Blocks & Plates
This section includes wood for water-based Japanese woodblock printing and includes plywood and solid side grain, or plank wood. Also suitable for use with oil-based inks.
Jackson's : Birch Plywood : 9mm : Relief Woodblock
From £1.60
Japanese Shina Plywood Woodblock
From £1.50
Japanese Magnolia : 10mm : Side Grain Wood Block
From £2.60
Japanese Katsura : 13mm : Side Grain Wood Block
From £3.90
What is the Best Wood for Japanese Woodblock Printing?
Shina Plywood is the most popular wood for Mokuhanga in Japan. A sustainable timber grown in the colder climes of Japan, it is renowned for its fine, almost indiscernible grain. Shina Plywood is soft and easy to carve.
Key blocks, the fine line, or outline part of Mokuhanga print is traditionally cut from solid cherrywood. Cherrywood has become harder to source and can be substituted with Katsura side grain wood blocks. Solid side grain blocks also include Magnolia wood for printing larger areas.
Birch plywood can be used with oil or water-based ink and is well suited to the Mokuhanga technique. Jackson’s Birch Plywood is grown in a cold climate which produces wood with a tight and fine grain.
Read 'Mokuhanga: Japanese Woodblock Printmaking' on Jackson's Art Blog.