Woodblock prints are something my family holds near and dear. Back at home, Ukiyo-e prints like this one line my house walls, inspiring me since I was young.
I've had the privilege to work in the NEU CAMD Makerspace since the beginning of 2020 and used my co-op experience to further my art, in the form of woodblock prints I'd so cherished since long ago.
The Plans
Finger Joint Jig
Finger Joints Sample
Finger joints for the top part!
The press before a Polyurethane Coat
The press completed!
I laid the plans out under the guidance of my boss and professor, Patrick Kana. What it would look like, how the joints would reinforce the structure, how it would operate, and how to best spread pressure out evenly. Using Poplar wood, I made a specific jig to create the finger joints on the table saw, and dialed in the measurements to the hundredths decimal, so that I could get the tightest fit. I created, assembled, and finished the press with some sanding and a polyurethane wood finish to bring out the natural shine of the Poplar.
Though I had a hard semester workload-wise, I completed the press and can now experiment with the materials I want to use for each print.
The Art
The Woodblocks (Laser Cut)
The Initial Print Tries
The Art (II)
Print Tries (II)
Those range anywhere from rubber used for hand-carved stamps to marine-grade Meranti wood, each giving its own flavor of texture to the print. No two prints are alike, due to the varying pressures and timing durations I can press the blocks!
I have created 24 art pieces that I'm currently transforming into woodblock prints to be pressed. Trying not to aim for the perfect duplication, but for a print that feels like a unique translation of my sumi ink-based art.