Winter Woodblock Printing with Alex Booker
Join artist-printmaker Alex Booker for a day of woodcut printing and festive making. Learn to design, carve and print by hand using traditional tools, inks and techniques, creating your own festive cards, decorations and wrapping paper, as well as bespoke woodblock prints to give as gifts or keep for yourself.
The workshop is beginner-friendly and includes a glimpse inside the richly decorated interiors of David Parr House. You’ll be guided through the process from start to finish, with all materials provided.
What you’ll do
Learn to design and carve your own woodblocks using traditional Japanese hand tools
Explore hand-printing techniques using Japanese baren (circular discs wrapped in bamboo) and rollers
Experiment with different types of printmaking papers
Develop more complex prints using layering, multiple blocks and registration techniques
Create a series of prints through repetition, refining and evolving your designs
Make festive cards, decorations and wrapping paper, as well as bespoke woodblock prints
What to expect
Small group, limited to 8 people
Studio-based, hands-on and supportive
No experience needed
A structured session introducing both foundational and more advanced techniques
A glimpse inside the house during the break for inspiration
Finish with a selection of artworks to take home
Lunch included from Norfolk Street Bakery
What to bring
Casual clothes you don’t mind getting messy
Aprons can be provided
All materials provided, including woodblocks, tools, inks and papers
Your prints will be wrapped and packed in tubes for safe transport home
About the workshop
Woodcut printing is one of the oldest and most evocative forms of printmaking. In this workshop, you’ll learn the essential techniques behind the process, from carving and inking to printing by hand. Through simple processes, repetition and experimentation, your designs will evolve as you work, often leading to unexpected and satisfying results.
Alongside making, Alex will introduce the rich history of woodcut across China, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and Europe, and share examples of how contemporary artists continue to push the medium in new and exciting directions.
About Alex Booker
Alex Booker is a woodcut-relief print artist based in Hackney. His work explores the properties of ink and wood through traditional processes and contemporary approaches.
He studied at the University of Brighton and Camberwell College of Arts, and has exhibited internationally, including at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. He has worked with studios and brands including GUBI, Ma-tt-er and PATTERNITY, and contributed to events such as the London Design Festival.
