April Vollmer is an expert in traditional Moku Hanga, or Japanese woodblock printing, technique. She brought Japanese prints with her to illustrate the history of Moku Hanga. She described the various functions of these prints in society while explaining the advancements in technique that occurred over the centuries.

This visit came to professor Carrie Scanga’s Printmaking I course just after students completed their first series of woodblock prints, cut and printed with the Western method and tools, and designed in the style of the German Expressionists. The Western and Japanese methods for carving and printing are very different. The Japanese method is quite complex, but it allows artists to make amazing uses of color. Her visit gave students the opportunity to learn about the Japanese tools and methods for carving a woodblock, and the students got to create prints from antique carved woodblocks.