Ukiyoe Heroes (17) : Samus Gets Her Hair Cut

This is the latest update to the series of videos documenting the production of the Ukiyoe Heroes woodblock print series. It's a kind of 'trailer' for the next video, which will show the complete process of making the 'Infestation' print; in this one we get a glimpse of how the fine hairlines are cut ....
It was shot in the Seseragi Studio workroom of woodblock printmaker David Bull in Tokyo on a day in early April, 2013.

[@SOLENOID4]

I just feel Love ! Congratulations David !thank you so much for sharing your Art.from me Sebastian,rumanian citizen ,viola player in orchestra from Acapulco,Mexico ,47 age ,Art lover....please receive a telepathic huge hug !

[@anguscollis3493]

Dear David, I have just gotten into woodblock and have started watching all your videos. Thankyou so much for sharing your years of wisdom and experience.

[@seseragistudio]

It happens now and then; these days usually nothing dramatic ... When carving the colour blocks for this image, I missed one area while cutting one block, and had to put in a plug and re-cut that place. It's only wood, so repairing/changing is relatively easy ...

[@sexycavetroll2788]

This is amazing. I draw and drawing lines this close together while keeping them clean and uniform is a challenge. I cant imagine how it would be carving.

[@barbaramason833]

Dave, I was doing a moku hanga demo tonight at Atelier Meridian in Portland and showing off some of the many prints I have of your work...we were marveling over the hair and for good reason. I think it was one of the four beauties. I too forgot to breathe watching this and I never tire of seeing it.

[@commodore64oing]

Talk about synchronicity. Found this doing a KZbin random walk, just in time to remind me to order this year's holiday print. I have 3 so far, everyone loves them.

[@quen7770]

Absolutely amazing skill and patience to carve the hair... I don't think I would have the temperament to do this kind of work.. but I have a new appreciation for your skill. Stunning.

[@KNCHNTA]

I'm into papercutting and I love doing hairs. It's not as detailed as yours but I think you can agree that a good hair makes all the difference. Thank you and keep on doing what you love.

[@seseragistudio]

We avoid showing the wood grain wherever possible, both by selecting wood without pronounced grain, and by using techniques that keep it to a minimum. From my point of view, visible grain is disruptive - our goal is smooth and flat colour. Many modern printmakers like to show grain, but in the old days it wasn't (generally) considered to be a 'feature', but simply a side-effect of the materials used.

[@kitsunexiv]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! Such precision! I don't know how you breathe while doing that!

[@rlfarley975]

Incredible. I love watching these videos.

[@Samwiseallmighty]

Its just incredible to be able to watch this process! thy

[@JedHenry]

Heck, I forgot to breathe just watching it!

[@chriswinning4710]

You are a true master of your craft.

[@colossus3200]

That hair looks incredibly difficult, but you did a fantastic job, true artisanry. If you don't mind me asking, over the course of your career, how many blocks have you had to scrap, if any, due to a slip of the hand?

[@seseragistudio]

+colossus3200 I've had a number of 'do-overs' down the years, but none because of a 'slip of the hand'. Making a chip in a line or something like that is actually not so rare, but it's only wood, and it's easy to re-work. For a major error, we dig out the affected area, insert an inlay, and re-cut ...

[@MargaretMaloney]

The wood shavings on the blue mat beneath the woodblock almost look like a field of stars across a night sky. Rather appropriate, I think.

[@EndymionMkII]

That Precision made me feel so ashamed of myself haha.

[@fionaartan167]

Holy crap! That almost makes me want to add that print to my collection even though I mever played Metroid.

[@DanTaylorZa]

Amazing work

[@Euroliite]

So much detail!

[@187onaPigeon]

That is so good wow.

[@GTRichardson7]

Just breathtaking... theres nothing else to say.

[@JinkxSoldga]

I would realy enjoy how you sharpen your chises and where your sharpening stones come from and general thoughts/knowledge on sharpening

[@christopher4565]

Can't wait!

[@nannatrytek942]

Curious question, when you make the small slits in the hair, do you make two slits between the hair strangs?

[@seseragistudio]

To take out the unwanted wood between two hairs (in the video you are watching here) the knife makes two passes, cutting out a thin 'v' shape ...

[@nannatrytek942]

Great! Thank you for the reply :-)

[@shinken12341]

We are not worthy, Bull-sama !!

[@richardkoeknyc]

hair blowing stuff... i mean mind blowing .....;-)

[@6PTK9]

Do you use the same woodcarving for every print, or do you sometimes re-make some of them?

[@erwinp12]

my God...so cool

[@TheDashingDevils]

Have you done other video game themed blocks???

[@seseragistudio]

ukiyoeheroes.com

[@sonicfreak04]

kind of sucks this print is no longer available

[@seseragistudio]

What made you think that? shop.ukiyoeheroes.com/collections/handmade-woodblock-prints/products/infestation-woodblock-print

[@sonicfreak04]

@@seseragistudio last time I went to the store I couldn't see them. sorry to assume and thank you for assuring me

[@seseragistudio]

We print them in batches of course, and are sometimes out of stock before a new batch is ready... I think at the moment, Jed-san has quite a few in hand over there.

[@GodsPoetryProductions]

Wow

[@nickdeshaw7235]

How do i buy a print of this?

[@seseragistudio]

They are on Jed Henry's website here: ukiyoeheroes.com

[@jlcontarino]

OMG, are you kidding me?!?!

[@bushidono]

Holy $#*!.

[@Philhamm]

Part of me wants to stand outside his studio with an airhorn. OOPS, better start over, buddy! >: D

[@fionaartan167]

*never

[@ToivoVoll]

O.O