A Drum-Leaf Binding using Handmade Woodblock Prints:
hosted by Ralph Kiggell & Mark Cockram
Four days, two workshops combined: ‘East meets West’
Saturday 5th October - Tuesday 8th October 2019
Barnes, London
This workshop was conceived some time ago by these two leading artists, two continents crossed, Mark Cockram visiting Asia and Ralph Kiggell touring Europe, they were destined to share ideas, shape and mould their work into this one off workshop.
The opportunity is here to meet and work with designer bookbinder Mark and printmaker Ralph. A workshop in two stages, with artist-printmaker Ralph leading the first two days, and bookbinder Mark leading the latter two days, with no experience of bookbinding or printmaking needed. This workshop is aimed at all ages and all levels of creative experience.
Stage One. Under the guidance of Ralph, participants are introduced to the classic art and craft of Japanese water-based woodblock printing, commonly known today as mokuhanga. This stage of the workshop covers the basic tools, materials and process of this non-toxic technique from block preparation and cutting, paper choice and preparation, to the fundamentals of printing itself. Students will develop a simple multi-block print in two to three colours, using their own cut blocks, alongside woodblock templates provided.
Stage Two. Under the guidance of Mark, participants use their prints from stage one to create a four-spread drum-leaf bound book. This process combines bookbinding methods from Europe and Asia. The process is simple, it includes folding, adhering the papers and pressing, the final result is a decorated cased in binding with no sewing required. Tips, hacks and joviality provided along the way.
About the tutors:
Ralph Kiggell, a member of the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers, UK, studied woodblock printing in the early 1990s at the atelier of Toshi Yoshida, son of Hiroshi Yoshida, where he learned the fundamentals of the ukiyo-e technique. He later learned contemporary woodblock methods in Kyoto with Akira Kurosaki, before taking his studies to MFA level at Tama Art University, Tokyo.
Mark Cockram, a Fellow of Designer Bookbinders, Brother of the Art Workers Guild and Special Researcher of the University of Shanghai Science & Technology and the founder of Studio 5, an educational facility in London. Mark is an award-winning book artist, international exhibitor and Man-Booker prize winning bookbinder, trained in England, France and Japan, who has led workshops in London, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, Manila and Shanghai.
Materials available:
For the printmaking: woodblocks, knives, water-based pigments, Japanese papers (washi), printing brushes, registration boards, bench-hooks, traditional baren for hand-printing.
For the bookbinding: acrylics & inks, bookcloth, board, adhesive and brushes.
6 Spaces Available at £400 pp (including all materials).
Location: Wurkshop 9-10, The Mews, 46-52 Church Rd, Barnes, London SW13 0DQ
Email troy3moore@me.com for more information.
