![]() ![]() I’m attracted as well to the simplicity of the technique used to create these images, the simplicicity of the materials and also the demanding nature of the hand-skills necessary. These prints became a popular means for common people to collect views of beautiful places that they had visited. I am drawn particularily to the work of giants Hokusai and Hiroshige because these two men popularized nature, animals, flowers, plants, and the landscape as a subject. I’m drawn to this message of taking pleasure in the moments of the free, beautiful, and impermanent things around us. “… Living only for the moment, turning our full attention to the pleasures of the moon, the snow, the cherry blossoms and the maple leaves singing songs, drinking wine, diverting ourselves in just floating, floating … refusing to be disheartened, like a gourd floating along with the river current: this is what we call the floating world…” I love this quote from novelist Asai Ryoi explaining Ukiyo-e: These prints focused on picturing landscapes and natures, city life, actors, wrestlers, courtesans other popular subjects. The “Floating World” refers to the idea of impermenance or fleeting beauty. Hokusai was an artist in the middle of the Ukiyo-e or “Pictures of the Floating World” period of printmaking in Japan that lasted from the Early 1600’s until about 1900. By that I mean that it is a handmade form of art that is very affordable and accessible to many. What is the allure of making prints in this way? I like the graphic nature of Japanese design and print, I appreciate the history of the technique and its (sometime) focus on landscape and nature, and I love the accessibility of printmaking. I picked it back up this last fall, 2012, and have made six new prints since then. The technique of Moku (Wood) Hanga (Print) has stuck with me since then, a humble beginner with this artform, but addicted to the technique and learning quickly. In 2011 I took a short 6-week course in Moku Hanga from Seattle Artist Francesca Lohmann at the (now unfortunately closed) Sev Shoon Studio. It’s a classic of Japanese art, and deservedly so, having both a powerful composition and narrative. “I will continue my studies in traditional and contemporary mokuhanga in Japan next year, but always return from the security of this tradition to the painterly freedom of my personal practice”.Most people recognize Housiki’s “Great Wave of Kanagawa” from his series Thirty Six Views of Mt. ![]() She studied Japanese woodcut with Roslyn Kean in Australia, Eva Pietzcker in Germany, and at Mi-Lab in Japan, with teachers such as Tuula Moilanen (Doctor of Arts) of Finland, and Chihiro Taki (Master of Arts), Michiko Hamada (Master of Fine Arts), and Ayao Shiokawa (Master of Fine Arts), all from Japan. Sybille has a background of study in art and design, and after years of teaching and working-mainly in painting, drawing, murals and installations-she started working in woodcut in 2015. Originally from Germany, Sybille has lived in various parts of New Zealand with her family for the last 15 years. Materials used will be sustainable (wood, paper and water colour). While wood blocks will be provided to create printing, experienced tutor Sybille will teach the basics of creating your own wood blocks to be worked on beyond the class. ![]() ![]() At the end of this 5 day workshop, participants will possess a vital toolkit of printmaking techniques that can be easily built upon or added to their individualised art practice. Based on the principles of Japanese woodblock carving and printing (mokuhanga), this creative workshop will introduce the extensive possibilities of this low tech printing method. ![]()
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