I’m not sure why, but the picture suddenly reminded me of a hand of cards. Then, it occurred to me that finding the right density carving material to match one’s hand strength and carving style can be a bit of a magic trick! Hence, the odd title.
I have been asked to put together a sampler package of the different soft block carving materials at Stampeaz and this is what I came up with. Reading the picture from left to right you’ll see:
Yellow Japanese Carving Block – the softest material I carry
Beige Japanese Carving Block – a medium-soft option
Speedball Speedy Carve (the pink stuff) – falls pretty squarely in the medium density category
Stampeaz Tan-Z Kut – is a step further in firmness, making it a medium-dense material
Stampeaz Firm Kut – is the highest density material in the soft block category
As a general rule, the more firm the block, the higher the level of detail a carver can achieve and the longer the block will hold up during multiple printing sessions. That being said, I know carvers who can get incredibly detailed images using softer materials, so the ideal plan is to find the block that feels best under your knife or gouge. That’s the one that will give you the best results (and the most fun!). Hmmm…. Is that a little like the wand choosing the wizard?
So, if you want to try a little of everything, or if you are looking for the perfect gift for someone who is just starting out on their carving and block printing adventures, this sampler set may be just magic trick you’ve been searching for.
