The Unfinished Print : A Mokuhanga Podcast

History is an important facet of mokuhanga. It goes without saying that whatever we learn as printmakers comes from somewhere else. It's up to us as to whether we embrace it or push it away. In this episode of The Unfinished Print I look to the past, at artist Walter J Phillips, who's prints I have been a fan of long before I took up the art form myself. As a British Canadian, Phillips used Canada...

The world of mokuhanga has a lot of moving parts. It's a machine that needs to be consistently monitored, updated and supervised. This is especially true when most mokuhanga practitioners are the ones working on every step to get their finished product. Many times we as mokuhanga artists tend to overlook what goes into our tools; the barens, the brushes, pigments and paper, many of us simply wanti...

The work of Mara Cozzolino is nuanced and powerful. Her works of nature take the viewer to a wonderful place, of loss and of love. In Part 2 of my interview with printmaker Mara Cozzolino we speak about her mokuhanga method, the unique tools she uses when making large prints, her "cloud" lockdown project and I find out what shallow carving means. If you haven't heard Part 1 of my interview with Ma...

Most everyone who creates and produces mokuhanga has purchased tools, barens, or any other items needed for their work, from McClain's Printmkaing Supplies. Located just outside of Portland, Oregon in Tigard sits one of the most interesting and important companies within the world of mokuhanga.  Representing McClain's for this interview is artist and printmaker Daniel Jasa. Daniel has worked with...

Mara Cozzolino is one of the best and brightest mokuhanga printmakers working today. Her work delves into the silence and simple moments, sending us face to face with the solitude and beauty that only nature can bring us. On this first of two episodes dedicated to Mara's work and journey, we speak on her early attempts at mokuhanga, what traveling and attending mokuhanga workshops around the world...

One of the most interesting and intriguing mokuhanga printmakers working in the medium today, is Kevin Frances. Kevin lives in New York City and uses the everyday life of his space to make his prints. Combining sculpture, and photography in his mokuhanga Kevin Frances uses these different mediums to create some of the most compelling and fascinating woodblock prints I have ever seen. His attention...

The art of the modern printmaker is universal. All over the world mokuhanga has reached people from all aspects of life. It touches a chord that is unique and powerful. On this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak to an artist who's work does just that. Benoit Varaillon, also known as Beno Uki Ga, is a French mokuhanga printmaker who mixes the traditional and the modern; pieces that are full of...

Up to this point for The Unfinished Print, the primary goal has been to share the lives and works of mokuhanga creatives, for those who want to understand how contemporary Japanese woodblock prints are made. While understanding contemporary mokuhanga is important I believe that one must also search the past histories of mokuhanga. History, how prints were made, sourced and produced in Japan will,...

The work of Canadian mokuhanga printmaker Graham Scholes is the work of an artist searching for history. His career has taken him across Canada, teaching, studying and creating his prints and water colours.  Graham has worked in various types of printmaking and art but it is mokuhanga which he seems to have found his voice.  In this episode of The Unfinished Print, Graham (accompanied with his wif...

Jennifer Mack Watkins is making thought provoking and powerful work. Jennifer's hard work and her unique approach to mokuhanga, screen printing,  and lithography has begun to pay off. Her current solo show, " Children Of The Sun, " has been written about in The New York Times , Essence , Vogue , and Bust . Along with her solo show at the Brattleboro Musuem and Art Center in Vermont, where she orga...

Richard Steiner has been making woodblock prints for over 50 years.  Living in Kyōto, Japan for most of that time, Richard has been inventing new tools for making mokuhanga, has been creating new works on a regular basis, as well as instructing. Richard is an innovator and creator in the world of woodblock printmaking and has the body of work and success to show for it. In this episode of The Unfi...

Annie Bissett is one of the most thought provoking and interesting mokuhanga artists working today. Her pieces allow the viewer to contemplate subjects and ideas which may never have entered their consciousness . Especially in the current political and cultural climate, her prints make all the more sense.  In this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with Annie Bissett about her career in mokuh...

Laura Boswell is one the most productive mokuhanga and linocut printmakers working today. Not only does she print, she co-produces a popular art podcast called Ask An Artist , and with her husbands help The Talented Mr. B, she also produces instructional videos on YouTube on mokuhanga and lino cut. Her output these days is inspiring and exceptional. In this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak...

Taran Casey is very committed to the craft of mokuhanga. Taran is an apprentice carver in Tokyo, Japan. Following his progress on social media over the past year or so, I have found his work fascinating as well as educating. In this episode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with Taran regarding the apprenticeship process under a Japanese teacher, what he has learned in technique the last two years,...

Everybody needs a helping hand. Halle Castille is an artist and assistant to printmaker John Amoss, who I interviewed here . At 26 Halle has been working diligently at her career as an artist shortly after leaving school. One of her teachers happened to be woodblock printmaker John Amoss of Tanuki Prints. Since August of 2020, Halle has been assisting John with his Appalachian Trail series as well...

One of the main reasons I wanted to start The Unfinished Print was to have a chance to speak to the artists who have made an indelible mark on the world of mokuhanga. In many respects, I would call those printmakers, "legends." Naoko Matsubara in my humble opinion is one of those "legends." Her work spans several generations, across many countries, and has challenged what it means to be a mokuhang...

Printmaker, teacher, artist, John Amoss has created, in my humble opinion, one of the most important modern mokuhanga landscape series in The Appalachian Trail.  In my interview with John Amoss we speak on his philosophies behind mokuhanga, the journey's throughout his life that helped him reach the creation and completion of  The Appalachian Trail, the works of Hiroshi Yoshida and Kawase Hasui, ...

Matt Brown is a philosopher of mokuhanga. It can be so very easy to get lost in the technique and the minutiae of what we do that the philosophical elements of the art form can be lost. In my interview with printmaker and teacher Matt Brown we try to get to the heart of the woodblock print. Through Matt's stories and his desire to understand his passion we move along various topics such as his ins...

Terry McKenna is the owner and operator of the Mokuhanga School located in Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan. In this episode of The Unfinished Print, Terry and I discuss sustaining a business during COVID-19, his own work, and how his school is run.  follow The Unfinished Print and my work on Instagram  @popular_wheatprints , Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Show Notes...

Without the use of paper there would be no mokuhanga.  Washi has played an indelible position in the world of the Japanese print. Many artists in mokuhanga use washi for their prints and as The Unfinished Print is a podcast dedicated to the workings of mokuhanga I felt it was necessary to interview an expert in all things  washi . Nancy Jacobi has worked tirelessly in promoting the use of  washi i...

Join me for the final part of my two part interview with printmaker Will Francis. What started as a discussion about pigments, used historically and currently in the world of mokuhanga, quickly  morphed into a lively discussion about what it means to be a mokuhanga artist in modern times.  follow me on Instagram  @popular_wheatprints , Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gm...

In this first part of my multi-part episode with printmaker Will Francis we begin with a short introduction with Will about who he is, what he does, and his partnership with Jed Henry.  follow me on Instagram  @popular_wheatprints , Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Show Notes: all links are hyperlinked. Just click! Will Francis: Patreon  and website  David Bull...

Join me on the second episode of The Unfinished Print podcast as I speak with New York based printmaker Cam Bailey. We discuss a myriad of topics, including how memory affects Cam's approach to his print work, how the environment may push him to new heights and a detailed description of the reduction process.  follow me onInstagram @popular_wheatprints , Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at th...

Welcome to The Unfinished Print Podcast! Here I delve into the world of modern Japanese woodblock print through its artists, curators, and collectors. On the first-ever Unfinished Print Podcast, I chat with Cleveland based printmaker Cal Carlisle on his work, his woodblock print journey and what makes him love printing so much. Follow my Instagram for updates on the podcast as well as my work and...

The trailer for the upcoming podcast The Unfinished Print. This is where the Japanese print, or moku hanga, is explored through its artists, dealers, and collectors.