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Artwork for The Unfinished Print : A Mokuhanga Podcast
The Unfinished Print : A Mokuhanga Podcast · July 25 · 1 hr 20 min

Melissa Schulenberg - Printmaker : A Beautiful Jump

Producers of mokuhanga prints who also teach art at the academic level have always intrigued me. The balance between the solitary work of a printmaker and the responsibilities of teaching a wide range of artistic disciplines must be both complex and, at times, challenging. It raises questions such as: How much of my own creative journey can I pursue while also dedicating myself to students who look to me for guidance as both an artist and a teacher? On this episode of The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast, I speak with Melissa Schulenburg—an independent printmaker, member of the Mokuhanga Sisters collective, and Charles A. Dana Professor of Art & Art History at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. Our interview explores Melissa's work as both an educator and a practicing mokuhanga printmaker. We discuss the role of tradition in her practice, how her visits to Japan, participation in MI-LAB, and involvement with the Mokuhanga Sisters have shaped her artistic development. We also take a look inside her printmaking toolbox, discussing the papers, pigments, and tools she relies on, as well as her deep connection to nature and the influence it has on 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. Melissa Schulenberg - Instagram note* Melissa's website is under construction at the time of publishing. harimaze-e (貼交絵) is a format of mokuhanga that was particularly popular during Japan's Edo period (1603–1868). It consists of a single sheet of paper onto which multiple separate images were designed and printed. These compositions could include individual scenes arranged together on one sheet, sometimes functioning as diptychs or triptychs. Harimaze-e were commonly produced in a chūban format, measuring approximately 24.8 × 36.3 cm. Cutout Pictures of The Tōkaidō Road (1848-49), Published by Ibaya Senzaburō (Dansendō), 26.5 cm x 39cm. The Adachi Institute of Woodblock Prints - is a print studio located in Tōkyō. Established in 1994 in order to promote and preserve the colour woodblock print of Japan. More information, in English and in Japanese. MI Lab - is a mokuhanga artists residency located in Awatabe Town, Echizen City, Fukui, Japan. More info can be found, here. floating kentō - is like the traditional kentō registration technique but is carved on an "L" shaped piece of wood, and not onto the wood block. Shōichi Kitamura - is a woodblock carver and printmaker based in Kyoto, Japan. Shoichi has been involved in MI Lab through his demonstrations on carving. More info can be found, here. Bravery Matched With The Twelve (Zodiac) Signs by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) - A Modern Edition (ca. 2017) 4" x 11.4" carved by Shōichi Kitamura International Mokuhanga Association Conference - is a conference dedicated to mokuhanga which started in 2011 by the International Mokuhanga Association. Each conference is themed. More information can be found, here. The Mokuhanga Sisters - are a mokuhanga collective consisting of Yoonmi Nam, Mariko Jesse, Lucy May Schofield, Melissa Schulenberg, Kate MacDonagh, Katie Baldwin, Mia-O, Patty Hudak, and Natasha Norman. More info, here, and here. Snake and Moon - was a print project created and assembled by The Mokuhanga Sisters in 2025. 9 individual prints created with red sumi ink from Nara, Japan and assembled in a decorative box. More info can be found, here. Tuula Moilanen - is a Finnish mokuhanga printmaker and painter based in Finland. She lived and studied in Kyōto from 1989 to 2012, where she learned her printmaking at Kyōto Seika University and from printmaker Akira Kurosaki (1937–2019). Her work can be found here. Her interview with The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast can be found here. Dream Seller (2012) Ed. 22 25cm x 35cm Keiko Kadota (1942-2017) - was the director of Nagasawa Art Park at Awaji City from 1997-2011, and then of MI Lab at Lake Kawaguchi from 2011 until her passing. Tōsai Pigment Paste - is a brand of pigments manufactured by Holbein, Japan. They were conceived by mokuhanga printmaker Richard Steiner. Tōsai is the name given to Richard by his teacher. Richard's invteriew with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Masaban - was a Mokuhanga Sisters exhibtion exhibited in Echizen, Japan in 2024 during the 2024 International Mokuhanga Association Conference held in Echizen that year. More info, here. Katie Baldwin - is a contemporary mokuhanga printmaker, illustrator, book maker, and artist based in Huntsville, Alabama. Her work can be found, here. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. April, woodblock (2007) 17" x 25" Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) - born in Edo, Hiroshige is famous for his landscape series of that burgeoning city. The most famous series being, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (1856-1859), and the landcape series, Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (1833-1834). His work highlights bokashi, and bright colours. More info about his work can be found, here. Returning Sails at Otoro from Eight Superb Views of Kanazawa (mid-1830's) 11.6 cm × 17 cm Ralph Kiggell (1960-2022) - was one of the most important mokuhanga practitioners. Originally from England, Ralph lived and worked in Thailand. Ralph pushed the boundaries of mokuhanga with extremely large pieces, jigsaw carving, and by using fantastic colour. He also worked with the International Mokuhanga Conference to promote mokuhanga around the world. He will be greatly missed. Ralph's work can be found, here. His obituary in The Guardian can be found, here. His interview with The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast can be found, here. Giant Chiamera II (2021) ed. of 10, 127 cm × 90 cm Hara Shobo - is a gallery with locations in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan. They specialize in ukiyo-e and shin hanga. More info, here. Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892) was a renowned Japanese woodblock printmaker and one of the last great masters of the ukiyo-e tradition. He is best known for his dramatic and emotionally intense imagery, particularly in series like One Hundred Aspects of the Moon and Thirty-Six Ghosts. Working during a time of cultural upheaval in the Meiji period, Yoshitoshi blended traditional techniques with modern themes, Yoshitoshi is famous as a print designer for his expressive linework, rich colour, and innovations in print design during this period of Japanese history. Eight Battles of the Modern Era (近世八戦争, 1868-1869) 26cm×36cm shōmen-zuri (正面摺) - "front burnishing," is a deluxe mokuhanga technique used to create black-on-black pattern which creates a contrast. Unlike standard printing, where pigment is rubbed from the back of the paper into the fibers, shōmen-zuri applies heavy friction directly to the front face of a dried, printed sheet—often over a carved relief block—using a hard burnishing tool like a polished boar's tusk or agate. The intense pressure compresses and polishes the ink, producing a glossy, light-reflective pattern against a matte background that beautifully mimics silk damask, lacquered armor, or fine textiles as the print catches the light. 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. Distance of Night (1991) 55 cm × 40.5 cm Sarah Brayer - is a visual artist who is based in Kyoto, Japan. Her works are predominantly poured Japanese paper (washi). Sarah was the first Western artist to work at the Taki paper mill in Echizen. This is where she currently make her paperworks. Sarah have worked continuously in Echizen since 1986 as the only Western artist to do so. Sarah Brayer has also produced mokuhanga in her career. More information can be found, here. Sarah's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Ebb and Flow (2025) 29 cm × 44.5 cm hangitō - a Japanese carving knife which is primarily used for mokuhanga and comes in a variety of blade sizes. McClains has a varied assortment, here. © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Introduction music while working - Another Land by Dave Holland. Edition Records (2021) 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.

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Producers of mokuhanga prints who also teach art at the academic level have always intrigued me. The balance between the solitary work of a printmaker and the responsibilities of teaching a wide range of artistic disciplines must be both complex and, at times, challenging. It raises questions such as: How much of my own creative journey can I pursue while also dedicating myself to students who look to me for guidance as both an artist and a teacher?

On this episode of The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast, I speak with Melissa Schulenburg—an independent printmaker, member of the Mokuhanga Sisters collective, and Charles A. Dana Professor of Art & Art History at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.

Our interview explores Melissa's work as both an educator and a practicing mokuhanga printmaker. We discuss the role of tradition in her practice, how her visits to Japan, participation in MI-LAB, and involvement with the Mokuhanga Sisters have shaped her artistic development. We also take a look inside her printmaking toolbox, discussing the papers, pigments, and tools she relies on, as well as her deep connection to nature and the influence it has on 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.

Melissa Schulenberg - Instagram note* Melissa's website is under construction at the time of publishing.

harimaze-e (貼交絵) is a format of mokuhanga that was particularly popular during Japan's Edo period (1603–1868). It consists of a single sheet of paper onto which multiple separate images were designed and printed. These compositions could include individual scenes arranged together on one sheet, sometimes functioning as diptychs or triptychs. Harimaze-e were commonly produced in a chūban format, measuring approximately 24.8 × 36.3 cm.

Cutout Pictures of The Tōkaidō Road (1848-49), Published by Ibaya Senzaburō (Dansendō), 26.5 cm x 39cm.

The Adachi Institute of Woodblock Prints - is a print studio located in Tōkyō. Established in 1994 in order to promote and preserve the colour woodblock print of Japan. More information, in English and in Japanese. MI Lab - is a mokuhanga artists residency located in Awatabe Town, Echizen City, Fukui, Japan. More info can be found, here. floating kentō - is like the traditional kentō registration technique but is carved on an "L" shaped piece of wood, and not onto the wood block. Shōichi Kitamura - is a woodblock carver and printmaker based in Kyoto, Japan. Shoichi has been involved in MI Lab through his demonstrations on carving. More info can be found, here. Bravery Matched With The Twelve (Zodiac) Signs by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) - A Modern Edition (ca. 2017) 4" x 11.4" carved by Shōichi Kitamura International Mokuhanga Association Conference - is a conference dedicated to mokuhanga which started in 2011 by the International Mokuhanga Association. Each conference is themed. More information can be found, here. The Mokuhanga Sisters - are a mokuhanga collective consisting of Yoonmi Nam, Mariko Jesse, Lucy May Schofield, Melissa Schulenberg, Kate MacDonagh, Katie Baldwin, Mia-O, Patty Hudak, and Natasha Norman. More info, here, and here. Snake and Moon - was a print project created and assembled by The Mokuhanga Sisters in 2025. 9 individual prints created with red sumi ink from Nara, Japan and assembled in a decorative box. More info can be found, here. Tuula Moilanen - is a Finnish mokuhanga printmaker and painter based in Finland. She lived and studied in Kyōto from 1989 to 2012, where she learned her printmaking at Kyōto Seika University and from printmaker Akira Kurosaki (1937–2019). Her work can be found here. Her interview with The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast can be found here. Dream Seller (2012) Ed. 22 25cm x 35cm Keiko Kadota (1942-2017) - was the director of Nagasawa Art Park at Awaji City from 1997-2011, and then of MI Lab at Lake Kawaguchi from 2011 until her passing. Tōsai Pigment Paste - is a brand of pigments manufactured by Holbein, Japan. They were conceived by mokuhanga printmaker Richard Steiner. Tōsai is the name given to Richard by his teacher. Richard's invteriew with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Masaban - was a Mokuhanga Sisters exhibtion exhibited in Echizen, Japan in 2024 during the 2024 International Mokuhanga Association Conference held in Echizen that year. More info, here. Katie Baldwin - is a contemporary mokuhanga printmaker, illustrator, book maker, and artist based in Huntsville, Alabama. Her work can be found, here. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. April, woodblock (2007) 17" x 25" Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) - born in Edo, Hiroshige is famous for his landscape series of that burgeoning city. The most famous series being, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (1856-1859), and the landcape series, Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (1833-1834). His work highlights bokashi, and bright colours. More info about his work can be found, here. Returning Sails at Otoro from Eight Superb Views of Kanazawa (mid-1830's) 11.6 cm × 17 cm Ralph Kiggell (1960-2022) - was one of the most important mokuhanga practitioners. Originally from England, Ralph lived and worked in Thailand. Ralph pushed the boundaries of mokuhanga with extremely large pieces, jigsaw carving, and by using fantastic colour. He also worked with the International Mokuhanga Conference to promote mokuhanga around the world. He will be greatly missed. Ralph's work can be found, here. His obituary in The Guardian can be found, here. His interview with The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast can be found, here. Giant Chiamera II (2021) ed. of 10, 127 cm × 90 cm Hara Shobo - is a gallery with locations in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan. They specialize in ukiyo-e and shin hanga. More info, here. Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892) was a renowned Japanese woodblock printmaker and one of the last great masters of the ukiyo-e tradition. He is best known for his dramatic and emotionally intense imagery, particularly in series like One Hundred Aspects of the Moon and Thirty-Six Ghosts. Working during a time of cultural upheaval in the Meiji period, Yoshitoshi blended traditional techniques with modern themes, Yoshitoshi is famous as a print designer for his expressive linework, rich colour, and innovations in print design during this period of Japanese history. Eight Battles of the Modern Era (近世八戦争, 1868-1869) 26cm×36cm shōmen-zuri (正面摺) - "front burnishing," is a deluxe mokuhanga technique used to create black-on-black pattern which creates a contrast. Unlike standard printing, where pigment is rubbed from the back of the paper into the fibers, shōmen-zuri applies heavy friction directly to the front face of a dried, printed sheet—often over a carved relief block—using a hard burnishing tool like a polished boar's tusk or agate. The intense pressure compresses and polishes the ink, producing a glossy, light-reflective pattern against a matte background that beautifully mimics silk damask, lacquered armor, or fine textiles as the print catches the light. 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. Distance of Night (1991) 55 cm × 40.5 cm Sarah Brayer - is a visual artist who is based in Kyoto, Japan. Her works are predominantly poured Japanese paper (washi). Sarah was the first Western artist to work at the Taki paper mill in Echizen. This is where she currently make her paperworks. Sarah have worked continuously in Echizen since 1986 as the only Western artist to do so. Sarah Brayer has also produced mokuhanga in her career. More information can be found, here. Sarah's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Ebb and Flow (2025) 29 cm × 44.5 cm hangitō - a Japanese carving knife which is primarily used for mokuhanga and comes in a variety of blade sizes. McClains has a varied assortment, here.

© Popular Wheat Productions

logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny

Introduction music while working - Another Land by Dave Holland. Edition Records (2021)

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.

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