Japanese Woodcut: Advanced - Wednesday Morning

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When & Where

23 April 2025 - 2 July 2025 ( 30 hours, 10 weeks )
Morning, Wednesday
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Waterloo Centre

Quick Facts

Availability No
Tutor Carol Wilhide-Justin
Course Code W24PTGF01C
Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

This course is only for those students who have already completed the beginners class. This ten week course will be ideal for the student who is fully familiar with mokuhanga and would like to explore more advanced techniques such as graduated colour (bokashi) or texture (gomazuri). We will look at the work of contemporary Japanese woodcut artists for inspiration, experiment with different carving methods and explore the many variables that make this such a fascinating technique. The class is designed to be a friendly studio environment where the exchange of ideas are welcomed. The course tutor trained at RCA and MI-Lab in Japan and Mokuhanga forms her central art practice.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Exploration of the key concepts behind Japanese Woodcut in more depth. Develop critical understanding of Mokuhanga. Experiment with other practitioners' methodology, evaluate outcomes
Work from initial visual prompts-drawings, photographs, textiles etc to design woodcut and make colour separations
Explore different methods of using the Japanese tools and employing different techniques for effect. Using the tools safely and with increasing confidence
Learn how to achieve different nuanced printing effects such as bokashi using watercolour and hand pressure
Develop skills, personal visual language and critical decision making
Engage in group crits, demonstrations and discussions around technique, artists' work and other students' work

Cost

Full fee

£340

Concession fee

£255

Click here for information on Fees, Funding and Concessions (including financial support)

Class format and activities

The classes will be in the bookbinding studio C32 which is in the Main Morley Building. The classes are designed to add to and challenge our knowledge of Mokuhanga through presentations, demonstrations, one to one guidance from the tutor and peer support discussions. This promotes a lively and friendly studio environment. Students will be expected to be able to work in a more autonomous way on their own projects and to bring their own mokuhanga research to the class to share with the group. There will be exploration and experimentation with other Mokuhanga artists methodology and a critical evaluation of process. Student numbers are limited with a 2 metre distancing guidance. Please bring and wear a face protector. You will be asked to bring and use your own tools and drawing equipment. Any shared tools will be sanitised after use.

Entry requirements

Students on this course will already have completed a Japanese Woodcut beginners course and have a good working knowledge of the processes of mokuhanga. It is essential that the student has a good foundation to access this course because we will be experimenting and exploring with different methodologies, building on existing practice as well as developing more advanced techniques.

What you need to know before you enrol

Please note that there is a minimal charge (typically £7.50) for woodblock and paper. All other materials used- watercolour pigments, nori etc. are included in the course fee.

What you need

If you have your own woodcutting tools do bring them along. Please bring images, ideas, ideally a sketchbook to work with for initial woodcut and your own drawing materials. No aprons required, all other materials provided: woodblocks, tools, paper, watercolours and printing materials. Please bring face coverings these must be worn during the class.

What you can do next

Look at the work of the great mokuhanga masters such as Hokusai and Hiroshige to familiarise yourself with exponents of the technique. Carry on with Advanced Mokuhanga in subsequent courses W21PTGF02B and W21PTGF02C to continue exploration of the technique.

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