2. Printmaking Printmaking is the process of transferring “ink” from a manipulated surface, or “plate” to a final paper. There are many different types of printmaking including Intaglio, Screen, and Lithography We will be working on a Relief print
3. Printmaking began when paper was invented in the first century China but did not become well practiced until the 19th century.
4. One of the greatest Japanese artists was named Hokusai. He worked in printmaking to create many famous works, one of them being The Great Wave http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmFGtsG_EgA&feature=player_embedded
5. The Fisherman’s Wife Tamatori is a mosdest shell diver who marries Fujiwara, who is searching for a pearl stolen from his family by Ryujin, the dragon god of the sea. Vowing to help, Tamatori dives down to Ryujin’s undersea palace and is pursued by the god and his army of sea creatures, including octopuses. She cuts open her own hand and places the jewel inside; this allows her to swim faster and escape. But after returning the pearl to Fujiwara, Tamatori dies from her wound.
6. What would an print look like illustrating your favorite fairytale?
7. Where does it take place? What kind of characters are in the story?
9. Use the Japanese prints as influence to create an illustration of your own cultural fairytale through relief printmaking.
Editor's Notes
In this story, Tamatori is a modest shell diver who marries Fujiwara no Fuhito of the Fujiwara clan, who is searching for a pearl stolen from his family by Ryūjin, the dragon god of the sea. Vowing to help, Tamatori dives down to Ryūjin's undersea palace of Ryūgū-jō, and is pursued by the god and his army of sea creatures, including octopuses. She cuts open her own breast and places the jewel inside; this allows her to swim faster and escape, but she dies from her wound soon after reaching the surface
