I created a drawing event that I named “Art Hikes”, where I have the opportunity to share my passion for hiking and art. Even though I used the word ‘hike’, it doesn’t necessarily mean we have to go hiking. It could be a casual walk through a local park.
For me, hiking and art go hand-in-hand. I go hiking which inspires my artistic practice; and creating art is food for my soul; I hope I can share that experience with you, and connect with Japan.
I will guide you through beautiful parts of Japan, while also giving you advice on how to draw, as well as drawing exercises throughout the Art Hikes event. You will receive all of the drawing materials, papers and clipboard. We will take regular short and long breaks to sketch.
Art Hikes is broken down into two parts: the first part, as described above, is the drawing part. The main objective of this is to create some sketches and drawings for the second part - making a mokuhanga print.
With the drawings and sketches we made during the walk or hike, I will then teach you how to turn them into a traditional mokuhanga/ Japanese water-based woodblock print. I’ll teach you all the steps involved, including colour separation, transferring image to a wood block, safely carving and printing on handmade Japanese washi paper and creating your own original mokuhanga print.
At the International Mokuhanga Conference, held in Echizen, Japan in April 2024, I was fortunate enough to be able to host two of my Art Hikes events. It was a great experience meeting other Mokuhanga artists from around the world, and in total there were twelve artists from ten countries who participated and created their own 15x15cm mokuhanga prints, which would later become a print exchange. It was an absolute pleasure to be able to organise this print exchange with some of the most talented artists around the world.
One of the participants from Taiwan, Kimmy Tseng, took it upon herself to organise several exhibitions of our print exchange in Taipei called “Encounters in Echizen: Art Hikes 2024 International Mokuhanga Print Exhibition” at MBmore Gallery from August 16 to September 11th, and then again at Lai’s Ancestral Home in Beitou (北投賴氏祖厝) from 20th November to January 2025, and a third exhibition in March 2025 (details TBA).
As part of the exhibition at Lai’s Ancestral Home, on the weekend of November 23 and 24, along with Kimmy, I will be hosting a two day Art Hikes & mokuhanga workshop! The plan is to split the workshop into a beginner day with Art Hikes on Saturday 23rd and advanced on 24th (no Art Hikes). You can do both days or you can choose either day.
You will be guided on a walk through a local park (川滕島) and some basic drawing instructions will be given, you will learn how to colour separate your finished drawing, transfer to wood blocks, carve safely, applying ink to your carved wood blocks and transferring your image using a baren to handmade Japanese washi paper to create your own original mokuhanga print.
All materials provided - carving tools, wood blocks, Japanese washi paper, baren, pigments and more. Participants will have to supply their own sketchbooks and something to draw with. You can draw any size, but the mokuhanga image size will be 15x15cm and paper size will be 20x20cm. Beginners will be able to carve 1-2 wood blocks, and advanced will be able to use 2-3 carved blocks (or those who are staying for both days). For the advanced day on November 24th, participants will learn some advanced carving skills (shallow carving, scratch technique) and advanced printing skills (baren marks and printing with a spoon or fingers).
Day 1 schedule:
9-11am walk & sketch. We will explore 川滕島 (Chuanteng Island)
11am -12pm finish drawing, transfer image to wood blocks
12-1pm lunch break
1-4pm carving
4-6pm printing (participants staying for day 2 can continue carving)
Day 2: you will learn some advanced carving and printing skills.
9am-12pm carving. (Finishing previous day carving or start carving your original design)
12-1pm lunch
1-6pm printing
There is very limited spots available (maximum 10 per day) so please register as soon as possible before it fills up! Sign up here
Additionally, starting February 2025 in Hirō, central Tokyo I’ll be hosting more Art Hikes & mokuhanga workshops at the beautiful Schreck House! It will be a similar format as above - a two day workshop, guided explorative walk to local parks and shrines, carving and print, with all tools and materials provided and beginner friendly. However, there will be no beginner or advanced days (yet).
Schedule - Day one:
Meet at 10am, go to local park (location TBA), draw until 11:30am;
12-1pm lunch break;
1-2:30pm finish drawing, transfer design to wood blocks;
2:30 ~ start carving until 6pm.
Day 2:
10-12pm Finish carving;
12-1pm lunch break;
1pm ~ Printing until 5pm.
¥10,000 per person/ day.
Very limited space is available (6 maximum), so please get in quick to secure your spot :)
Registration starts in December
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