Craftsman Crate: The Block Printing Crate

Description

Block Printing, or carving patterns into a block then using the block to stamp ink or paint onto a surface, has existed for at least 2000 years. There is some controversy whether it was invented in China and spread to India or vice versa. The earliest surviving example is a piece of silk stamped with a woodcut block from China.

Block printing on fabric became a speciality in the Jaipur region of India where it is still practiced today. Many wallpaper designs we think of as Early American actually use traditional patterns from Jaipur, originally imported on trading vessels from India.

Block printing on textiles and paper has spread across the world, where it has been used for religious texts, decorations, stamps, cards, painting, and more. You have probably seen woodcut illustrations in books, another example of block printing. This crate will teach you this ancient art.

The Block Printing Crate Contains: 

Instructions and Patterns

Carving Blocks

Speedball Speedy-Carve™ Block

Red Baron Battleship Linoleum Block

Carbon Paper

Pencil

Lino Cutter

Water-Soluble Block Printing Ink

Ink Tray

Brayer

Scraper

Gloves