My designs are all original, hand carved and hand printed on handmade Japanese paper in 5-7 different colors. This means that each print is printed 5-7 times, depending on how many colors are in each print. The block has to be registered 5-7 times to successfully have all the layers to match up in the final print. Each edition of 5 or 6 prints per block takes 1-2 weeks to complete. 

What is Relief Block Printing? In relief block printing, the artist draws a design on a smooth block of material—usually wood or linoleum—and uses tools to carefully cut away the areas that are not to be printed, leaving behind a raised surface of lines and shapes. The surface of the block is inked using a roller. The inked block is carefully centered on to the paper which has been dampened ahead of time to accept the ink completely. The paper and block is either hand rubbed or put through a hand cranked press. All of these prints are printed one at a time. This is not digital art which is made or printed on a computer.

What is Reduction Block Printing? This time consuming and complex form of printing involves layering colors from a single block by slowly reducing the block with multiple carvings and printings. Every color is printed separately so the limited edition has to be printed all at the same time. Also the block has to be registered every time a new colored layer is printed. One block print can take as much as 1-2 weeks with drying times.