Edutainment > Graham A. Scholes - born 1933

From Ukiyo-e to Moku Hanga
Mr. Graham Scholes
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Graham Scholes is a renowned Canadian painter, printmaker, author and educator in original, all handmade art. He has been a pioneer among North American printmakers in moku hanga - the creation of woodblock prints by using traditional Japanese methods, tools and materials. Best-known is his series of woodblock prints showing 35 lighthouses off the coast of British Columbia in Canada.

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Graham Scholes - Mentor of International Moku Hanga

Making of a Woodblock Print
Langara Island, 2000
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I do not think that there is any woodblock printmaker on this globe who does not know Graham Scholes.

Graham Scholes has been active in promoting international communication, training and exchange among printmakers since I first used the Internet to search for Japanese woodblock prints. That was in the 1990s. The platform on which he has been most active is the Barenforum, an international virtual stage for printmakers founded by David Bill.

Graham Detests Machine-Made Prints ...

Graham Scholes is an adamant proponent of the old-fashioned way of making a piece of art by hand and without using a computer. He discovered the traditional Japanese way of creating images from wooden blocks nearly twenty years ago. And although it is not the easiest way to make an art print, he has never changed his technique since then.

The worst for him are giclee prints - images stored on a computer and printed on a canvas or on special paper.

"Computer generated art is a great asset for the commercial and graphic art business where time is money. It is also a worthy decorative art business, but should never be confused with the valued fine art field." (Graham Scholes)

... but has been a Pioneer on the Internet

Printing Methods by Paul Binnie
Porlier Light, 1996
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But if you think that Graham is a computer-illiterate, you are very, very wrong. On the contrary. Although Graham Scholes is not from the generation who grew up with computers and the Internet, he was a pioneer in recognizing the potential of the Internet for artists.

Graham was among the first printmakers to establish his own web site, and about two years ago he was again the "first", the first to produce and publish a video on the Internet showing how he makes a woodblock print. Since then his video has been clicked more than a hundred thousand times on Youtube™. And it is excellent, better than any of the videos produced by artelino since December 2008. You can watch it on the bottom of this page.

Canadian Lighthouse Series

In 1993 Graham began his work on the series of lighthouses in British Columbia province. They are 35 in all. He worked on the series for 8 years. The most popular designs are now sold out.

Dieter Wanczura
(June 2009)

Education and Training

Woodblock Prints
Trial Island, 1995
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Here is a bit of an excerpt from the artist's résumé.

In 1945 and 1946 Graham attended a Toronto Art Gallery - Saturday morning Art Class. And from 1948 until 1952 he studied at the Western Technical School in Toronto, and finished his studies with a degree in arts.

Exhibitions and Awards

• 39 One-man shows and 39 group exhibitions in Canada, Australia, Japan and elsewhere.
• 130 workshops and art seminars in 35 different centers across Canada.
• 1996 and 1999 - Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
• 1996 - Award of Distinction, B.C. Watercolor Society International Exhibition.
• 1999 - Kyoto International Woodprint Exhibition, Japan.
• ArtWORK'99 - exhibition - BC Festival of the Arts.
• 1999 - Dawson Creek Art Gallery Life Drawings - "The Power of Seeing".
• 1999 - Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Woodblock Exhibition with Walter J. Phillips.
• 2000 - "Juinin Toiro Exhibition" at the Uganda National Art Gallery.
• 2001 - Pentiction Art Gallery, "Let there be Light", BC Lighthouse series.
• 2002 - Collection of Maltwood Gallery - University of Victoria.
• 2003 - Kingston Ontario, Maritime Museum.
• 2004 - Sooke Museum British Columbia.
• 2005 - Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, British Columbia.
• 2006 - Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, British Columbia.
• 2008 - Stewart Hall Art Gallery, Pte. Claire Quebec.

Publications

Woodblock Print - Carving
My Canada, Quebec, 2008
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• 4 Readers Digest Covers.
• Author of a book "Watercolor and How", published in New York.

Art Quotes by Graham Scholes

"Art done on a computer is do and undo art. It's cut and paste - none of my tools have do and undo."

"I like to work with wood and I like the idea of multi-image art that is real art - not push button printing."

"Artists don't retire; they draw to a conclusion."

"Woodblock printmaking is an aerobic art form. Carving, Inking and Burnishing to get imagery."

"The Japanese technique of woodblock painting is a painstaking process. There is no instant gratification because it takes up to two to three months just to get an image."

"I'm working like hell because I don't have enough time left to do what I want to do."

"There is no substitute for the ability to draw."

Printmaking Video by Graham Scholes

Please click on image to play this video produced by the artist.

After having clicked the PLAY button, it may take a few seconds before the video will start. Please wait. You find most of our videos also on Youtube - in English and Youtube - in German.

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