Photographic Woodblock Print: Workshop with Katsutoshi Yuasa

19 - 27 April 2024 
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Born in Tokyo in 1978, Katsutoshi Yuasa is a contemporary woodblock print artist. His work presents a conversation between the contemporaneity of photography and the tradition of woodblock printmaking. Each Yuasa woodblock print begins with his own digital photographs, which he then reinterprets as woodblock prints. In his words, the camera creates “fictional two-dimensional information in the surface…I have decided to use the woodcut technique as a way of adapting the subjective perception to the objective fiction.” This interplay between the emotional and the factual is neither reality nor fiction: Katsutoshi Yuasa creates a "neutral space…in a new dimension." Katsutoshi Yuasa received a BA in Fine Arts from Musashino Art University in 2002, where he studied painting and printmaking. He continued his study of printmaking in London, earning a MFA from the Royal College of Art in 2005. From MI-LAB to Musashino Art University, Yuasa has taught, lectured and led workshops throughout Europe and Asia. He has received numerous awards and scholarships, including Grand Prize at the 2015 CWAJ 60th Anniversary Print Show, and was named the 2017 Ronin|Globus Artist-in-residence. He actively exhibits in solo and group shows worldwide and his work can be found in the permanent collections of prestigious institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum. http://www.katsutoshiyuasa.com
Born in Tokyo in 1978, Katsutoshi Yuasa is a contemporary woodblock print artist. His work presents a conversation between the contemporaneity of photography and the tradition of woodblock printmaking. Each Yuasa woodblock print begins with his own digital photographs, which he then reinterprets as woodblock prints. In his words, the camera creates “fictional two-dimensional information in the surface…I have decided to use the woodcut technique as a way of adapting the subjective perception to the objective fiction.” This interplay between the emotional and the factual is neither reality nor fiction: Katsutoshi Yuasa creates a "neutral space…in a new dimension." Katsutoshi Yuasa received a BA in Fine Arts from Musashino Art University in 2002, where he studied painting and printmaking. He continued his study of printmaking in London, earning a MFA from the Royal College of Art in 2005. From MI-LAB to Musashino Art University, Yuasa has taught, lectured and led workshops throughout Europe and Asia. He has received numerous awards and scholarships, including Grand Prize at the 2015 CWAJ 60th Anniversary Print Show, and was named the 2017 Ronin|Globus Artist-in-residence. He actively exhibits in solo and group shows worldwide and his work can be found in the permanent collections of prestigious institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum. http://www.katsutoshiyuasa.com

Workshop cost: $2,100

Deposit: $500

Level of experience: n/a

Woodblock printing is the oldest known printing technique in the world. A woodblock is carved with carving knives and printed on paper with a hand-printing tool called a baren. The time-consuming manual process provides a pleasant stimulus to our brain and body.  This workshop will start with photographing the nature of Ballinglen. Participants will be asked to find their own locations to use as motifs for their works. They can use either a smartphone or a digital SLR camera to take pictures. Next, the digital photos taken are imported into my laptop computer for colour decomposition. Then, print out each color-resolved image. At this time, the printouts must be  done on a laser printer. And then, transfer the printed out images onto plywood. We use orange oil cleaner (plant-based thinner) for the transfer. Once the transfer to the plywood is complete, it is time to start carving with the carving knives. 

Dates to remember:

  • Registration: Open now
  • Booking forms and fee must be received by: 15th March 2024
  • Final payment due: 15th March 2024
  • Arrival Date: 19th April, 2024
  • Depature Date: 27th April, 2024
  • Workshop Date: 19th - 27th April, 2024

  • Day 1: (April 20th) Photo shooting in Ballinglen and colour separation on the computer

    Day 2: Photo transfer and carving images on plywood

    Day 3 - Day 5: Carving

    Day 6-7: Printing and appreciation of participant’s works

  • Tools required: 

    Carving knives (if you have), Baren (if you have),  Smartphone or digital SLR camera

    Tools provided: Water-based inks, Japanese paper, Orange-oil cleaner

To check availability for this workshop please complete and submit the form found in link below.

BOOKING FORM

All other queries, please contact Úna Forde on, unaforde.baf@gmail.com.

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