kimono relief print

Kimono / Pattern Project

Woodblock Relief Print

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

• 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

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.

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.

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)

• 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”

• 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

Regular Pattern

Random Pattern

Alternating Pattern

Regular Pattern

Alternating Pattern

Regular Pattern

Random Pattern

Random Pattern