1 June 2024

10am-4pm

£55.00 per person, Book here

Made famous by artists such as Hokusai and ‘The Great Wave,’ the Japanese woodblock printing, or ‘Mokuhanga’ technique dates back hundreds of years and is still used by contemporary artists all over the world today. Mokuhanga, differs from Western methods of woodblock printing which use oil-based inks and heavy equipment such as presses. Instead, it uses water-based inks and there is no need for a press, which makes it a versatile, accessible and non-toxic method of printmaking.

On this day taster course, you will be guided through designing an image and transferring it to a wood block, carving using specialist tools, and printing your image by hand with watercolour paints, to create a small edition of A5 prints to take home. There will also be the opportunity to experiment with using creative inking techniques such as ‘bokashi’ to achieve gradients and multi-coloured prints.

The aim of this course is to give learners an idea of the possibilities of Mokuhanga as a medium to create images, and to have fun and get inky. (Carving and printing can also be very relaxing once you get into that ‘flow state!’). It would suit anyone with an interest in printmaking – both beginners or those who are looking for a refresher, but please be aware that carving does require a reasonable amount of dexterity.

The tutor, Kathryn Desforges, is an artist and printmaker based in West Yorkshire. She makes, exhibits and sells limited edition, handmade original contemporary prints and artist books. In 2018 she undertook a 5-week residency in Japan studying Japanese woodblock printing and has been teaching the technique ever since.

All materials provided
Suitable for those ages 16+ (under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult at all times)

Refreshments provided by Sketch Cafe
Lunch is not provided although you are welcome to bring a packed lunch to eat in the Studio space.  

This workshop is part of our National Treasures: Monet in York exhibition events programme. Find out more about the exhibition here