Woodblocks: About This Medium

Woodblock prints

Fine art woodblock prints are created using wood planks or plywood sheets. Woodblock prints, also called woodcuts, are known as relief prints because the carved out "relief' of the wood leaves the impression that becomes the woodblock print. On the woodblock, the image is the reverse of the transferred image. Paper laid over an inked woodblock is then pressed with a barren or wood spoon.

I like the woodblock print process because I have direct contact with all the steps in the creation of the print. There are woodblock prints from single blocks, and woodcuts, or woodblock prints, from woodblocks cut into multiple pieces. The latter allows for sections of various colors. Each piece is inked separately and fitted into place to create a single woodblock print.

Simple and basic, I find my explorations with woodblock, or woodcut, prints, an exciting challenge. From the Japanese Ukiyo woodblock prints, and Western woodcuts (from Durer to Chuck Close) I have drawn my inspirations. My woodblock prints are original pieces, printed on acid free papers that complement my body of work.