The day after the first session of Japanese Woodblock course at Morley College, by happy coincidence I'd already arranged to revisit the Hokusai exhibition at the British Museum with friend Hazel. Being a member meant that we had guaranteed entry ( I'd booked for 1pm) so we could have a leisurely lunch in the Members Room first , so civilised!
Having an insight from having a go myself I was even more in awe of the skill involved and having received a copy of the exhibition book over the weekend ( with excellent images) I concentrated on looking at the details and making notes in my sketchbook. I couldn't resist buying a wooden postcard of Mt Fuji tho'! Things I noticed:
Masterly compositions
Miniscule pattern making, embossing and use of metallic pigments
Mark-making in print
Characterful ink drawings
Use of brushmarks in drawing( particularly like the reeds)
Contrast of patterns - a grid for saltpans , loose ink sketch for mountains
Textures: mark, line, embossing, metallic pigments
Using woodgrain of block as part of design
Having seen Carol's book from 1830's, I had a new appreciation of their structure. This version of the 'Great Wave' with foam seeming to turn into birds ( like Escher) and it's quiet palette speaks to me.
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