Yoshiko Yamamoto
The Arts & Crafts Press
Growing up in Tokyo, I first studied sculpture at Tama Art University in Japan, and then, after moving to California, studied music and modern American and Japanese history at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1996, as I worked as freelance writer about food and architecture, I founded with my husband, Bruce Smith, The Arts & Crafts Press, in Berkeley, teaching myself (with the help of wonderful mentors) the craft of letterpress block printing.
For my limited edition prints, I first sketch flora and fauna I find either in America or in Japan -- anything from fir trees, pines, maples, and poppies, to heron, koi fish, and crickets --and then after multiple drawings and watercolors I begin cutting the blocks. Sometimes I work with wood blocks, usually cherry, and other times, I choose linoleum blocks. I also use hard polymer plates for some of the color blocks. I then takes these blocks and plates, printing each color separately on a Vandercook printing press, using as many as twenty blocks per print to achieve the desired effect.
I live in a small coastal town in Washington with my husband, children, and four happy hens.
The Arts & Crafts Press
For my limited edition prints, I first sketch flora and fauna I find either in America or in Japan -- anything from fir trees, pines, maples, and poppies, to heron, koi fish, and crickets --and then after multiple drawings and watercolors I begin cutting the blocks. Sometimes I work with wood blocks, usually cherry, and other times, I choose linoleum blocks. I also use hard polymer plates for some of the color blocks. I then takes these blocks and plates, printing each color separately on a Vandercook printing press, using as many as twenty blocks per print to achieve the desired effect.
I live in a small coastal town in Washington with my husband, children, and four happy hens.
w/ Motawi Tileworks
