Ukiyoe Heroes (16) : Making 'The Hero Rests'

The latest update to the Ukiyoe Heroes print series, this one shows a general overview of how 'The Hero Rests' was made, and was shot in the Seseragi Studio workroom of woodblock printmaker David Bull in Tokyo during January and February of 2013.
Links:
The print is available from Jed's webshop at:
ukiyoeheroes.com
A slideshow illustrating the build-up of all the colours of this print can be seen here:
mokuhankan.com/...
The Chibi Heroes prints mentioned in the video are here:
mokuhankan.com/...
For those who haven't seen it, the Kickstarter where we introduced these prints is still online here:
www.kickstarter...
The Facebook page containing the latest news and updates about the project is here:
/ ukiyoeheroes

[@seseragistudio]

I'm not quite sure what you are seeing - I am using my right hand fingers to steady the blade as it moves slowly forward. I'm slicing less than a millimetre deep into the wood, so there isn't much force involved. It's all very quiet, very slow ... not much to worry about! :-)

[@Ronmszlaifer]

In these sad times filled with so much anxiety, David you are an Oasis of tranquility. Thank you!

[@BaneRain]

This is so peaceful. I've begun watching your videos when I'm feeling down.

[@OjarsGreste]

Hello David, I discovered your videos today and was totally mesmerised by your process. Absolutely wonderful works! Thank you for sharing what you do.

[@halilahmed279]

This is absolutely amazing. I personally love the wood block. The contrast between solid and void depressions is exceptional!

[@MowSkwoz]

Your craftsmanship and detail is truly astounding. I'm so glad artists like yourself are keeping ukiyo-e alive and kicking! I've been waiting since the beginning to get my hands on my very own "The Hero Rests", and I can barely wait to hold it in my hands! Shipping can't come soon enough! Keep up the good work!

[@maryannesoriano8943]

I JUST DISCOVERED YOUR WORK, AND I'M AN INSTANT FAN! SO MUCH PRECISION. YOUR CRAFT IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!

[@CLV117]

You sir are an amazing person and truly an excelent artisan I've never seen that level of precision I can say now that I found someone to be a model for me to follow, I've been watching all the videos without being able to keep my mouth closed I'm really amazed and mesmerized, thank you so much for sharing Mr. Bull what an excelent work from you and everyone involved in the process! Greetings from Colombia to Japan!

[@willterryart]

These are so fun to watch Jed! Dave Bull - you're a Jedi Master! Your voice is so soothing - one can tell you are having fun at your craft!

[@andrewkuhar1189]

Thank you so much for sharing the process to making these prints, David. Excellent videos and explanations of the craftsmanship that goes into making any single wood block that further brings the whole image together.

[@matthewreagan4937]

I just found this tonight and it has me completely mesmerized! So happy I stumbled upon this channel. Thanks so much for this Dave! This is truly something special!

[@princesshyrule]

I bought this print directly from your shop is Asakusa. I cherish it so much.

[@cosmichoneys]

Hello David! I recently discovered your channel and I wanted to say thank you for showing us your work. I never knew about this process and your videos are entertaining as well as educational! I can't wait to see more of them !

[@crgaillee]

Really love this, thank you for taking the time to record and post. I am familiar with modern plate printing techniques, and I truly appreciate the work that goes into these pieces. Truly an art that requires great skill and mastery.

[@isaacderr2799]

You are my hero Mr. Bull! I'm going to be taking a lithography class this semester and seeing you create these incredibly stunning prints has me excited to be make prints (of course of a far lesser caliber and different style but I am excited none the less!).

[@StefandeGroot]

Thanks for the wonderful videos about making wood prints! I have been a big fan of Ukiyo-e for a very long time and always wondered how they were made. Thanks to your wonderful videos now I know! I am an animator and illustrator myself and really appreciate the effort and patience that goes into making these wood prints! I just ordered Fox Moon!

[@47artisan]

Sir, I've been watching several of your series of videos sofar, and had to interrupt to post this little comment, something wich is not a thing I do habitually. I' ve been an artisan myself for a number of years, and must say I've rarely seen anyone demonstrate so much skill and at the same time such an aptitude to convey and share his knowledge so readily and generously.. To me, a very strikeing mix of naturel and precision. I am conviced, that I will not be the only one that will be inspired by them, and see again the new opportunities, and sheer pleasure in the life of a craftsman . It has, they have, given me great pleasure. Sincerely , G. Vandeplass.

[@kevindonohue2912]

I am enjoying these videos immensely! I find the concept of combining video game heroes (about which I know nothing) with the Tokugawa period wood block techniques quite compelling; you are keeping a tradition alive while making it relevant to a contemporary audience. As I indicated, I have no knowledge of the video games from which these characters are drawn, but perhaps that allows me to respond to these prints purely in terms of their beautiful visual impact and their very high technical level. I can see skills developed through long years of training at every step of the production process. Stunning work.

[@seseragistudio]

Well, I don't know about audiobooks, but I do have a weekly audio 'podcast' - over on the astoryaweek com website, I have been doing audio versions of the little stories for a few years now. Access any story, and click on the 'speaker' icon to hear them ...

[@seseragistudio]

No, you won't find much blood on my blocks these days. Twenty-odd years ago, it was a different story ... :-)

[@seseragistudio]

No no ... it's just peaceful and quiet work. This isn't brain surgery! Back a lot of years ago, I did sometimes feel a kind of tension while doing this sort of carving; I was of course afraid of messing it up. But I have more confidence now (and also know how to fix it when things do go wrong ...).

[@bleachedink]

Just discovered these videos, wonderful work! The experience shines through in all the videos, definitely inspired to start using this technique in my own work! Thank you for sharing :)

[@RincsArt]

Watching you work is so inspiring! I'm working on making a woodblock replica for my Japanese Art class, and being a first-timer, it's very daunting! There is so much work and preparation that goes into a print! I do love it; however, and hoping to learn more after this!!

[@robinpark5455]

wow just visited the ukioye website and i'm in awe. I love all the video games that you've made prints of!

[@seseragistudio]

Apple seems to have deleted my 'A Story A Week' podcast from iTunes (again) and I'm not sure why. If you write to me (via my woodblock com website), I can send you a set of links to the audio files, so that you can access them more easily ... Thanks for the interest!

[@RSTStop780]

This is the print that I'm getting so I appreciate getting to see how it's getting made.

[@seseragistudio]

It's yamazakura - Japanese mountain cherry - the standard wood for this kind of printmaking for hundreds of years. If you are intending to give this a try, don't miss the 'Library' section of my woodblock com website ... plenty there to get you started.

[@jankanpo]

i just got my fox moon wood block print in from the kickstarter thank you so much for making such beautiful work easily available to people like me :D

[@seseragistudio]

Well traditional Japanese woodblock printmaking no longer exists as 'a line of work'. For the 'long story' you can hunt up my 'Hyakunin Issho' newsletter on my website, but the short story is that I developed an interest in the craft, tried making prints, failed miserably, tried some more, scraped up whatever advice I could get (very little back in those days), tried some more, and tried some more, and here I am ...

[@dtancler]

Your work still amazes me, mr. Bull! Keep it awesome! :)

[@thespokenword8540]

Awesome work David!

[@seseragistudio]

Santa's happy! :-)

[@tullinator77]

wow! Mario, star fox, and link that is amazing and truly mesmerizing to watch!!!!

[@brassyjazzhole9572]

im really interested in the 4 seasons prints, and i would love it if you could show the modern era print in another video

[@EduardoPortasRuiz]

Hello from Mexico, David. Great work! I learned to love woodwork from my mother, which practices embossing of religious images with gold paper sheets. I would like to record here doing her work and share it on KZbin. Could you by any chance share the model of videocamera you use for this video? The skin tones and colors look fantastic and really add to the general calm feel of the piece. Thanks!

[@grimMachine]

Dave, do you have to hold your breath while carving the detailed areas in order to keep your hands steady? I was holding my breath just watching you do that... I think I would have to get up often to keep from getting tense! Amazing work.

[@AvengerDK]

I watched this while listening to Zelda's Lullaby in the background :)

[@furankusama]

This is honestly like watching Boss Ross paint.

[@frankberst9849]

The Bob Ross of.....middle-aged Canadian wood block Japanese printmakers who also happen to live in Japan 😂🤣😂🤣

[@janedoe-ex5wo]

These are gorgeous

[@mphmaster]

Wow great work!

[@Spenceley]

Wow, I like this one a lot. Might have to look for a print of it.

[@seseragistudio]

ukiyoeheroes.com

[@Semitela]

thanks david! always fun to watch

[@kidmarine7329]

Beautiful.

[@TommyEfreeti]

Beautiful!

[@StonyRC]

Well, I've watched it being done, I understand (roughly) how it works and my only conclusion is ... "It's not possible". I jest, of course, it's just one of those processes that appear to be SO skillful as to be utterly impossible. Amazing to watch it being done.

[@Baxtification]

I love these videos.

[@hamerWithoutAmaster]

Hi David, I really love your videos, and as an oil painter wanting to go into printmaking, I would like to ask if this process can be duplicated using linoleum while achieving similiar results? Also will typical art store speedball ink be appropriate for this process? Another thing I am curious about is the alignment of the shading blocks. Is it just trial and error aligning the shading blocks to their proper position, standardized sizing of each block, or just a bit of both ?

[@itsappanYT]

cool lighting you have there sir

[@esramirezart]

I absolutely Love watching your videos Mr. Bull; thank you so very much for sharing your knowledge with the world. I was wondering If I might ask, what paper do you use to transfer the design to the bock that you rub away with your fingers to get such a crisp outline for your carving? I have looked through your encyclopedia of Woodblock Printmaking on your website, which is so helpful, thank you for that, but I can't seem to find it. Thank you very much for your time sir.

[@seseragistudio]

The thin paper is called 'gampi' in Japanese. If you watch the video on this channel about making the Chibi Heroes prints, you will see me preparing this paper very near the start of the video ...

[@esramirezart]

Thank you so very much for your quick response, it is much appreciated :)

[@jlcontarino]

mesmerizing

[@nullswarm]

I've been wondering: How did you get into this line of work?

[@KallyJones]

Mr. Bull. Are you using Shina Plywood? If so, I'd like to ask if there are suitable alternatives since Shina is expensive and sold only be a few distributors in the U.S.(where I am). I'm too much of a novice to not make mistakes and Shina is too expensive for developing skill.

[@seseragistudio]

I have no experience with shina at all ... we use exclusively cherry for our printmaking. For your first experiments, I wouldn't worry too much about it, and just use something available ...

[@KallyJones]

Thank you.

[@xjkdx]

when you use the wood paste its spread so evenly. I'm having trouble getting the paste even and clear like that. what do you recommend?

[@seseragistudio]

Slightly dampen the wood first; this is nothing to do with printmaking, but a general wood-working technique. Some glues/pastes can spread much more smoothly if the wood is slightly damp ...

[@xjkdx]

ok great. much thanks!

[@antoniodelacruziii3285]

Fantastic work. How and where do you store the wood blocks after you run you editions to keep for later use or prevent from damage ?

[@seseragistudio]

+Antonio Delacruz III We wash off excess pigment, then stand them in a corner of the workshop to dry. After a couple of days, we wrap them carefully (not sealed), and stand them on end on a shelf in our warehouse. This is not climate-controlled, but allows the blocks to 'enjoy' the seasons - picking up moisture during the summer, and breathing it out again during the winter ... The block set you see in this video will be in use long after I'm gone ... (assuming there are still printers around then!)

[@antoniodelacruziii3285]

David Bull thank you Mr. Bull. I'm doing a profile report on artists that I find most interesting for my art class. Where can I find a biography on you for my report?

[@seseragistudio]

+Antonio Delacruz III There is a kind of biographical story in some back issues of the newsletter I published for my collectors some year ago. The series was called 'From Halifax to Hamura', and is linked from here: www.asahi-net.or.jp/~xs3d-bull/hyaku-nin-issho/index.html#anchor_halifax

[@renpatch2910]

That was amazing, I would like to try my hand at that, what kind of wood are you using?

[@BVIB6]

This must be a lot of work... you're awesome :)

[@skarmiglione]

how much time it take betwen colors aplication?, what kind or paints you use?

[@seseragistudio]

+cosmo gato The colours go one one after the other directly; no waiting is necessary. The pigments are water-based mineral pigments, applied to the block with a touch of paste, as you can see in these scenes. If you want to learn more, you can find a ton of information on this craft in the 'Encyclopaedia' section of my website at woodblock dot com. Thanks for the interest!

[@ghassanemoutaoukil4733]

which kind of wood do you use Mr. Bull, thanks in advance

[@seseragistudio]

+Ghassane Moutaoukil We're using the wood known as 'yamazakura' (Japanese mountain cherry) ...

[@ghassanemoutaoukil4733]

+David Bull Thank you sir for your answer

[@s.bujinkan8701]

Wunderschöne Bilder und eine großartige Kunstform. Kann mir jemand sagen wo ich Bilder in Europa kaufen kann?

[@eokaila]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@badspeller101]

beautiful!

[@damendred1]

Just received this woodblock print! It's amazing and I'm going to order 2 more. What sort of frames do you recommend? I tried to find the 2 slabs of glass I've seen in your other videos, but not seen it. Do you recommend leaving it on the cardboard backing it comes attached to?

[@seseragistudio]

+damendred The acrylic stands you see in the background of the videos are not so good for long-term display of prints, because the paper is in contact with the surface. When the humidity is high, it could even get stuck there. (We use those frames short-term, and rotate the prints regularly). The print comes to you mounted on a stable acid-free paper, and is quite suitable for being placed in a frame, as long as you also get a mat to surround it, thus keeping the print itself away from the glass. (Thanks for the support of our work!)

[@bobbypoo8287]

Is this link ?!?

[@Terkzorr]

Yes, the Ukiyoe Heroes prints are all based on various Nintendo games. At the end of this video you can see from left to right: Mario Kart, Star Fox and LOZ. In part 17 he continues with Metroid.

[@mcfarofinha134]

めっちゃ上手いじゃん！

[@Soulcarvers]

Very relaxing and enjoyable, kinda reminds me of Bob Ross

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

Miyamoto would be proud!

[@snipssnippah6811]

The prints at the end remined me of mario skyfox and zelda

[@XxBeastWTFxX]

they are them

[@Himokawagawa]

西洋を題材にした浮世絵も見てみたいです。ありがとうございます。

[@MrEltotsira]

he is the bob ross of woodcutting -brock

[@jperez22]

This require much patience 😮

[@TrancePacifica]

I keep cringing when that blade keeps going under your nail. lol Have you ever gotten worried about ripping a nail off?

[@ATLTraveler]

Do you ever get sick of doing the same thing over and over and over again?? Like I just discovered the whole print block process and don't get me wrong it seems cool, and maybe would be a fun hobby to do once or twice a month, but everyday and as your job??? Seems like it would get extremely redundant and boring quickly. Just curious.

[@seseragistudio]

The pleasure of making beautiful things never goes away. Combine this with the wonderful sense of anticipation that is _always_ present, building up until each print is finished, and then - on top of that - the endless satisfaction that comes from hearing the reactions from the fans/collectors/customers ... Forty years and counting, and I'm still good to go every morning! :-)