At this point, I can't apologize enough for the delay ... but here we are with the next production video. This one covers the carving process on the block set for the August print in this year's subscription series: Embrace the Delight.
And bonus content! Fishies ... inlays ... 'murder' on the street in Asakusa ... It's all here this time!
Thank you again for supporting our organization!
2022-07-16 01:13:27 +0000 UTC View PostOoh ... I am so late with this job today! I'm amazed that people haven't been bombarding me with emails ... "Where is the nenga print that I should have received by now?", or "Isn't it time for the Summer Chibi print to be sent out?"
It is indeed time! And finally today I have cleared the decks and started to catch up. Here's the scene of the crime:
Many of y...
2021-08-29 04:13:41 +0000 UTC View Post
In this video, Dave shows the entire process of making a small batch of prints (8 sheets) from blank paper to finished result, with each of the colour impressions happening in an uncut, unedited, uninterrupted flow. The viewers can get a very good feeling for the rhythm of the process, and can see just how the pigment/paste balance is controlled along the way.
As a kind of 'bonus', the entire video was recorded using binaural microphones embedded in Dave's ears - you hear exactly 2021-07-01 10:42:07 +0000 UTC View Post
This is Dave Bull, from Mokuhankan in Asakusa Tokyo, with a (very tardy) message updating our Patreons on our situation.
This is really - really - going to be too long, so for those who would prefer, here's a tl;dr; version:
The next installment of our ‘David’s Choice’ videos is ready … an in-depth introduction to the Mokuhankan Collection, our ‘museum’ of beautiful Japanese prints.
During the time that our Asakusa shop is closed, the Patreon funds are helping to keep three of the staff members busy with work on the Collection: database, translations, photography, Photoshop editing, and website maintenance ...
They and I thank you again very much!
Dave
2021-01-30 12:11:04 +0000 UTC View Post
The title says it all - an overview of our year ... the good, the bad, (but hopefully no ugly ...) :-) And as always, this is where we introduce our subscription series for the coming year ...
2020-12-14 07:40:10 +0000 UTC View PostCollection update! Or I should say … updates!
Over the past few weeks, we have made hundreds of uploads to the Mokuhankan Collection website. Three of our staff members are digging through the shelves and drawers of the Collection, selecting items for photography and preparation.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, our own Collection is quite differen...
2020-11-25 02:31:14 +0000 UTC View Post
This new video is a supplement to the one published last week. A new (old!) set of prints arrived here this week, and I couldn't resist getting them up for the whole world to see. We have high-resolution images of the entire set of 55 prints over in our Collection here: https://mokuhankan.com/collection/index.php?id_for_display=00089
2020-10-21 05:49:41 +0000 UTC View Post
You thought it would never happen! I'm so late with this, but at last the next video is ready. Let’s take a trip down the Tōkaidō together!
I don't think the next one will take as long to prepare; the outline is already done, and it's just a question of being able to schedule the video and editing work in and around the pile of stuff waiting on my desk ... Thanks for the patience, and thank you again for the support!
Dave
2020-10-12 03:47:15 +0000 UTC View PostAs those of you who have been regularly watching our live Twitch stream know, I spent some time recently carving the block set for the 2020 version of our Share (in the fun) Certificates. The printing was finished up last week, I spent most of yesterday getting them all properly numbered, signed, and safely packaged, and they will be on the way on Monday morning! (At least they will be on the way to the co...
2020-09-13 00:11:05 +0000 UTC View PostSomething fun for you today!
Although we are still tossing and turning, trying to decide how exactly to move our activities forward in this new era, one thing has become clear - the online part of our affairs will become ever more important to us (and of course, to the fans and supporters, as that’s the only way that they will be able to ‘see’ us for quite a long time).
So with that in mind, I am very happy to announce that we have finally - after years of ‘talkin...
2020-06-13 02:40:34 +0000 UTC View Post
Can woodblock prints change the world? Dave tries to answer this question (you know what the answer will be!) in a short talk, illustrated with a selection of prints from his collection.
2020-06-04 08:02:06 +0000 UTC View Post
Video alert! And it’s a special one … You’ve perhaps seen the ‘Remembering a Carver’ video; now you can watch ‘Remembering a Carver - the Sequel …'
This video expands on the story of Dave meeting the woodblock carver Ito Susumu back in 1992. Using old video cassettes from the producers of the TV program made at that time - saved from the cutting room floor - we see Dave getting a 'master class' in traditional woodblock carving.
Because it’s the turn of the month, and people have thus been ‘reminded’ about our Patreon, I have received a couple of emails this evening, asking about our plans moving forward. They want to know if we are still ‘in business’ and whether or not their support still has any meaning. I wrote directly back to them straight away, but it then occurred to me that I should of course speak more widely to all of you as well ...
First thing first, I have to emphasize to everybody: ...
2020-05-01 13:49:26 +0000 UTC View Post
This is the next in the series of videos that show our printing process from start to finish. It's a bit of a different type of image from our usual ukiyo-e prints - this is a reproduction of a Meiji-era print depicting an old tea bowl.
You will see our young printer Rei-chan work through the stages of printing, followed by a slide show of the steps ... The print is available in our catalogue here: https...
2020-02-18 07:39:26 +0000 UTC View Post
I've cut it _very_ close this time, but I have finally updated our year-end update message, including information on:
- the subscription series for 2020
- Ayumi-san is back!
- progress on the 8 Views of Cats
- business update ... how the Patreon funds have transformed our situation over the past couple of years!
Thank you again everybody, for your wonderful and warm-hearted support!
Dave
2019-12-30 12:14:20 +0000 UTC View Post
The 2019 version of our Share in the Fun Certificates have now been sent out to waiting Patreons!
These are so late this time around! These Certificates are supposed to be sent to Patreons at the appropriate level, who have been with us for at least 12 months. Some of the people who are getting them now, should have received these some months ago ...
But they are now safely in the post, so if you are one of the waiting Patreons, please ha...
2019-09-18 12:11:55 +0000 UTC View Post
I’ve finally got the first update on the Eight Views of Cats project ready for you, including a selection of interesting designs received so far!
Please note that the schedule for accepting submissions has been extended, and there is still lots of time to get involved. More details are in the video description, or on the Eight Views website: https://nekohakkei.com/overview.html
2019-09-04 14:11:36 +0000 UTC View Post
Video alert! The next David’s Choice episode is ready! This special episode has a ‘double punch’ - not only will you learn about a beautiful set of old Meiji-era woodblock books, but an important part of those books has come to life for you to use here in the modern day ... the original typeface has been recreated!
Video alert! You didn’t expect this one so soon, I’m sure ... We have something ‘a little bit different’ for you today - a short little video that will show you how to discover some hidden Easter Eggs in our Ukiyo-e Heroes Portraits prints!
Another process video today! Cameron has been working with our printer Natsuki Suga over the past week to show you the process of printing an entire woodblock print - from blank paper to finished work - in this video. They've also included a nice slideshow, so you can see just how the different colour layer over each other to create the finished image.
Thank you again for your support!
2019-07-19 11:55:39 +0000 UTC View Post
This is the next in our 'David's Choice' series, where Dave introduces some of his favourite prints. This episode shows and discusses the famous 'Fairy Tales of Japan' books published by the Hasegawa Company in the Meiji era.
Are you a designer/illustrator? If so, please watch this new video to learn how you can participate in the new series of woodblock prints we are planning!
2019-05-31 13:05:26 +0000 UTC View Post
Video alert! Yes, already! We have a supplementary video … this one adds more images and information to the previous video featuring ‘8 Views’. In this episode, the focus is on the famous set of woodblock prints designed by Suzuki Harunobu in the 1760s - 'Zashiki Hakkei' (Eight Views in the Home). It’s mostly just a simple slideshow featuring the prints quite close-up, but there is a bit of commentary here and there …
Video alert! The next in our David’s Choice video series has just been uploaded to YouTube. This episode shows and discusses woodblock prints related to the theme of Hakkei - or ‘8 Views’, centering on the iconic ‘Omi Hakkei’ (Eight Views of Omi) by Hiroshige. Don’t miss the ‘slow’ slideshow at the end, where you can get a wonderful close-up view of a full set of the prints.
Thank you for your patience while this has been in preparation!
2019-05-12 11:25:38 +0000 UTC View Post
The next video is up! It's a 'process' video this time ... showing our printer Natsuki Suga working through the entire set of blocks to make the newest of the Ukiyo-e Heroes prints - Two Souls Entwined.
Staffer Cameron-san took all the footage, and it's his editing work this time around too. I (Dave), did the 'talk' components of the video, as well as the voice-overs, trying to explain what Suga-san was up to ...
Thank you for your patience while we got this tog...
2019-03-08 04:35:50 +0000 UTC View Post
The next in the David’s Choice series has just been uploaded to YouTube! This episode shows and discusses a selection of small 'match label' woodblock prints from my collection, and we get to see some being made!
Thank you for your (much appreciated!) patience while this has been so long in coming ...
2019-02-01 15:06:19 +0000 UTC View Post
Video alert! The next video showing how our prints are made has just been uploaded to YouTube. And big news … I (David) didn’t make it! The 40-minute video was shot and produced in its entirety by staffer Cameron-san. He spent the past couple of weeks working with young printer Suga-san upstairs here, and I don’t think they missed any details of the process …
2018-09-21 03:17:11 +0000 UTC View Post
I know that nobody is expecting this already, but Part Two of the Beginnings series is now up on YouTube! I recorded it yesterday during our ‘down time’ while we waited for typhoon Jebi to pass, and then stayed up last night a bit later than I should have, working on the editing ... :-)
Thanks for watching ... and thanks again for your support of our work!
2018-09-04 22:00:16 +0000 UTC View Post
Thank you for your patience everybody! With the new shop now up and running basically smoothly, I have to get focussed on making more videos for you.
So here we are with the first one to be recorded down at the new location of my carving bench - right in the entrance to the shop itself! The topic is something that I have been asked about time and time again ... how did I get started in this craft of Japanese printmaking.
I thought that the best way to tell the story would be to ...
2018-08-14 21:30:17 +0000 UTC View Post