Have you ever wondered about block printing and its history?
A couple of weeks ago I hosted a truly wonderful block printing workshop at La Medusa in Columbia City. Fifteen participants gathered for some delicious food and drinks and let their creativity truly flow. It was such a focused group and I was so impressed with everyone’s end results!
In case you missed the workshop and are interested in learning more about block printing, it’s history and various techniques, I thought I’d share a little bit about it here, including my personal approach to the craft.
A Brief History of Block Printing
Block printing has a rich history dating back thousands of years. Originating in China around 220 AD, it quickly spread to other parts of Asia and eventually reached Europe by the 14th century. Initially used for printing on textiles, block printing later expanded to paper and became instrumental in the spread of knowledge and culture.
Different Types of Block Printing
There are several techniques of block printing, each with its unique characteristics and cultural influences:
Indian Block Printing: Known as "Sanganeri" or "Bagh," Indian block printing uses intricate wooden blocks to create elaborate patterns. It’s celebrated for its vibrant colors and detailed designs, often featuring motifs inspired by nature and mythology.
Japanese Woodblock Printing: Also called "Ukiyo-e," this traditional Japanese technique involves carving intricate designs into wooden blocks. It’s renowned for its depiction of landscapes, Kabuki actors, and scenes from everyday life.
Linocut Printing: A modern adaptation where designs are carved into linoleum or rubber sheets. Linocut allows for bold, graphic prints and is popular among contemporary artists for its versatility and ease of use.
Meet the Masters: Prominent Block Print Artists
Inspiration often comes from those who have mastered their craft. Here are a few notable block print artists who have left an indelible mark:
William Morris: A leading figure in the Arts and Crafts Movement, Morris revitalized traditional English textile arts with his intricate block printed patterns.
Katsushika Hokusai: Know primarily as just “Hokusai”, this Japanese block print artist, who lived in the late 18th and early 19th century created many famous block print pieces including the The Great Wave off Kanagawa, which many people are familiar with. He is best known for his series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji.
Jen Hewett: A contemporary block print artist, Jen’s surface designs have been used on all sorts of products from fabric to wallpaper to stationary. She has also published two books and has been featured in numerous publications.
Rachel Newling: A contemporary linocut artist from Australia, Rachel’s work highlights the varied and unique flora and fauna of her home country. To see some very interesting photos of the stages of lino cutting of one of her designs, click here.
My Approach to Block Printing:
I am by no means a block print expert, but I have definitely done my fair share of it! I don’t use all of the traditional block printing techniques and have made some changes to the process in order to make it easier and more accessible for anyone. I typically use rubber for my blocks because I find it much easier to carve than linoleum and much more accessible for beginners. I like to carve simple, graphic designs, usually abstract as opposed to realistic looking images.
Most block print artists use block printing ink for their images and apply the ink to their block with a roller. Because I aim to make crafts accessible and simple for anyone and everyone, I actually like to use acrylic paint for my block printing. It is inexpensive, comes in tons of colors and is easy to find online or at any arts and craft supplies stores.
I also like to use foam brushes to apply the paint rather than rollers. Again, this is primarily because they are so inexpensive and easy to find almost anywhere. Another benefit to brushes is you can apply more than one color to to your print in a pretty precise way, which provides for more options in design.
My ways are definitely not the only or best ways! It is just what has worked for me and my students. There are many different methods to try and it’s fun to dabble.
I plan to post some of my own block printing tutorials soon, but until then, I really like this one from Textile Indie.
If you give block printing a try, I’d love to see! Tag @wonderspaceworkshops in your photos on Instagram. Happy block printing!