in my studio in a couple of weeks (there are still spots open and you can sign up here).