Selection from Living Prints® 'N Video Pioneers Video Archive

Akira Kurosaki:
Woodcut Tools and Woodcutting
with Izumi Kuroiwa

1980. 43 Minutes. Color. ISBN 1-56235-634-8

This videotape was recorded in 1980 when Akira Kurosaki, the internationally-known artist who creates richly-colored, large scale woodcuts in the sosaku-hanga tradition (creative woodblock prints) visited Seattle. In a single all-day workshop he showed the major steps of making prints, from selection of tools to the final printing.

The place was the printmaking classroom at the University of Washington School of Art, and Izumi Kuroiwa, a graduate student at that time, stepped forward to volunteer some translating. When the artist was asked for clarification or questioned by the students, she helped make the answers clear.

The videotape is one of several that were made that day. Kurosaki visited Seattle and the University several times--one summer he was actually the visiting professor. This video compresses a ninety-minute session into 43 minutes and may require several viewings to catch all the details.

Below are some frames captured from the videotape.

Sharpening the knives is always important; Kurosaki shows how he does this, above, and describes the stones traditionally used in his Japan studio.

Above is a close-up of one of the primary knives used. This one is for the first cuts made as outlines of the areas that will be printed.

The first cuts are made holding the knife at an angle. Kurosaki has explained things to consider when choosing woods, allowing for the differences in Japan and the US as to what is available.

Above, after the initital cuts are made, he follows with a gouge, removing broad areas in this composition which will not be printing areas. In the US, this knife is also called a "sweep."

At the end of the tape, a power tool is introduced. This is a conventional router that woodworkers sometimes use in carpentry. Noisey. messy and a little dangerous, but it sure works fast!

People wishing to buy this tape might note that it was recorded live in camera veritée style, meaning that it is not scripted. No subtitles, no musical soundtrack, not a "slick" production--but it is informative as the team of Kurosaki and Kuroiwa know that they are talking about and they do a good job of communicating.

The sale price of this VHS video is US$43 plus Shipping and Handling.

Izumi Kuroiwa later went on to produce a 75 minute videotape of her own, showing the whole process of woodblock cutting and printing. It can be ordered through McClain's.

Read partly transcribed soundtrack from Kurosaki: Woodcut Tools and Woodcutting.