Art technique from Japan
McGregor provides new skills
LEARNING the Japanese art of Mokuhanga is just one of many classes you can take at the McGregor Summer Arts Retreat.
Mokuhanga tutor Terry McKenna said Mokuhanga was the art of creating a woodblock print, and the word was three Japanese characters that literally meant “wood, block, and print”.
“Most people know Hokusai’s Great Wave, the wave print with Mt Fuji in the background. That’s actually a wood block print,” Mr McKenna said.
“What we’re learning and what I teach is essentially the same technique.
“Anybody can do it, don’t be scared, but be realistic.
“Hokusai himself actually never made those prints, they were made by teams of master crafts people who were printers and carvers.
“So you can’t compare yourself as a beginner to that level of work.”
Mr McKenna flew all the way from Japan to teach at the summer retreat at the University of Southern Queensland.
This was Mr McKenna’s fifth time teaching at McGregor.
“For me it’s a nice break,”
Mr McKenna said.
“I’ve come from Japan, and it’s the middle of winter there it’s so cold with snow and everything, so here it’s lovely and warm.
“It’s a great school, really good people and the students are really good.”
Laurens Otto is a student of Mr McKenna’s this year, but previously Mr Otto was in front of his own class teaching wood work at McGregor from 1984 to 2018.
He said he enjoyed being a student and learning Mokuhanga.
“It involves wood work and I’ve always wanted to do printing,” Mr Otto said.
This is my third class with Terry, and I’m really enjoying it.
“Even though I live in town, I come and stay on campus, it’s great.
“(I like) the relaxation of it, I don’t have to cook, I don’t have to do the dishes.
“I come here and meet people and it’s a nice atmosphere.”