Shufu Miyamoto, Woodblock Print artist

We were fortunate enough to attend a live auction/artist demonstration for Shufu Miyamoto, a highly acclaimed woodblock print artist.

The finished product, with over 40 applications of different woodblocks. Amazing! This is what the artist is striving for during his brief demonstration. This already finished print was up for auction.

Miyamoto applying paint to his watercolor/woodblock print. His technique involves using the woodblock as a stencil, to control exactly where the paint does and does not go. Each step in the process allows the watercolor to touch a new section or area of the print. After 30-40 uniquely carved woodblock stencils, the artist will reach the final, desired image. After watching the painstaking process, it's no wonder his prints sells for so much.

He begins blending hues in his watercolor

Blending colors with his horse hair brush while his woodblock print is drying from the last application of paint.

The artist, in his 60's, in deep concentration.

a print resting, awaiting the next application of paint.

The artist applies pressure to the print, to ensure all the paint has successfully saturated the print.