How I made this print
I’ve created this woodblock print of a russula mushroom by individually printing it by hand onto Zerkall paper. It’s based on a photo I took whilst walking through pine woodland on the way to King’s Cave on the Isle of Arran.
I used Japanese tools to carve into pieces of flat, smooth cherry wood to create the printing blocks. I printed each colour from these block using water-based pigmented inks and a series of stencils. During the printing process, I apply ink to the block, and then lay the paper onto it. I then press on the back of the paper using a Japanese hand-printing press called a baren. To build the design, the sheet of paper has been printed on 18 times with a range of colours and through a number of stencils to achieve the variety and depth of colour in the final image.
Every print in a batch is made in the same way, but each time the block is inked and pressed slightly differently. This results in a succession of seemingly identical but actually unique prints – each and every one is an individual, hand crafted and original work of art.
Further Details
This woodblock print of a russula mushroom is one of several in my “Little Gems” series. If you like this one, have a look at others in the series, such as Pelican’s Foot Shell, Wall Fern or Daisy.
The print is from an open edition and is titled, signed and numbered in pencil.
Printed area of the design itself measures 5cm x 5cm approx.
The print comes mounted and ready to frame, with double bevel-cut mount – overall size is 10″ x 10″ (25.5cm x 25.5cm) approx.
I mount the print onto the backing board using photo corners. I also attach an information sheet explaining how the print was made on the reverse.
The print comes packaged in a crystal clear cellophane bag. I send prints in a board-backed envelope by Royal Mail.
