On this third day of the workshop I completed my project. I spent much time yesterday carving my woodblocks.

We also had a demonstration by a resident artist here at Mi Lab, Chihiro Taki. Loved watching her work.

Today, with much help from all of our teachers, I began printing my blocks.

I printed my gray block on about half of the 32 pieces of paper. Then I went back and printed the blue block, not always happily.

I didn’t take photos of the entire procedure so I will finish the story in my next post. In the evening we had a demonstration about drying our prints using my finished prints.

We are in a lovely Japanese house with a beautiful garden and great workspace. We spent the morning learning about carving our woodblocks; 2 blocks, each with a different color.

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In the afternoon we started carving our own blocks. Since we are working within sight of Mt. Fuji, and I had the good fortune to see Fuji from the train to Kyoto, I decided to use it as my starting point and added some shapes from my recent echocardiogram for the second color.

This is my image with areas where color will overlap. These are not the colors I will use.

Tracing image onto block

My two blocks with registration keys already cut.

I carved my first block today and will work on the second tomorrow. As a bonus the rain stopped and we got to see Fuji from the studio window.

I reached the limit of what I will do for art . We took a bus from Tokyo to the workshop site where we will be staying for four days and living for five nights in a true, rustic old Japanese inn. I am lying on 3 futons on the floor. That’s not the problem. I can get down. Getting up was the issue. It took me 10 minutes to move around to where I could finally lift myself up. Also Japanese pillows are filled with something that seems like small bits of gravel, probably beans of some kind. So they have now arranged for Gail, my friend and roommate and I to move to a hotel. I feel bad about this, but I’m not sure I would have survived four more nights. I’m very grateful.

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Monday morning, before we left Tokyo, we visited Ozu Washi, a great paper store. I didn’t buy anything but I will have another opportunity before I leave. 

We also stopped in a brush store where they are actually making brushes. They had every kind, from toilet brushes to wonderful paint brushes. Again I didn’t buy anything. My suitcase was already full.

Ate Beaver Bread for breakfast. I bought three small rolls. One was filled with some kind of jam. I ate around the jam. The bread was great, easily number one here or at home. The second roll was chocolate chips with nuts. Yum. Third one for tomorrow.

We went as a group to two museums and an art supply store. Lots of walking again. Just barely getting to know people, but great so far.

Haven’t stopped walking. That total includes lots of museum shuffle. Much more exhausting than real walking. Fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

First thing we went to the Mori Art Museum for a show of contemporary Japanese Art. The show was called Connexions and featured the work of mostly young artists and their connections to the past, to current events and to technology. Some of it was very moving and thought provoking. One of the best shows I’ve seen recently.

Definitely is an obsession with cats.

Alongside the art museum is something called City View, which lets you overlook Tokyo from almost 360 degrees. It’s an amazing panorama and really shows the beauty and density of the city. I was awed.

Our second museum visit was the Ota museum for a show about Hokusai and his vision of Mt. Fuji. So lot’s more ukiyoe. This was in Harajuku where we had to cope with the Sunday crowds. After the museum I had a little more time to wander around to the wonderful mirror kaleidoscope and take more pictures. It’s also the best place for people watching.

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A visit to a large art supply store finished up our evening.

My workshop begins tonight at dinner and to meet everyone. I’m already installed in my own room in the Citan hostel in Tokyo.

I got here about 2pm after a two and a half hour train ride from Matsumoto. After I checked in and left my luggage I went for a walk here in the Nihombashi area. It’s very quiet and I didn’t find much of interest, but on the map was something called Beaver Bakery. So, with great difficulty following the GPS on the phone I came to a small line in front of an almost unidentified shop. It was the only thing around and sure enough, it was Beaver Bakery. I went in and bought 3 items.

The line was gone by the time I took the picture.

To understand bread in Japan think of Wonder Bread, only fluffier and more squishable. The things I bought don’t squish. Haven’t tasted anything yet. Tomorrow. It seems that Beaver Bread is famous. There is even a book about them, in Japanese, of course.

Went out for dinner with the workshop group. I think this will be another good one.