Tools and materials I propose:
Block printing is an ancient art and craft. In this video I give you an introduction on woodblock printing, with a few basic tools and techniques you need to get started.
Before you begin, it’s a good idea to make a bench hook out of 12mm plywood.
Use your circular saw and your table saw to cut your material to size. Then glue and nail all your pieces together. When you push your chisel against the block, it hooks on the bench.
As printing block, you can use box wood. It’s a nice soft wood for carving. But I would suggest to use plywood. It has less chances to warp and it provides a flat surface to work with.
It’s a good idea to coat your block with ink. This way when you start removing material you will reveal the light areas of your print.
You can use linoleum gouges or wood carving chisels.
Have your sharpening station near by, because you will need to keep your tools razor sharp.
My primary tool is the skew chisel. You carve from one side at an angle and then you carve from the exact mirrored side. This way you create a V groove. You can also hollow small tight spots this way. Remember not to force the tools or the wood. It’s better to complete your job with multiple passes.
The V chisel does a similar job faster. But I find the skew more accurate, especially in small carving jobs.
You can also take advantage of the shape of the gouges to carve circles. The gouges also help you remove material fast.
I begun by drawing my forms. Then I carved the outline with the skew and then I hollowed with a gouge.
Sometimes your thumb can act as a brake. This way you have better control and safety when using your tools. Especially with the skew or V. Try to carve with the blades facing away from you or your hands.
For printing you must use a special paper than can absorb the ink nicely. I used water based ink. In that case you can moist your paper a bit, to help it open it’s pores.
You will also need a spatula, a roller, a baren and a flat surface to spread the ink. As a flat surface you can use plexiglass or glass.
Next spread your ink with the roller and ink your block. Take your moist paper and place it over the block. Add another piece of paper on top and start pressing with your baren. After a while gently remove your printout.
This is basically it. You can experiment with moisture and your pressing technique. This is something on which you get better and better overtime with practice.
As a printer you should number your prints. Once you are happy with a printout, you add it’s number out of the whole. For example printout 23/50 and you sign it.
The beautiful thing about block printing is that every printout is different and has a different texture. That’s why it’s so artistic.
Block printing is awesome. I really enjoyed it, and I hope you have enjoyed it too.
But that was it, see you soon, with a new project video!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, that at no cost to you, I get a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
No comments:
Post a Comment