How to carve black and white woodcuts?

Engraving is a key step to the success of black and white woodcut. Woodcarving means carving wood with a knife. You have to cut straight with a knife, but you can't draw a gourd according to a pattern. Every knife mark has been repaired to make the carved lines smooth and plain. Just like when we learn to write brush strokes, one stroke is a stroke, and we can only write but not draw. A woodcut knife is like a pen. Pinch the knife toward the wood and carve it straight down. Don't stick to details. If you make a mistake, clean it up at last. Of course, this does not mean that there are countless things in your heart, which are arbitrarily carved by you. First of all, we should have an overall calculation of the layout. From there, we should carve from there first, and then from there, so as to be well aware and orderly.

Generally speaking, it is important to engrave first, and then it is secondary; Carve the big one first, then the small one. At the same time, leave room for modification and finishing after trial printing. When carving a large area, don't carve it too cleanly, and leave some knife marks appropriately. These knife marks are well handled, which not only does not hinder the picture, but also enhances the artistic interest of woodcut prints, making the original slightly ethereal and rich.

After the carving is completed, clean up the wood residue of the layout and initially complete the black and white woodcut carving.

After the layout is carved, try to print it in ink. There may be many defects in printed works. Woodblock proofreading is an essential link in the production of woodcut prints. Even experienced old painters can't guarantee that they can finish engraving at one time.

Proofreading and revision can make a work with good foundation but shortcomings more concise, attractive and interesting. You can also make a work that is not very good-looking, showing the scene of "another village". However, the scope of revision is limited, and it can only be "minus", not "plus". Imperfect places can be engraved, and engraved places can't be added unless the method of making up the edition is adopted. Therefore, students are required to leave room when carving.

The modification method is: use gouache pigment to modify the dried trial print works, and then modify the corresponding parts of the layout after you are satisfied. Carved carefully where it should be. In order to avoid dirty clothes, it is best to put an old newspaper on the plate, expose the places that need to be modified, and make partial carving and correction until you are satisfied. After the revision, clean up the wood residue on the board to make the layout bright and clean.