Gimme that old-time relief printing
August 28, 2011 8:17 PM Subscribe
Do any living artists specialize in classical European style woodcuts?
Here is a history of woodcuts. Pre-modern ones look like this. Modern ones look like this (as you can see from the first link, the Western style merged with Japanese ukiyo-e). My dad did woodblock prints in college and all of his were in the modern style.
Are there any examples of the intricate late classical style still being made? I ask purely out of curiosity-- it would be really cool if someone were making woodcuts of modern events in classical style, and probably worth of a post on the Blue.
Here is a history of woodcuts. Pre-modern ones look like this. Modern ones look like this (as you can see from the first link, the Western style merged with Japanese ukiyo-e). My dad did woodblock prints in college and all of his were in the modern style.
Are there any examples of the intricate late classical style still being made? I ask purely out of curiosity-- it would be really cool if someone were making woodcuts of modern events in classical style, and probably worth of a post on the Blue.
Best answer: Scott McKowen (warning: unbelievably irritating website.) does scratchboard work that is very similar to older style woodcuts. He does a lot of book illustration and covers.
posted by Adridne at 8:10 AM on August 29, 2011
posted by Adridne at 8:10 AM on August 29, 2011
Response by poster: This is great, if only to remind me of how little in-depth info I can find about art genres with Google. Geri Waddington reminded me of something I saw in young adult fiction, and I believe I've seen Scott's work somewhere too! Fantastic stuff.
posted by shii at 9:35 AM on August 29, 2011
posted by shii at 9:35 AM on August 29, 2011
Have you seen MF's woodblock100's website?
posted by paduasoy at 2:01 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by paduasoy at 2:01 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Late to the thread here, sorry! My friend Andy English is doing work that should be of interest I think ... Other than that, the Wood Engravers link given above should provide many hours of happy browsing - and hopefully even lead to some purchasing! :-)
posted by woodblock100 at 4:34 PM on August 29, 2011
posted by woodblock100 at 4:34 PM on August 29, 2011
woodcuts of modern events in classical style ...
This is not in the Western tradition, but yes, over here in Japan there is a small experiment taking place to do just that - make woodblock prints in the traditional manner, yet with contemporary themes (Tokyo Sky Tree, anyone?). If I may be permitted a total self link, there is a thread on one of my blogs that traces the development of the project so far.
posted by woodblock100 at 5:15 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is not in the Western tradition, but yes, over here in Japan there is a small experiment taking place to do just that - make woodblock prints in the traditional manner, yet with contemporary themes (Tokyo Sky Tree, anyone?). If I may be permitted a total self link, there is a thread on one of my blogs that traces the development of the project so far.
posted by woodblock100 at 5:15 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You will like Dick Sheaff's site. Check out this post on Chromoxylography.
posted by unliteral at 9:56 PM on August 29, 2011
posted by unliteral at 9:56 PM on August 29, 2011
Best answer: You might also like Hilary Paynter's work (warning - site uses popups).
posted by paduasoy at 10:51 AM on August 30, 2011
posted by paduasoy at 10:51 AM on August 30, 2011
Best answer: You might also like Hilary Paynter's work (warning - site uses popups)
Oh wow, that is some of the most beautiful work, and awful navigation, I have ever seen.
A few more for you:
Barry Moser
The Wood Engravers network and their Block and Burin newsletter (all PDFs, uber-nerdy)
Google tip: contemporary wood engraving, black and white filter :)
posted by Erasmouse at 1:30 PM on August 30, 2011
Oh wow, that is some of the most beautiful work, and awful navigation, I have ever seen.
A few more for you:
Barry Moser
The Wood Engravers network and their Block and Burin newsletter (all PDFs, uber-nerdy)
Google tip: contemporary wood engraving, black and white filter :)
posted by Erasmouse at 1:30 PM on August 30, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Erasmouse at 3:16 AM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]