Kauai Fine Art Color Woodblock Paintings Drawings Tropical Landscape art

Color Woodblock Printing Process

The Color Woodblock is Japanese technique originally developed to create newspaper images for the advertising of goods and services. Later it developed into a fine art process to make multiple copies of an image so that original prints could be produced at a lower cost to broaden the market.

I have adapted the process using oil based inks instead of watercolor. I usually print editions of 10 copies, each one slightly different from each other. They vary because I print each block twice with different color inks, the second application of ink having been manipulated with a brush or sponge to create textures and/or gradations of color and value.

Each image requires 6–8 wooden blocks all with the full image drawn onto the surface. Then each is carved with chisels and/or rotary tools. Areas of the image to be printed are left raised in relief with all other areas cut away. A block is placed in a registration frame which lines up subsequent blocks to be in alignment with each other. The raised parts of the block are rolled with ink, then the ink is manipulated for texture or gradations. Then the paper is laid down over the block using alignment stops built into the registration frame. The paper is pressed down with burnishing tools to transfer the ink onto the paper. Then the paper is carefully peeled away from the block. When the ink has dried, a different block is set up and the process is repeated. Each print requires 14–18 color mixes of ink with as many rollings and burnishings.

The colors mixed for one edition can be changed for future editions to vary the mood of the image, to change the look of the time of day, even to make a moonlight version by substituting one or more blocks.

Although there are multiple copies of an image, they are all original artworks as they are hand done and are not a giclee (photomechanical) process. All prints are on archival Stonehenge Rag 90 lb. paper with Caligo archival inks.

My goal is to create a portfolio of Kaua’i images, highlighting the unique features along a circular route around the island, from Ke’e to Kekaha.

Below is the step by step printing actions for the woodblock "Taro Field Hanalei"