Japanese Woodblock Printmaking - Tokugawa Tea Bowl

[@santiagogomez-vo3it]

Have anyone noticed along of all of his videos, he speaks like a professional, no cuts on the video, proper pauses, like he knows exactly what to say, that is something that deserves appreciation nowdays with KZbin videos, love u David keep up the magnificent work!

[@eppisgood]

I have very little interest in woodblock printing but his cadence and voice is quite pleasing to listen to.

[@GlassesnMouthplates]

Two of my friends went to his shop for print parties (on two separate occasions) at his shop in Asakusa. Both of them stated that Dave really is an excellent storyteller with a great and friendly charisma.

[@santiagogomez-vo3it]

Glasses&Mouthplates i can’t wait to go to Japan and visit him at the shop, could listen to this man for hours

[@bdpyne]

Great observation.

[@brainfornothing]

Mr. David Bull : I received a month ago "The Great Wave" and, today, just a few minutes ago, I enjoyed it, again, under the sunlight. It's breathtaking ! Thank you, David, for this incredible piece or Art ! Take care and be all happy you can !

[@louisejustlouise1291]

David Bull is the Tokyo Bob Ross I could listen and watch for hours. Thank you for uploading.

[@wrybreadspread]

It's a multifaceted video. Unwrapping the blocks is like an unboxing video. Prepping the block by applying the pigment & overlaying with the paper imparts a tactile ASMR effect. The gradual morphing into a finished print is a fascinating visual study from crude to completed image. It's culturally enlightening.

[@mrscottcheek]

Praying for your safety throughout this difficult season. Thanks for sharing your work and stories!

[@333Judy333]

I can't even express how much I enjoy your videos. The beauty of the finished product is quite impressive, but the PROCESS is absolutely fascinating! WOW! Thank you for sharing this wonderful art with us al!

[@Igelme]

insane camerawork on this one, Dave.

[@Noxturne09]

David, almost four years ago you uploaded a video remembering Ito Susumu, and in that video you mentioned the desire to make another video passing on his fine hair carving techniques. In the event you've found yourself too busy, or might have even forgotten, I'd like to request that video at the very least be added to the videos you intend to make - definitively - so that Ito-san's knowledge may be passed on for young learners of the future. If you intend to make this video already, excuse my request, but thank you nonetheless for reading it. I hope you have a good day, and are staying safe during the spread of the virus.

[@seseragistudio]

Funny that you bring this up just now, because on a couple of occasions in the past couple of weeks I have done live streams on our Twitch channel doing just this - carving fine ukiyo-e hair! Those videos are now gone from the Twitch replay system, but fans have been preserving those streams over on this KZbin channel: kzbin.info/door/JW2gIqPFnrm3SQbTs31QWQvideos It usually takes them a bit of time to get each stream uploaded, but if you watch for the streams from March 29 and April 1 (soon to be uploaded, I guess) you will see/hear a discussion of this kind of carving. Thanks for the concern!

[@lobsterboy9784]

You are the Bob Ross of wood carving

[@ChrisMJPN]

The amount of detail in the finished print is truly fascinating. Excellent job, Rei!

[@InshushaGroupie]

This man is a fantastic populariser of his expertise; it's very rare!

[@mju135]

I've waited for years for this print to be back in stock. It's my favourite print in your collection. Ordered.

[@GlassesnMouthplates]

It's beautiful when you see the finished art piece, it's even godly beautiful when you witness the step by step procedure on how that art piece gets finished.

[@yamtaztiik]

Hope u doing ok with all of this corona virus, waiting for update.

[@elizabethh1720]

I came here looking for an update too. Please let us know you all are okay.

[@MrDyl666]

@@elizabethh1720 hes been on twitch recently so I think hes ok

[@BlackAperture100]

In my last visit to your shop I mentioned that I really enjoy tea motifs and simple, tranquil designs. This chawan is no exception! I love it! Thank you so much for taking the time to show the process of how it's made and explaining about it.

[@aristopleb]

Always loved his low-tech, high-touch distinction

[@craigsnyder4105]

You are a true master of carving! You are also very blessed to have amazingly talented printers committed to working with you to create prints that will surely be admired for many decades!

[@marcthomas3343]

Beautiful work Rei, what incredible skill! And well done to Cameron for such great camera-work and editing. Thank you all for a sublime video!

[@pameladaley955]

Thank you so very much. I am a woodblock fan of many years but this is the first time I have seen the process. I am so impressed - and soothed.

[@Madlocust1985]

And again a beautiful very insightful video about this traditional Japanese printing process, a must see for every one who is making or collecting Japanese woodblock prints, thank you Dave, Cameron and Rei for making this video.

[@containercore6832]

Always happy to see your videos and learn about the art and history of printing :)

[@xqqqme]

David, I have come to your videos only in the last few weeks and, while not a total stranger to Japanese wood block printing, your videos have provided by far the "deepest dive" into the history and the techniques of the craft. One thing puzzles me and that is how the brushes that are used to spread the pigment around don't "load up" with the ink. Even if only minimal amounts are necessary and even if the paste helps spread it evenly, one would think that at some point the bristles would have picked up enough to need cleaning...if only to keep the brush effective, to say nothing of the cumulative "muddying" of the colors and the possible transfer of that residue to an otherwise pure color.

[@truufinator]

That is a ton of work. I'm starting to really appreciate the work that goes into these.

[@eggy68]

The amount of detail achieved here is just amazing. Seeing the skill and effort required to pull it off helps me understand the stylistic decisions woodblock printers made/make. Thanks for the stunning work!

[@adamwest8711]

It must have been quite the challenge to create those wood blocks! These videos show just how much skill the printers require to make the most of your hard work, although I imagine your hands must itch to take over every time you see them working.

[@primak3655]

Look at how fine those lines are on the bowl. amazing how come she sometimes uses a 2nd sheet of paper before doing the pressing...but other times doesn't LOVE that blue pigment. gorgeous.

[@teresakuhn7062]

Thanks for sharing, as a ceramist I love also japanese ceramics! Ordered!

[@cbrudder84]

This is easily my favorite. I have wanted to order many prints, but this one was the no-brainer. Perfect

[@RoseKindred]

I love the history and respect you show this art form. I honestly wish I was capable of doing it but I have learned a lot watching your videos. Perhaps one day I could use technology to help me make a print, won't be the same as yours but it is something to shoot for.

[@leekenkun]

Rei really did a good job

[@marckahn5049]

Wow! Rei-chan certainly has the touch!

[@Yen486]

wow, this is the art, just a simple bowl, the mundane object became so beautiful and special thing

[@genekwagmyrsingh9433]

I'm not sure mundane is the right word. It probably was only ever seen at a tea ceremony, which is a pretty sacred space.

[@Yen486]

@@genekwagmyrsingh9433 Yeah, agree. I mean I tried to see the picture without any historical background, it's just a bowl which exists in our mundane life. And it's just beautiful.

[@yasurikressh8325]

My art teacher taught us the basics of making prints like these. Just realising how much she had actually taught us in her classes makes me respect her work more so than I did at the time. They say you can measure the quality of an eduction by looking at what is left after what has been taught is forgotten. I can remember her lessons in much detail so what ought I make of that-

[@jeevesosiris]

Fell asleep listening to this. So relaxing

[@arachanine]

I’ve missed you Dave

[@sean...]

thank you David and the whole team, great video, beautiful art, I learnt so much watching this :-) xo

[@maryrichardson8790]

I love this one! It's so pretty, and lots of detail. Thank you for showing us what you do, I really appreciate it.

[@sajinkahnalt]

STOP THE PRESSES! DAVID BULL JUST UPLOADED (Pun very much intended)

[@sexycavetroll2788]

One of the few channels I watch as soon as I can

[@genekwagmyrsingh9433]

I'm a collector of unglazed Japanese pottery. If i can manage to find ukiyo-e of pottery I will be in heaven!

[@stevemanutd82]

David your a inspiration. Your enthusiasm about wood block printmaking has made me want to follow my dreams in taking up photography as a profession. Keep up the good work!

[@howied2829]

This just made my night!!!

[@frogz2267]

Happy to see you back Dave

[@prizm2807]

Mr. Bull, I hope you can look at your work and even have the hubris to accept and acknowledge the beautiful legacy your currently building and will one day leave behind. Bless you and your work.

[@rancorlover]

Dont listen to psychobadger david. This channel is more original than anything he could ever do. That alone is hard for the youtube community as a whole.

[@TheIainCollier]

And how exactly do you know what I could do ? And how exactly is attempting to take the credit for restructuring a dying craft original ? If his business was even slightly successful, he wouldn't need to keep trying to promote it on KZbin ! As Ive stated before, a very strange, deeply creepy and extremely sad old man with a Japan fetish.... Still..all his fan boys seem to enjoy his coloring in.....sitting in your mothers basement, watching his channel, playing with your wood .....

[@rancorlover]

@@TheIainCollier actions speak louder than words, and all your doing is repeating yourself at this point. You keep saying he is stealing art, yet I'm hearing no complaint from the nation of japan. In other words they are proud of what he has been doing. His business has only grown exponentially, and not just because of youtube. Who are you to say what he is doing is wrong when he has the high ground of success and stability. Unless you can say the same for yourself, you have no right to say otherwise. Because right now your nothing but a wandering video surfer looking to get thrills by causeing an unnecessary scene in the comment section.

[@chardymacdennis3605]

@@TheIainCollier why are you such an awful person? My god, how sad and unsatisfying your life must be. My condolences to your mother

[@desotaku5202]

@@rancorlover wait, so he thinks "printing" is "stealing art"? This is one of the dumbest things I've heard all month

[@octodoodle]

Psychobadger ok calm down there neckbeard, you might spill your Mountain Dew

[@datfrump7861]

It’s 1 am and I should have been asleep a long time ago but I love all of these videos so much I can’t wait until tomorrow 💜

[@WindHashira]

Have a great Tuesday :)

[@luffyuzumaki9365]

David thank you for your craft and for sharing your videos! This is one of my favorite channels, cheers from Spain.

[@coloradodafronteira]

I have a question I've wanted to ask for a very long time, if David cannot address it I'd appreciate it if anyone could. I'll take the example of the 8/17 - Reddish Gradation Inside the Bowl. She puts the pigment on the block at 14:51 and then spreads it with the brush. I have a feeling that for as perfect as the carving was, there is always a little bit of pigment off that area, around the edges. With that in mind, at 15:27 she places the print to finish that section. The force applied during the movement of the rubbing pad at 15:30 seems reasonable and I don't understand how the result is so perfect exactly where it's supposed to be. How can you avoid the leftover pigment around the edges of the carved area? Is that pure hand technique? Or did I misunderstood the process completely? I've seen this several other times with even smaller areas, like the 12/17 - Dark Brown Crescent. I always find intriguing.

[@featherwhisperer]

My understanding is that the wood around the area where pigment is applied is carved away so that it’s on a lower level and doesn’t touch the paper even when it’s being rubbed with the baren

[@mangs856]

I believe specifically for the question you're asking the answer would be down to the talent of the printer. He/she would make sure there is no excess pigment on the edge while brushing it on. I've only done this once, though, so take it with a grain of salt lol. Someone with more experience can confirm.

[@mangs856]

Oh, and lining it up correctly has everything to do with the registration marks that tell them where the paper is supposed to lie.

[@coloradodafronteira]

@@featherwhisperer I used to think that was the case, but the force applied still feels enough to get a little bit off. I'm more inclined to believe that the printer's skill can control that. But maybe I'm just overthinking this. Also the lining with the registration marks must be crucial as well.

[@coloradodafronteira]

@@mangs856 I'm more inclined to accept that it's in fact the skill of the printer. Not only about the pigment spreading but also with the rubbing where it's supposed to be. And yes, the lining with the registration marks definitely help! It could be that the area being printed and the registration marks are on the same level of height then.

[@fonno_]

So stoked for a new video! Thanks David!!!

[@DuneDemon8]

Bob Ross of wood block prints

[@DrFrige]

Yeah... that is a spot on accurate description. Love this channel

[@davidabenza2039]

DuneDemon8 what an idiotic comparison. just because of the voice. Please listen and understand what you hear

[@DuneDemon8]

@@davidabenza2039 oh... look... we have a little troll here... well, he needs a little friend, lets paint a little bridge over the troll. There... everyone deserved a friend...

[@DrFrige]

Just the voice? Is that all you hear? Not the passion for the art and the descriptive nature? Hmm.

[@davidabenza2039]

@@DuneDemon8 What the hell are you talking about? David himself has showed very little appreciation for those who compare him with Ross. He said specifically he doesn't identify with him. He has a knowledge in carving, history of carving, techniques, materials that I, frankly have never seen in the videos that I have seen from ross. Ross is always the same thing, for me quite dull, but is just my opinion. Dave's crafts goes far beyond that. His carving is, for me, an exquisite touch of art, wisdom and delicacy that I don't find in Ross, at all. Call me troll, just because you don't agree with me shows very little of your communicative skills, if any.

[@bobhauser3833]

Spectacular video and what a good glimpse of the skill required in only one part of the process. Many thanks!

[@genekwagmyrsingh9433]

Yakimono are my true passion, so combining two of my interests like this was incredible. I wish more prints were about pottery!

[@tomburns5231]

Lovely to watch and learn from a real pro! I would love to come and work there one day ..

[@judgestrix5106]

I really appreciate skilled Craftsman. In this digital age any and all hand made crafts are a dying art and I'm glad people like you and your staff are keeping tradition's alive.

[@duelmusic1544]

Loved the video David! Hope you're doing well 😊

[@awldune]

Very enjoyable as always

[@aquelpibe]

What I find most astounding is the thinness of the contour lines.

[@lisagrantomd9877]

So concise and detailed, so simple, and yet so brilliant.

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

I'm curious, why aren't barens completely flat? Does the slightly bumpy coil surface help with grip?

[@kyle857]

Hey David. Nurse from Detroit Michigan here. I hope you are doing well and know how many people around the world you have touched with your art and craftsmanship. Stay safe.

[@howied2829]

Love the videos Dave! Keep it up.

[@samatteb1]

Dear David, what colors were mixed to get the first and the forth impressions? Thank You so much

[@Faramik2000]

huh so that's how those prints are made. Now I know where the woodblock from the name comefrom

[@lucholden1774]

Hi David looking to go to Japan some time next year and was wondering how much in £ one of the print parties would be. Huge fan

[@ChrisMJPN]

The print parties are great and only 2000yen per person. You can find more info and reserve a spot on their website: mokuhankan.com

[@seseragistudio]

Actually, just as a 'heads up'; the price of the Print Parties will be rising somewhat during 2020. It has been ridiculously inexpensive for 6 years, but given how difficult it has been to find (and retain) staff members to do these events, we are raising our pay scales, and that will have to be reflected in the Party prices.

[@cdanielh128]

@@seseragistudio Well worth it regardless of price. The chance to have hands on experience with craft people who are keeping a traditional form of art alive is a rare chance. Not many people I know enjoy outsiders into the actual process of creation. I can imagine it can become intrusive at times of heavy work load. In my city here in West Texas there is a community of artists creating art studios on the cheap. The one stipulation is one evening a month they must participate in the public coming and having access to view their studio and explain their medium of art. The community response while slow at first continues to grow and is now almost a tiny festival each month as people explore these places and enjoy food trucks and drinks. Thank you for sharing everything you do! Everyone there at Mokuhankan is changing lives around the world!

[@fabriziodutto7508]

Beautiful! An outstanding achievement!

[@theonlyvalerie]

I missed my man David Bull, awesome to see ya again!

[@JL-wl1bg]

Did the amount of photorealistic prints change over the different eras and genres of woodblock prints, or was it always generally avoided as being too costly?

[@leesponenberg5907]

What a good day...thank you😁

[@DirtyRobot]

How the hell do you find people that can do this or want to learn how to do this? Then out of those people how do you manage to get them running at a high skill set for the feel? It's not the standard career choice for most Japanese and even then, is a very specific direction. Anyway. Great job on creating a place where these people with a gift can find a way to do what they love doing. A place where they can keep alive a way of production that would surely die a quick death in today's media driven society without the passion of people like you.

[@DrFrige]

Good Morning David, I recently started to follow your channel and fascinated with wood block carvings and paintings, You may have been asked this a thousand times so forgive me if this is redundant. Does the moisture of the paste and pigments effect the wood or grain that it may warp in time effecting the paintings?

[@AlexaY82]

In his video "Woodblock Print - start to finish full version" he mentioned that the wood expands and softens. They take into account the expected expansion along a specific direction in the grain and that dictates the direction of the pictures. Apparently there is also a grain direction in paper and that's also taken into account. And the wood softens too, which apparently isn't bad. In that video a section of the cherry wood was harder than the rest and the paint came out lighter there. Apparently that flaw goes away as more prints are made and that section softens. I recommend watching that video both for a clearer explanation and because it's very fun.

[@DrFrige]

@@AlexaY82 Thank you very much! I am trying to catch up on all his videos. This is some great stuff huh? His video came up as an ASMR video and I was like "Who is this guy?" and I got hooked on the art and process. Beautiful stuff. Thank you again!

[@b_aleman]

Truly fascinating

[@darksetsuna5]

I'm interested in knowing what the original Japanese title of the "Encyclopedia of the Arts of Japan" source in the description is to research this book. I couldn't find it by the English title given

[@leashy666]

Am I the only one who finds the way he talks relaxing? Will you make anymore story vids? Your “Remembering a carver” vid has over 1 mill views. We all love your stories❤️

[@frogz2267]

Leashy_Yami_No_Tenshi I agree it was 1 off the best👍

[@hombretropical3028]

You are far and away NOT the only one haha. I think his gift for story telling and his soothing voice are two big parts of why this channel is so mesmerizing

[@jrlakin370]

A new video! 👍👍😄

[@Behemothius]

Hello Mr. Bull, great to get another video. I just realized that your Japanese version of Mokuhankan website (https :// mokuhankan . jp) looks beautiful. Any reason you don't translate it to english and replace the current one which really feels old and outdated? I figure it could boost some international sales.

[@genekwagmyrsingh9433]

28:27 Touch is a huge aspect of why I love yakimono, so it doesn't surprise me.

[@oe542]

Dislikes are from people who ate the starch paste.

[@Seethathunter]

haha!

[@cholulahotsauce6166]

😂

[@korokification]

Awesome! I'm curious, is it easier to print twice instead of just mixing a darker pigment for the background?

[@seseragistudio]

Doing it once with deeper pigment is a tad more 'dangerous' - a single errant brush stroke can spoil the print. But doing it lighter - twice - means slight marks of that sort get covered up by the other one. And also, doing it with two passes leaves an impression with somewhat more 'depth' ...

[@stel1000]

How do you sign the piece ? I saw some letters printed on the lower right corner. I would love to see a small video on how you sign your pieces

[@1945jdc]

I wish Rei-san would of said "hi".. maybe next time?

[@seseragistudio]

She is really - really - shy. Cameron and I would like the printers to be more of a visible part of these videos (interview, etc.), but most of them would prefer to remain in the background ...

[@DanielNevilleDSouza]

amazingly relaxing

[@mahnli]

Amazing! Thank you for the video!

[@bobbythompson263]

Beautiful as always! Thanks for sharing... what kind of paper? It looks like watercolor paper I would say 150 to 200 grams no?

[@Mrblobbybobby]

It's a famous handcrafted Japanese washi paper called 'Echizen washi'. All of David's prints use specifically 'Echizen Hosho', produced in the workshop of Living National Treasure Mr. Ichibei Iwano! If you want to learn more, Echizen Washi Village (where it's from) has an official website with tons of info, including a section about Iwano himself: www.echizenwashi.jp/english/aboutus/artisans.html#iwano and there's this truly beautiful piece David wrote about meeting Iwano-san's mother: woodblock.com/encyclopedia/entries/008_18/008_18.html

[@bobbythompson263]

thank you very much, but do you think it would be suitable for watercolor? Just saw some would be... Very interesting :)

[@Rac00n]

Oh I've been waiting for more videos. Are you still selling the extra small prints you got off the auction?

[@ljjlander1]

Great video! Thank you!

[@thomasduran325]

That was spectacular ❤️

[@mayortomsoy]

WHERE IS THE REGISTER? The printmaker did an amazing job.

[@66RAW66]

If you look closely, you'll notice two triangular areas closer to the outer portion of the woodblock(s). I believe the paper is aligned to the edge of these.

[@james_hadley_]

look up kento registration... david has many videos that talk more in depth about this part of the process

[@spaceyoyo6721]

Very nice job and nice to see too ! :) Thanks.

[@ssmuccini]

how the paper doesn't bend on the wood carve? I know there is a gap of security, but my brain can't process that it does not stain... Maybe it's beacause of the tool that she uses to press it?

[@BushidoBlogger]

So cool!

[@KokoroInt]

Awesome!

[@thlee3]

does anyone else get asmr triggered when watching refined expert movements of artisans or any other high precision tasks

[@ThorsteinnSverrisson]

Yep! That's why I'm here...Especially if the task requires a lot of concentration.

[@nat2057]

I really love Baumgartner Restoration too, maybe you should check him out here on KZbin!

[@franklle]

Mr. Bull, so far as I hope you appreciate the comment, you’re a very cool person!

[@milosmilojevic7721]

First LIKE and then everything else 👍 !

[@yeahiagree1070]

A new David Bull upload.. Praise Jebus!

[@JudahMusicArchive]

Love you from Vietnam

[@revy1063]

Like the bob ross of woodblocks

[@davidabenza2039]

no chance. You just hear a voice, but you don’t listen.

[@nnjanobody6083]

i watch this to much third time watching it

[@bofa83]

Was this a different paper than usual? The pigment seemed to soak through more than usual.

[@futuristica1710]

Wonderful!

[@samatteb1]

Thank You! What is the color of the first impression?