Kari Laitinen

    
Kari Laitinen
Demonstration / Japanese Watercolour Woodcut
Based on research: Alternative Block Materials for Japanese Watercolour Woodcut
kari.laitinen@aalto.fi
www.karilaitinen.fi

Workshop Demonstration

Demonstration / Japanese Watercolour Woodcut
During 2007 – 2012 a Finnish research team supervised by author investigated the properties of heat-treated wood in order to find suitable block materials with watercolour. The research concentrated in alder (genus Alnus) and birch (genus Betula), which were found as potential new block materials already beginning of testing.

The selected wood types were heat-treated in + 120° C and 140° C. The humidity of the working area was kept saturated high level, so that wood would not crack in drying process.
The objects of the analysis comprised black ink prints made by using selected wood types. The goal was to develop methods and reveal parameters in an overall aim to evaluate the interactions of the ink, the wood and the paper. The team used two different handmade Japanese paper qualities in the test for gaining variable on the print properties.

The produced ink print was anticipated to reveal the suitability of the wood for printing. The results were directly derived from optical measurements. The main observations were done from the median values of the scanned and imaged areas. The
conclusions from the measurements were the following:

(1) It was confirmed that higher temperature heat treatment decreases the wood’s ability to absorb the used ink and lowers the ink transfer to the prints.

(2) Both the microstructure and the composition of the paper affect greatly on the ink transfer. The high fiber content induces stronger and faster ink transfer.

(3) Alder seems to transfer the ink slightly better than birch.

Both heat-treated alder and birch proved to be strong candidates for future printing block material. These wood species are rather similar in use, but still have their own special character for printmakers to explore. The research in Finland shows how new innovative ideas can ensure the further development of woodblock printmaking. Heat treatment is also gentle on the environment: woodblocks may be recycled.