The Process

My prints are made by hand using the traditional Japanese Moku Hanga technique. The materials I source are as close as practical to that used for hundreds of years. Generally each color and each embossed area requires a separate block of hardwood such as cherry, alder or magnolia. The paper is made in Japan from the bark of the paper mulberry bush (kozo). Some of the paper I use is made by hand. The pigments are water-based but unlike historical colors these are all lightfast. No press is used. Each color is brushed onto the block and after gently laying down the paper the image is transferred by rubbing the back of the paper with a baren. This process is repeated for each block and sometimes multiple impressions of the same color are required. You can click on an image to enlarge.