The place where I buy my own blocks does international shipping, so why not give them a try? I can't link directly to them in this comment, but if you search for 'Woodlike Matsumura' you should easily find their English-language web shop ...
it is just amazing to see this kind of work. in the world we live now where everything has to be made in seconds, seeing the amount of time you put in the carving and printing is amazing. Thanks a lot for sharing your work with us David, i hope this tradition doesnt fade out.
There's no simple easy answer. I'm using a very hard wood (cherry), we're only taking a limited number of impressions in any given batch (then letting the wood dry thoroughly), and my printers are using a very finely ground sumi pigment - all these contribute to a good long and healthy life for this block. We expect to be able to pull a couple of thousand impressions from this without any noticeable degradation.
You make it look so easy! I've been visiting your stand at Hyper Japan in London for the last couple of years and love the artwork. It's so interesting to see how the prints come to be! Thanks
It all depends on how you hold your knife when cutting - with your palm down, or palm up. That puts the blade into the wood at a different angle, and has a big difference in the cutting action. The main point is that you want the _flat_ side of the blade to run against the wood that will be left behind. If you are right handed, and you cut with your palm upwards, then you should get a left-handed blade. (The blade 'handed-ness' is based on the traditional method of carving, with the palm down.)
Watching these videos is fascinating. Watching step by step as a drawing is adapted into a woodblock is almost hypnotic. Keep up the good work Mr. Bull.
You, Sir, are a master at what you do. But you are not only a master in your profession and leave it at that you are also a very entertaining yet discreet teacher and that makes you a hero for all those out there who seek perfection. Because that is what heroes do: they inspire while teaching... I very much enjoyed this being a carpenter myself thriving for perfection :)
He seems such a patient man.Its funny thou how hes years in Japan has made him say ano between some words even when he speaks english :) I really enjoy videos on your channel!
Nothing is drawn in reverse; the master design is produced in the normal orientation, and then pasted face down onto the wood. This produces the 'reversal', and when the printing paper is prepared, it also goes onto the wood face down ... resulting in a finished print of the proper orientation.
everyone uses photoshop to draw haha, its pixel based where illustrator is vector based, meaning in photoshop you can use brushes etc, and actually Jed, the illustrator (designer) for this woodblock print did use photoshop to draw the initial drawing, which he then traced with an ink brush for a more traditional feel.
Wow, I wish I knew how to do that! Is there a way to learn this at home with some minimalistic tools? Also do you draw on a piece of paper first and then make it "reversed" and carve the reversed drawing in order to then get the upright picture? Also can Ukiyoe be drawn by hand and still count as "Ukiyoe"? Thank you.
CrazyLassi As someone certainly interested in doing this beautiful art someday, I say absolutely you can learn to do this yourself, with proper practice and studying methods on youtube. The internet is quite the amazing tool these days, so many forms of art and ideas can be shared and learned bye anyone anywhere. =]
Hello David. I wonder if you would tell me what kind of wood you use for your carvings. Is it basswood, linden tree or in that family. doesn't seem to have grains in it. kind of like carving ivory. Great work you are doing. Thank you.
All the carving you see being done in these videos is on the wood known as 'yamazakura' - the Japanese Mountain Cherry. Good and hard, to hold fine detail, but not so hard that it won't absorb water ...
Hallo, ja wirklich eine sehr schöne japanische Kunstform. Hier findest du noch mehr Kunstwerke, Ukiyoe, Kakekomo, Shikishi und japanische Keramik. -kakemono-rollbilder-.-de
First time I've watched one of your videos and I love what you do... Quick question; How many times have you got right to the end and messed up? I bet this happens more often than not
We don't mess up much anymore. When printing, it sometimes happens that a little slip might mis-register one sheet, but not to often. And carving mishaps are (now) rare; I _know_ by feel how much force to apply, and chips are very rare.
Hi David, now that I have one of your original woodblock and I have seen the quality of the carving of fine lines and with very difficult curves to achieve (I thought very good carver, but you sent me to school ...), I wanted to know, what dimensions is the Hangi to that you occupy frequently for example for this Fox Moon, is of 5mm? Greetings and thanks!
David, is there a remedy/fix for when you're deep into a design and you miss a line or remove something you didn't intend to? Do you have to start over from the beginning or can you use some sort of putty to patch? Love the channel!
+DaveCo777 never mind, looks like it was Hokusai's Great Wave that I was thinking of... and you already have a video about recreating that print. I'm gonna go watch that one now. : )
It's the same technique Hiroshige used as far as I know. I got a book of his work in Amsterdam a few months ago that I admire every once in a while, his work is gorgeous. Yesterday I met up with a friend of mine who's a painter and she explained how the prints were done. I didn't think my appreciation for them could grow any bigger, but now that I see what kind of work these prints imply I'm simply astounded.
Dave, please help me, i really want to try and do an Ukiyo-e for my art class but i live in Italy and i don't have any idea where to buy hard carving wood. Is there an online store where i can buy, perhaps, medium quality peach wood, or farmed hard-wood somewhere else? I am fascinated with that style of wood-prints, i have some knowledge of carving as i regularly mess around with my x-acto knives, and have done multiple linoleum's in class, thank you, Nolan.
Well, he doesn't do TH-cam videos, but you could perhaps check the website of Richard Steiner, an American woodblock printmaker who has been living here in Japan even longer than I have. He's in Kyoto, and yes he teaches ... www.richard-steiner.net
I always hated being left handed because I could never right in note books without having some obstruction in my way. Because of how they are made. Also not being able to see your writing after so it’s harder to stay neat. It seems with wood carving being a lefty can be very valuable.
You mean when carving a block? I just look for a fairly unobtrusive area ... it's because I'm always a bit 'rusty' when starting one of these, because I've been involved with other work for a while (printing, etc.). So I like to start somewhere that is not so important, as the skills gradually come back ...
Hi David, You're left handed but you're using a 'right handed' knife (I think). That way looks more comfortable and perhaps more 'natural' (for an illustrator) than the traditional method. I'm looking to buy a descent knife in the not too decent future and I wonder if that might be an better option for me. Or is that an advanced skill I should forget about until I grasp the 'proper' way? Thanks for sharing your craft.
The blocks we are using are a strong plywood core, with Japanese cherry bonded top and bottom. We are now making these ourselves, and I recently made a blog post showing the process: mokuhankan.com/conversations/archives/2016/05/new_woodblocks.html
Ta "sztuka" powstała chyba z nudów... Robisz obrazek tylko po to żeby go zniszczyć- przykleić go tył na przód do deski do krojenia z której rzeźbisz mqtrycę do odciśnięcia identycznego obrazka jaki narysowałeś na samym początku. Gdzoe tu sens. Mamy XXI wiek! Większość ludzi ma soaner w domu. Po co się katować dłubaniną. Obrazek -+kaner +drukarka = 1 mln obrazków. Po co siedzieć na siłę w średniowieczu?
The place where I buy my own blocks does international shipping, so why not give them a try? I can't link directly to them in this comment, but if you search for 'Woodlike Matsumura' you should easily find their English-language web shop ...
This channel is truly a gem to behold.
He's like the Bob Ross of wood carving
it is just amazing to see this kind of work. in the world we live now where everything has to be made in seconds, seeing the amount of time you put in the carving and printing is amazing. Thanks a lot for sharing your work with us David, i hope this tradition doesnt fade out.
There's no simple easy answer. I'm using a very hard wood (cherry), we're only taking a limited number of impressions in any given batch (then letting the wood dry thoroughly), and my printers are using a very finely ground sumi pigment - all these contribute to a good long and healthy life for this block. We expect to be able to pull a couple of thousand impressions from this without any noticeable degradation.
I love the constant updates that you have been providing for this kickstarter campaign. Thank you for bringing us along on the journey!
You make it look so easy! I've been visiting your stand at Hyper Japan in London for the last couple of years and love the artwork. It's so interesting to see how the prints come to be! Thanks
What is there not to like about this slow paced artwork in this over busy world we live in. I am inspired.Thank you.
It all depends on how you hold your knife when cutting - with your palm down, or palm up. That puts the blade into the wood at a different angle, and has a big difference in the cutting action. The main point is that you want the _flat_ side of the blade to run against the wood that will be left behind. If you are right handed, and you cut with your palm upwards, then you should get a left-handed blade. (The blade 'handed-ness' is based on the traditional method of carving, with the palm down.)
Watching these videos is fascinating. Watching step by step as a drawing is adapted into a woodblock is almost hypnotic. Keep up the good work Mr. Bull.
You, Sir, are a master at what you do. But you are not only a master in your profession and leave it at that you are also a very entertaining yet discreet teacher and that makes you a hero for all those out there who seek perfection. Because that is what heroes do: they inspire while teaching... I very much enjoyed this being a carpenter myself thriving for perfection :)
Very interesting, hearing and seeing the process. Thank you. Tbis is a world i didn't know existed! Now I love your videos!
You're my hero, Mr. Bull. Since I've seen your video series, I've taken up block printing. Excellent work!
Such a relaxing voice. Very interesting work. So precise.
Thank you so much for making these videos, I've learned how to print from wood block from you .
How many times have you gouged out a big section of key line? Looks like one slip could decapitate one of your samurai there.
He seems such a patient man.Its funny thou how hes years in Japan has made him say ano between some words even when he speaks english :) I really enjoy videos on your channel!
I've now put information into the description of this video on how to get the Ukiyoe Heroes prints ...
Wow. I am in love with these. I could watch you carve all day, haha. What a skill. :)
We have a few Ukiyoe Heroes prints in my classroom at school! I love the starfox one the most
incredible!
you and your team are so talent, i never see this before. God bless you and all your team!
Have you posted a video showing how you carve the kana and kanji? Thanks for posting these videos.
When the brush drawing is created it must indeed be a great skill writing that calligraphy in reverse.
I couldn't even do it the right way around!
Nothing is drawn in reverse; the master design is produced in the normal orientation, and then pasted face down onto the wood. This produces the 'reversal', and when the printing paper is prepared, it also goes onto the wood face down ... resulting in a finished print of the proper orientation.
why was i not subbed? discovered this channel a couple years ago and watched it on and off. shoulda subscribed way back.
This is just remarkable!!
You sir, are an amazing artist.
Does nobody realize this is supposed to be a variation of star Fox?
You're truly a fox indeed
I’m interested in learning this method. What are you using as transfer paper? And where can you get it? Thanks!
Such a beautiful Art.. and no Photoshop in Sight :-)
Nobody uses photoshop to do drawings, photoshop is for photos. You are thinking of illustrator.
everyone uses photoshop to draw haha, its pixel based where illustrator is vector based, meaning in photoshop you can use brushes etc, and actually Jed, the illustrator (designer) for this woodblock print did use photoshop to draw the initial drawing, which he then traced with an ink brush for a more traditional feel.
Wow, I wish I knew how to do that! Is there a way to learn this at home with some minimalistic tools? Also do you draw on a piece of paper first and then make it "reversed" and carve the reversed drawing in order to then get the upright picture? Also can Ukiyoe be drawn by hand and still count as "Ukiyoe"? Thank you.
CrazyLassi As someone certainly interested in doing this beautiful art someday, I say absolutely you can learn to do this yourself, with proper practice and studying methods on youtube. The internet is quite the amazing tool these days, so many forms of art and ideas can be shared and learned bye anyone anywhere. =]
Absolutely amazing
Hello David. I wonder if you would tell me what kind of wood you use for your carvings. Is it basswood, linden tree or in that family. doesn't seem to have grains in it. kind of like carving ivory. Great work you are doing. Thank you.
All the carving you see being done in these videos is on the wood known as 'yamazakura' - the Japanese Mountain Cherry. Good and hard, to hold fine detail, but not so hard that it won't absorb water ...
Thank you. So that's how the plywood is layered. Found it at McClain's print supply. I have to try that...very exciting.
beautiful work
Wunderschöne Bilder und eine großartige Kunstform. Kann mir jemand sagen wo ich Bilder in Europa kaufen kann?
Hallo, ja wirklich eine sehr schöne japanische Kunstform. Hier findest du noch mehr Kunstwerke, Ukiyoe, Kakekomo, Shikishi und japanische Keramik. -kakemono-rollbilder-.-de
David bull I was wondering what I would have to do to join your classes ?I live America do I need any qualifications
First time I've watched one of your videos and I love what you do... Quick question; How many times have you got right to the end and messed up? I bet this happens more often than not
We don't mess up much anymore. When printing, it sometimes happens that a little slip might mis-register one sheet, but not to often. And carving mishaps are (now) rare; I _know_ by feel how much force to apply, and chips are very rare.
Hi David, now that I have one of your original woodblock and I have seen the quality of the carving of fine lines and with very difficult curves to achieve (I thought very good carver, but you sent me to school ...), I wanted to know, what dimensions is the Hangi to that you occupy frequently for example for this Fox Moon, is of 5mm? Greetings and thanks!
Juan-san, thank you ... As for the knife (hang-toh), I pretty much use nothing but a 4.5mm these days, and that's what you are seeing in this video.
you are amazing sir! i hope you a prosperous future :)
David, is there a remedy/fix for when you're deep into a design and you miss a line or remove something you didn't intend to? Do you have to start over from the beginning or can you use some sort of putty to patch? Love the channel!
Is this the technique that Hiroshige used to make that famous wave painting with Mt. Fuji in the background?
+DaveCo777 never mind, looks like it was Hokusai's Great Wave that I was thinking of... and you already have a video about recreating that print. I'm gonna go watch that one now. : )
It's the same technique Hiroshige used as far as I know. I got a book of his work in Amsterdam a few months ago that I admire every once in a while, his work is gorgeous. Yesterday I met up with a friend of mine who's a painter and she explained how the prints were done. I didn't think my appreciation for them could grow any bigger, but now that I see what kind of work these prints imply I'm simply astounded.
If anyone knows the background music at 1:28 please respond
I have a question. What is the difference between Moku hanga and Ukiyo-E?
Dave, please help me, i really want to try and do an Ukiyo-e for my art class but i live in Italy and i don't have any idea where to buy hard carving wood. Is there an online store where i can buy, perhaps, medium quality peach wood, or farmed hard-wood somewhere else? I am fascinated with that style of wood-prints, i have some knowledge of carving as i regularly mess around with my x-acto knives, and have done multiple linoleum's in class, thank you, Nolan.
Very nice to watch. Does anyone know of someone like him in kyoto who does teaching too?
Well, he doesn't do TH-cam videos, but you could perhaps check the website of Richard Steiner, an American woodblock printmaker who has been living here in Japan even longer than I have. He's in Kyoto, and yes he teaches ... www.richard-steiner.net
how do you sharpen your chisels? do you need to?
I always hated being left handed because I could never right in note books without having some obstruction in my way. Because of how they are made. Also not being able to see your writing after so it’s harder to stay neat. It seems with wood carving being a lefty can be very valuable.
I really wanna find what music is playing at 1:24
i think it's this one th-cam.com/video/otkOQYC8VFY/w-d-xo.html
Dave.
How do you choose a starting point.?
You mean when carving a block? I just look for a fairly unobtrusive area ... it's because I'm always a bit 'rusty' when starting one of these, because I've been involved with other work for a while (printing, etc.). So I like to start somewhere that is not so important, as the skills gradually come back ...
Anyone else see Star Fox in the carving?
Definately star fox
s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/24/37/55/2437557f289939464f6d70af7080499c.jpg
TheInformedCitizenry falco too
...That's kinda the point...
Way cool.
Hi David, You're left handed but you're using a 'right handed' knife (I think). That way looks more comfortable and perhaps more 'natural' (for an illustrator) than the traditional method. I'm looking to buy a descent knife in the not too decent future and I wonder if that might be an better option for me. Or is that an advanced skill I should forget about until I grasp the 'proper' way?
Thanks for sharing your craft.
wouldn't know where to buy any
i want to work for him
Is it special plywood ?
The blocks we are using are a strong plywood core, with Japanese cherry bonded top and bottom. We are now making these ourselves, and I recently made a blog post showing the process: mokuhankan.com/conversations/archives/2016/05/new_woodblocks.html
why did I watch this whole video
I would totally screw up chiseling
star fox wood block
You are a wise man, hiring those beautiful girls to work in the shop.
Gee thanks mister
She's a cutie
Ta "sztuka" powstała chyba z nudów... Robisz obrazek tylko po to żeby go zniszczyć- przykleić go tył na przód do deski do krojenia z której rzeźbisz mqtrycę do odciśnięcia identycznego obrazka jaki narysowałeś na samym początku. Gdzoe tu sens. Mamy XXI wiek! Większość ludzi ma soaner w domu. Po co się katować dłubaniną. Obrazek -+kaner +drukarka = 1 mln obrazków. Po co siedzieć na siłę w średniowieczu?
Dlaczego o tym nie pomyślałem! Dziękuję Ci! Uratowałeś mi życie!
Because he has a passion for it and he’s able to make a living of it.
Video is a little shaky
Way too much dialogue. Show more Art work . From Master to yourself as a student.