Woodcut
A Woodcut is an original hand
made print pulled from a plate that was constructed by cutting away
all areas of a wood block that the artist does not want to print.
The remaining raised areas of the plate are inked with a bryer.
Rice paper is then placed on the inked surface and rubbed from the
back. This forces the paper against the inked raised areas of the
plate and when the paper is peeled away the image is transferred
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Step
#1 Preparing The Plate
I start by cutting a 3/4"
birch plank to the dimensions of the image that I want to create.
Then the surface is sanded smooth and a coat of black india ink
is painted on the plate. |
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Step #2
Planning The Image
I do a number of thumbnail
sketches of the image I want to carve. I try various arrangements
to establish the light and dark patterns that will make up the
finished print. When I am happy with the final arrangement I do
a full scale sketch.
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Step#3
Transferring The Image To The Plate.
I turn the sketch face down and rub
white crayon on the back surface of the paper. Next I position the
Image on the plate face up. I then trace the lines of my composition
with a hard pencil. When I remove the drawing there is a white outline
of the image on the black surface of the plate. |
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Step#4
Carving The Plate
With sharp gouges
and cutting knives I remove any areas I do not wish to print.
When I have finished, the areas of the plate that are still black
will be the areas that will print. Because I painted the plate
black first I have an excellent representation of what the print
will look like when completed
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Step #5
Inking The Plate
Ink is applied to the raised
areas of the plate with a hard rubber brayer. Care is taken to
apply an even coat of ink to the entire surface.
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Step #6
Printing The Plate
There are several methods
used to print a wood cut. The one I use primarily is a modified
etching press setup. I designed a press bed modification that
allows for the printing and accurate registration of relief prints.
This diagram shows how the plate is positioned on the press bed
and the printing paper is lowered to the surface of the plate.
Once everything is in place the bed is moved through the press
and pressure is applied to just the raised surface of the
plate.
Probably the single most
important ingredient to the successful execution of a woodcut
print is the type of paper used to print on. I prefer to use a
hand made Japanese rice paper because it captures all the subtle
characteristics of the carved wood plate.
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