1. Kimono / Pattern Project
Woodblock Relief Print

2. Kimono History and Meaning
• The kimono is a Japanese traditional garment
worn by women, men and children
• Traditionally a Chinese fashion, adopted by the
Japanese during the 5th century
• Over time the shape and style of the kimono
changed
• It’s become a fashion used primarily by women
for formal events

3. • The word "kimono", which literally means a
"thing to wear" (ki "wear" and mono "thing”)
• Motifs in traditional Japanese kimono are used
mostly to denote the season
• Patterns were so specific that women would
wear different motifs once a month, not just
from season to season. To wear a pattern too
early or too late was a huge faux pas
• The size of the patterns and the colors used
denoted age (big bright patterns for young
women, very somber colors for old women).
Fabrics denoted rank

7. Pattern / Motif
• Visual Rhythm: Rhythm you receive
through your eyes rather than through your
ears. It is created by repeating positive
shapes separated by negative spaces.
• Pattern: The principle of art that is
concerned with decorative surface design.
It is usually a 2D visual repetition.
• Motif: The unit that is repeated to create
visual rhythm in a pattern.

8. Types of Pattern
• Random: A motif repeated in no apparent
order with no regular spaces in between.
• Regular: Regular rhythms and patterns have
identical beats or motifs and equal amounts
of space between them.
• Alternating: Can be created in several ways.
One way is to introduce a second beat or
motif. Another is to make a change in
placement or content of the motif.
• Progressive: In a progressive rhythm there is
a change in the beat each time it is repeated.

13. Project Criteria
• During what season were you born?
– Use your birth season as the inspiration for your
design
• Develop a 12 x 12” motif
– The motif must be made of positive and
negative shapes. You will carve the motif out of
a block of wood. Shape-based designs work the
best in this process. It will be best to limit
yourself to black and white shapes (white areas
will be carved away, black areas will remain
uncarved)

14. • Choose one type of pattern (random,
regular, alternating, or progressive)
• Begin doodling in your sketchbook
– Don’t commit to any idea too quickly
– Make small (thumbnail) sketches
– Don’t immediately commit to a 12x12” design,
instead create sketches that are 4x4”

15. • You will turn in 4 prints
– 1 print will be a “proof”, which is your design
printed with black ink on white paper
– 1 print will be a color print where you apply
multiple colors to the woodblock
– 1 print will be a layered monotype print where
you will print your block on top of a monotype
surface
– 1 print will be a collaborative layered print where
you will print your design with other student’s
designs

16. Regular Pattern

17. Random Pattern

18. Alternating Pattern

19. Regular Pattern

20. Alternating Pattern

21. Regular Pattern

22. Random Pattern

23. Random Pattern