Intro to Mokuhanga: Japanese Woodblock Printing

Explore Mokuhanga at WYPW, a Japanese woodblock printmaking technique made famous by artists like Hokusai and his iconic Great Wave and still used by contemporary artists all over the world today. Unlike Western printmaking, which relies on oil-based inks and heavy equipment, Mokuhanga is a wonderfully accessible and eco-friendly method that uses water-based inks and requires no press, making it perfect for artists of all levels, even in small or home studios. 

Led by expert printmaker and WYPW Print Technician Kate Desforges, who has studied this technique in Japan, you’ll not only gain practical skills but also a deep appreciation for the possibilities of Mokuhanga as an art form. 

In this hands-on course, you’ll dive into the fundamentals of Mokuhanga, from designing your image, to transferring and carving your design using precision woodcarving tools. You’ll then bring your creation to life by hand-printing your block with watercolour paints, producing a small edition of A5 prints to take home. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore creative techniques like bokashi, a traditional method for achieving beautiful colour gradients. 

You might be a complete beginner or looking to refresh your skills, either way, this course offers the perfect balance of guidance and creative freedom. Mokuhanga’s tactile, meditative process can be wonderfully relaxing, allowing you to sink into a satisfying “flow state” as you carve and print. While the carving does require some dexterity, the joy of watching your designs come to life makes every step of the process rewarding. 

Who is the workshop for?

This course suits both complete beginners and more experienced printmakers who want to explore new ways of working. 

What should you prepare beforehand and bring with you?

All materials and equipment will be provided. You are welcome to bring general reference images, photographs or books to use as inspiration. If you wish to prepare a specific image beforehand, the image size we will be working to is 11x17cm. Try to keep your design simple and uncomplicated – try using simple shapes which you won’t find too difficult to carve, especially if it’s your first attempt. We advise bringing along an apron or old shirt to avoid getting mucky, and a folder to take your prints home in.  

Pace and Accessibility:

This workshop is designed to be relaxed, supportive and accessible, with a maximum of eight participants to ensure everyone receives individual guidance. You’ll be taken through each stage of the process step by step, with opportunities to work either seated or standing as you prefer. Due to the nature of woodcarving some dexterity and hand/wrist/arm strength is needed. Regular breaks will be included throughout the session. This workshop will take place in our Gallery space which has level access and an accessible toilet. If you have any additional access or support needs, please get in touch before the workshop so we can do our best to accommodate them. 

Your tutor: Kate Desforges

Kate is our resident Print Technician here at WYPW. In her own practice she uses print experimentally, often incorporating elements of printed matter into her unique mixed-media pieces, which carry echoes of elemental forces and half-glimpsed, half-remembered places. Trained as a printmaker, with a strong background in drawing, she approaches her pieces through that lens – building up subtle layers of paint, applying traces of pigment, layers of collaged print, carving, sanding back, and embracing the incidental.   

Her work is held in public and private collections in the UK, including the Tate Library artist book collection. She trained at Kingston University, and has undertaken artist residencies at Intaglio Printmaker, London, Mi-LAB, Japan, and a Post Graduate Lithography Fellowship at Leicester Print Workshop. She exhibits widely, most recently in London with Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair and No Place Art. Her practice is closely interwoven with her adjacent career as a printmaking technician and tutor, which continues to inform and evolve her approach to making. In 2018 she undertook a 5 week residency in Japan studying Japanese woodblock printing.  

See more on her tutor profile here: https://wypw.org/tutors/kate-desforges/

What’s next?

After attending this course you can join our workshop as a member and continue to use our facilities to make and develop your own work. The sooner the better, as the longer you leave it the more you are likely to forget! If you join up within one month of attending the course you will receive a £5 discount. Find out more about the benefits of membership here: https://www.wypw.org/shop/standard-membership/

Cancellation Policy:

• If you have to cancel:

If you are unable to attend your booked course, we may accept the fee paid as payment towards a place on the same or another course that takes place within the same financial year (running 1 April-31 March) following the originally booked event. Such a transfer will be on condition that we are informed in writing of your intentions four weeks prior to the originally booked event. Bookings can only be transferred once. If you are unable to attend, and not in a position either to transfer to another event, then the following charges will apply: Cancellation charges

• 16-12 weeks before the course: 50 % of the fee will be retained by WYPW
• Less than 12 weeks before the course: 100% of the fee will be retained by WYPW
• Please note that full payment is required for non-attendance on a booking that has been transferred.

If you have any further questions about our cancellation policy, please contact us on info@wypw.org

• If we have to cancel:

West Yorkshire Print Workshop reserves the right to cancel or re-arrange courses if there are insufficient participants enrolled to run a viable course or for other unforeseen circumstances. We will do our best to give those who have already enrolled at least one weeks’ notice of cancellation. In such circumstances you will be offered a free transfer to another course date or a full refund of fees paid. By enrolling in our courses, participants agree to abide by the terms and conditions outlined above. 

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