The Unfinished Print

About The Unfinished Print

The Unfinished Print is a podcast dedicated to exploring the art of Japanese woodblock printing, or mokuhanga. It offers an in-depth look at the printmakers, carvers, gallerists, and collectors involved in this unique art form. Through interviews, Andre Zadorozny, a mokuhanga printmaker himself, delves into what mokuhanga means to so many people.

Publisher

Andre Zadorozny

Category

arts · arts

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

31 Jul 2020

Latest episode

29 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

104 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Aafke Ytsma - Printmaker : Subconscious Worlds

   One of the things that I have observed about mokuhanga printmakers is that they are always striving to get better in their practice. Mokuhanga is a printmaking medium that challenges the maker in many different ways, and navigating those challenges through hard work and experimentation can ultimately be a very rewarding experience. On this episode of The Unfinished Print, a mokuhanga podcast, I speak with Aafke Ytsma, a printmaker currently splitting her time between Germany and the Netherlands. Aafke is a full-time artist who pushes the possibilities of what one can do with mokuhanga. We discuss how and why Aafke makes such large prints, and how watercolour influences her work. Aafke tells me about her love for the prints of the sōsaku-hanga movement and how they inspire her own practice. We also talk about the risks and rewards of being a full-time artist, crowdfunding and grants. Aafke goes into detail about how she makes her prints through mark-making, and how that process shapes her work. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note if available. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Print publishers are given if known. Aafke Ytsma - website, Instagram Slidingdoor (2023) 28.5 cm  x 39 cm Sabuchan (2024),  98 cm x 68 cm from the series Summer Autumn Prints *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:1a65a31d-5afd-4213-9243-68186ffb66b0-0" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:1a65a31d-5afd-4213-9243-68186ffb66b0-0" data-testid= "conversation-turn-2" data-turn="assistant"> div:has([data-free-thinking-preview-answer=true])+:is(.text-message,.relative:has(>.text-message))]:-mt-2 grow"> Rijksmuseum — The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is the Netherlands' national museum, with a collection spanning more than 800 years of Dutch art and history. It is particularly known for its holdings of works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals, and other major Dutch artists, as well as its extensive collection of prints, drawings, photography, and decorative arts. More info, here. More info, here (https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en). Art Collective Schaum — Schaum is an art collective focused on contemporary artistic practice and collaboration. The collective brings artists together around shared interests in experimentation, exhibition-making, and developing work outside more traditional institutional structures. More info, here (https://www.derschaum.de). Kitaro Paper — Kitaro is a Japanese paper from Echizen, Japan and is associated with traditional papermaking and the production of papers suitable for fine art and mokuhanga. Its papers are valued for qualities such as strength, absorbency, surface character, and their ability to withstand the demands of techniques such as woodblock printing. More info, here. Mondriaan Fund — The Mondriaan Fund is the public fund for visual art and cultural heritage in the Netherlands. It supports artists, institutions, curators, and other cultural organizations through grants and programs intended to encourage artistic development, international exchange, exhibitions, and public engagement. More info, here. David Hockney (1937-2026) — was a British artist whose career has encompassed painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, stage design, and digital art. Associated particularly with the Pop Art movement of the 1960s, Hockney is known for his vivid depictions of landscapes, swimming pools, interiors, and everyday life, as well as his continued experimentation with new technologies and media. A Bigger Splash (1967) 242.5 cm x 243.9 cm - acrylic Liquitex on a white cotton duck canvas Elise Wessels — Elise Wessels (1943–2023) was a Dutch collector and patron of Japanese prints whose collection, known as Nihon no Hanga, became one of the most important collections of 20th-century Japanese printmaking outside Japan. Beginning in the 1980s, she collected both sōsaku-hanga and shin-hanga, eventually building an exceptionally comprehensive collection. She founded the private museum Nihon no Hanga in Amsterdam in 2009, and in 2022 donated more than 1,100 prints to the Rijksmuseum. Maureen de Vries -  was the curator of the Nihon no Hanga museum in Amsterdam. Her interview with the Unfinished Print can be found, here. bokashi - is a mokuhanga technique, where the pigment fades from a heavy colour to a softer, broad colour. Made famous by prints designed by Hokusai and Hiroshige, this technique is, for me, the most popular technique utilized by  mokuhanga printmakers. There are various types: Ichimoji-bokashi or straight line graduation, used in the above mentioned Hiroshige and Hokusai prints. Ichimoji-mura-bokashi or straight line gradation with uneven edge. Ō-bokashi or wide gradation, Ate-nashi-bokashi or gradation without definition. Futa-iro-bokashi or two tone gradation, and ita-bokashi or softer-edge gradation, where the block is cut in a specific way to achieve this style of gradation. All of these styles of bokashi technique take practice and skill but are very much doable. Below is a fine example of bokashi by the printer of this Hiroshige print - Hiroshige (1797-1858), Shono ,(1832-1833)  from The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido 22.9 cm × 35.6 cm SieboldHuis — The SieboldHuis is a museum in Leiden, Netherlands, dedicated to Japanese art, culture, and history. Housed in the former residence of Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold, the German physician and Japan scholar who lived in Japan in the 19th century, the museum displays objects from his extensive collection, including prints, paintings, ceramics, lacquerware, maps, and natural-history specimens. It provides an important connection between Japan and the Netherlands and regularly presents exhibitions exploring Japanese art and culture. More info, here. Kawanishi Hide (1894–1965) — Kawanishi Hide was a self-taught sōsaku-hanga artist who lived and worked throughout his life in Kobe. Inspired by Yamamoto Kanae, he began making woodblock prints in the early 20th century and became an important figure in the creative print movement, exhibiting with the Japan Creative Print Association from 1923. His work is particularly associated with the port city of Kobe, which provided many of his subjects, and is distinguished by bold, vivid colours, simplified forms, and his deliberate avoidance of black outlines. He often used a rounded chisel to soften the edges of his forms, giving his prints a distinctive, almost graphic quality. Sunset (?) 12.5 cm x 15 cm Gotō Hidehiko - is a master baren maker and printmaker based in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found here. More into at the  Baren Kikuhide website. Beyond The Night (1995) 55.5 × 40 cm passe-partout  - is the French word for picture mat for framing. Daniel Kelly - is a visual artist and printmaker based in Kyoto, Japan. Daniel Kelly has shown all over the world, and is many museum collections as well. More information can be found, here (https://danielkellystudio.com/). Daniel's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Thief (2026) 96 × 66 cm - chine-collé & mokuhanga gomazuri - is a mokuhanga technique where slight pressure is used with pigments to make a "spotty" image, what look like sesame seeds. It can add depth to your prints. Historically it was seen as a lack of printing proificiency. Night, Light, Rain (2024) 29 cm x 43.5 cm by Terry McKenna. Notice the gomazrui in the blue circle. hon baren - a top of the line hand made baren made by craftsmen in Japan. It comes in different strands, 8, 12, and 16. Can be order from Gotō Hidehiko, here. baren suji zuri - is a mokuhanga technique used with the baren and by the baren to create a circular design and can be layered with various colours. A more detailed description of baren suji zuri can be found, here at woodblock.com © Popular Wheat Productions Opening and closing musical credit - There Is No Greater Love by Chet Baker (1965) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***

2. 

   17 Sept 2026

   Paul Denhoed - Paper Educator & Paper Maker : The Economy of Scale

   For the past few years, I have begun to study Japanese washi in my own time. As a mokuhanga printmaker, and through The Unfinished Print, I have been taught to see Japanese washi in many different ways: how it is made, how it is used, and, more importantly for me, how people view this indelible medium in our mokuhanga practice. I speak with Paul Denhoed, a paper researcher and papermaker based in Japan. I had the opportunity to attend a few of Paul's lectures here in Toronto at the Japanese Paper Place, and I came away from those lectures intrigued and wanting to learn more about Japanese washi. Paul discusses his work in Japan helping to make washi, what the term washi means, and how the different paper producers in Japan work—and don't work—together. Paul shares his experiences with Richard Flavin, and Hiroaki Imai. We look at how these experiences shaped his work today and continue to shape his work into tomorrow. We also go into detail about kōzo and one of the key ingredients in Japanese washi, neri: how it is used and how it helps create beautiful washi. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note if available. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Print publishers are given if known. Paul Denhoed - Instagram Washi Academy - is the organization where Paul Denhoed works with Oguni Washi to offer immursive workshps for those interested in seeing traditional Japanese paper making in person. More info can be found, here. Instagram Paper Talk - is a podcast hosted by paper artist and author Helen Hiebert, who explores how paper is used in many facets of the arts around the world. Her episode with Paul Denhoed can be found, here. The Art and Craft of Paper by Faith Shannon - is the book referred to in my interview with Paul Denhoed. Faith Shannon (1938-2018) was born in India in 1938 and studied painting and bookbinding at the Belfast College of Art before continuing her studies at the Central School of Arts and Crafts and the Royal College of Art in London. A prominent bookbinder and educator, she taught bookbinding at Brighton Polytechnic, served as President of Designer Bookbinders, and published Paper Pleasures (later The Art and Craft of Paper) in 1987. Shannon worked primarily on commissioned bindings for collectors and presentations, approaching each book as a unique combination of materials, design, craftsmanship, and artistic interpretation. How "washi" is made - here is a video to get you started on your paper journey. It goes into detail about how Japanese paper is made. It was produced by Japanese Industry Process in August, 2026. You can find the video, here. Richard Flavin (1943-2020) - was a printmaker, papermaker, letterpress printer, and artist with a strong interest in Japan, particularly traditional culture, and utilitarian antiques. He was committed to Japanese hand papermaking and woodcut printmaking. More info, here. Richard Flavin Washi House - can be found, here. Oguni Washi - is a traditional Japanese paper from Niigata Prefecture, deeply connected to the snowy landscapes of Japan's "snow country." Recognized as an Intangible Cultural Treasure by Japan and Niigata Prefecture, Oguni Washi is distinguished by a unique process in which the paper is buried beneath snow until spring. As the snow melts, the paper is brought into the sunlight, resulting in a lustrous, pristine finish. This distinctive approach reflects the relationship between local climate, traditional papermaking knowledge, and the enduring beauty of washi. More info, here. Hiroaki Imai - is a papermaker and one of the people responsible for continuing the Oguni washi tradition in Niigata. He married into a papermaking family and, alongside his wife Chihiro, has continued the family's work while also teaching and demonstrating washi making in Japan and abroad. Imai has also worked to introduce younger people to papermaking through workshops and educational programs, helping to keep the knowledge and techniques of Oguni washi alive. Seiko Musashi – Ogawa washi exporter, art program coordinator, and translator, dedicated to sharing Ogawa's washi beyond Japan. Seiko's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. senka-shi (泉貨紙) – is the paper discussed by Paul, made in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. In addition to Paul's explanation, you can read a well-written article about the paper from the Rethink Paper Project here. The Japanese Paper Place- is a Toronto based Japanese paper store servicing the mokuhanga and arts community in Toronto and around the world for many years. Nancy Jacobi of The JPP and her interview with The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast can be found,  here. heritage washi – is a term coined by The Japanese Paper Place to describe traditional Japanese handmade papers made by skilled papermakers using Japanese-grown fibres and traditional papermaking methods. The term emphasizes the importance of preserving these materials, techniques, and knowledge as part of Japan's long history of papermaking. © Popular Wheat Productions Opening and closing musical credit - Moanin' by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers on Blue Note (1958) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***

3. 

   29 Aug 2026

   Inga Eičaitė - Printmaker : Everyone Should Have Freedom

   Blending different cultures, whether artistically or internationally, comes into play in everyone's mokuhanga. Your work is infused with your life, your city, your family, and even cultures from abroad. I personally think it's inescapable, and that's what makes mokuhanga such a beautiful medium to explore. On this episode of The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast, I speak with Inga Eičaitė, a mokuhanga printmaker who splits her time between London, England, and Lithuania. Inga and I discuss her mokuhanga work and what inspires her to make it, her love of anime, mixing different printmaking mediums with her mokuhanga, comparing the use of Korean hanji paper and Japanese washi, and making emakimono. We also discuss how community has become an important part of Inga's practice through art fairs, and Inga speaks about her time in Lithuania and her desire to help grow mokuhanga there. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note if available. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Print publishers are given if known. Inga Eičaitė - website, Instagram Angel_o18_For Shinji Ikari (2025) 36cm x 56.5cm Bauhaus (art/design) — A German art and design school founded in 1919 that combined art, craft, and architecture. It emphasized simplicity, functionality, geometric forms, and the idea that good design should be accessible and useful. Jainism — An ancient Indian religion centered on non-violence (ahimsa), compassion, self-discipline, and respect for all living beings. Jain philosophy places a strong emphasis on avoiding harm and living a spiritually disciplined life. Cowboy Bebop — A landmark Japanese anime series from 1998 that follows a group of bounty hunters travelling through a futuristic solar system. It blends science fiction, noir, Westerns, crime, and jazz, with a strong emphasis on character, atmosphere, and music. Evangelion — Neon Genesis Evangelion is a Japanese anime series from 1995 that combines mecha science fiction with psychological, philosophical, and religious themes. It follows teenagers piloting giant machines called Evangelions while confronting mysterious enemies and their own emotional struggles. MI Lab - is a mokuhanga artists residency located in Kawaguchi-ko, near Mount Fuji. More info can be found, here. Ozu Washi - is a paper store located in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo. website, Instagram Jon Lee - is a mokuhanga printmaker and tool maker based in Arizona. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. nb2203 (2025) East London Printmakers — A London-based, artist-run printmaking studio and collective that supports artists through access to printmaking facilities, technical expertise, workshops, and a community of printmakers. It is particularly associated with contemporary and experimental approaches to printmaking. Raluca Iancu — is a Romanian-American printmaker and educator whose practice includes mokuhanga and other forms of printmaking. Raluca is an Associate Professor of Art & Visual Culture, Printmaking, at Iowa State University and serves as Vice-Chair of the International Mokuhanga Association. Her work can be found here (https://ralu.ca/about-2/). Overpasses 5.01 (Itoshima) (2023) Carol Wilhide Justin - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in London, England. Her work focuses on the natural world and the process of making mokuhanga. Carol's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Meanwhile (2017) 90 cm x 60 cm Michiko Hamada (http://michikohamada.com/works.php) - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in Japan. She is an instructor at MI Lab. Her Instagram can be found, here. Until It Dissapears (2022) 41 cm x 47cm Chihiro Taki (https://www.chihirotaki.com/) (b. 1988) - is a mokuhanga printmaker who lives and works in Japan. She helps to teach students at MI Lab as an instructor. あるく日 (2015) 140cm x 100cm mokume — A Japanese woodblock printing technique in which the grain and texture of the wood are used to create a distinctive, organic pattern in the printed image. Osamu Sugiyama - 10 Views of Mt. Fuji - Moonlight over Shinobino Moor (33cm x 43cm) hanji — Traditional Korean paper made primarily from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree (dak). Its production involves a highly developed process of pulping, sheet formation and drying. Traditional knowledge and skills associated with hanji-making are currently being considered for inscription on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2026. Jackson's Art Supplies — A major British art-materials retailer founded in London in 2000, supplying a wide range of fine-art materials, papers, paints, brushes and specialist tools. It now has shops including locations in Dalston and Fulham. More, here. Shepherds London — A specialist London supplier of fine papers, bookbinding materials and related craft supplies, particularly known for high-quality and handmade papers used by artists, printers, bookbinders and designers. More info, here. Jacek Machowski - is a prolific mokuhanga printmaker based in Poland. Jacek explores mokuhanga in all its dimensions, testing and making tools, as well as collaborating with other printmakers. His interiview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here.  More info for Jacek can be found, here. Matthew Willie Garcia — is a printmaker whose practice includes mokuhanga, screen printing, projection mapping, animation, and large-scale installation. His colourful and distinctive work explores queer identity, often using ideas of time, space, science fiction, and the universe as points of departure. At the time of this writing, Matthew was the Grant Wood Printmaking Fellow at the University of Iowa, where he held the fellowship from 2024–2025. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found here. More information about Matthew and his work can be found, here. Betazuri (ベタ摺り) — a mokuhanga printing technique in which a large, solid area of colour or ink is printed evenly across the paper, rather than using the woodgrain or leaving areas unprinted. It is often used for backgrounds or broad areas of flat colour. © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Introduction music while working - Ramsey Lewis Trio - Summer Breeze (1974) & Charlie Parker - Summertime (1949) Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) The opinions expressed by guests on The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast do not necessarily represent the opinions or beliefs of André Zadorozny.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

16 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

13 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 69 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

86

Social presence

94

YouTube

0

Engagement

85

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