Inspired by the semi-abstract modernist tradition of St Ives, experienced woodblock artist Adrian Holmes teaches you to compose, carve and print your own designs using authentic Japanese tools and paper.

Practitioner Adrian Holmes gives you an insight into his extensive knowledge of the centuries old process of Japanese woodblock printing. Having lived and practiced woodblock printing in Japan for many years, he journeys there each year to continue his personal study of the art and the sosaku hanga movement that emerged in the 20th Century, around the same time as British modernism was taking off.

This course offers a contemporary take on woodblock with traditional methods and tools that have been used in Japan for centuries. Exploration will include a trip to the Barbara Hepworth Gardens and its simple and shapely sculptures inspired by the rocks and lines of the Cornish coast.  

Translated literally as ‘creative prints’, sosaku hanga emphasises the artist’s need for autonomous self-expression in the drawing, carving and designing of prints. This remains a major appeal of woodblock printing today: it’s an independent printing process that you can do at home, without a press and using completely sustainable materials.    

Learn to extract modern ideas from your surroundings and simplify them into semi-abstract designs – knowledge you can use in any creative endeavour. Enjoy the satisfying process of carving your designs into soft poplar ply and hone your compositional skills creating clean prints with a precise and professional finish.  

This is a wonderfully unique opportunity to engage with traditions from both Japan and St Ives to produce ethereal, experimental prints.

Adrian was interviewed by Jackson’s in 2020, the interview ‘Traditional Eastern Influence in Contemporary Print’ can be read here.

What will I learn?

1. The confidence to create your own woodblock prints – a good understanding of the tools and craft involved. 
2. How to simplify an image and make it into an effective print design. 
3. 1-1 guidance on your style and process of creating semi-abstract work
4. An insight into colour theory, particularly in relation to the printing process, how to separate an image by colour and use watercolour to achieve different intensities of colour. 
5. An understanding of traditional techniques, tools and materials in a modern context.

Who would this course suit?

This course is suitable for newcomers to printing or art of any kind. If you have experience with other printmaking processes such as lino, this is a chance to get an insight into its traditional predecessor. If you have an interest in Japanese culture, learning a printing process that is totally sustainable, have some watercolour experience or any of the above, this course is a rare opportunity to take those interests into uncharted territory and learn something completely new.

What to Bring

Timings and Breaks