White-line Woodblock Printmaking

Create rich colorful prints from a single woodblock! This technique, developed in the early 1900’s, is known as the Provincetown Print or “white line” print because of its origins in Provincetown MA, and because it was inspired by Japanese “ukiyo-e” multi-woodblock prints of the day. The Provincetown printmakers simplified the process to a single block with an emphasis on single white-lines defining multicolored subjects within the woodblock print.

Students will start by drawing an image onto the woodblock. Then using carving tools, deep incised lines will be created to define their image and separate the areas to be filled with water-based colors.  A sheet of paper is then hinged to one side of the block and folded back, then a shape within the block design is filled in with color, the paper is then folded back over the block and pressure is applied with a wooden spoon to transfer the…