Sarah Brayer : Printmaker - Nothing In Isolation

For many of us, travel to Japan is something we do once in a while. We save and plan, then journey to a country that offers so much to our mokuhanga practice. But for others, the trip becomes extended, and Japan becomes a place to build a life and make work. Japan becomes central to who they are and how they see the world. On this episode of The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast, I speak with Sarah Brayer, a visual artist who has made her home in Kyoto, where she has created a wide range of visual art such as mokuhanga, poured washi, fusuma murals, and aquatint. In our interview, we focus on Sarah's mokuhanga history, her studies with Toshi Yoshida, her life in Kyoto and how the city shapes her work. We also discuss her mokuhanga work, how she views the medium and where it fits into her life today.  Please follow The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast and my own mokuhanga work on my website: andrezadoroznyprints.com, 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.  Sarah Brayer - website, Instagram River Mist Kyoto (1982) 7" x 21" aquatint - is an intaglio printmaking technique used to create rich tonal effects rather than lines alone. By dusting a metal plate with fine resin particles and then heating it to adhere the grains, the artist creates a textured, acid-resistant surface. When the plate is placed in acid, the exposed areas etch around the resin particles, producing a range of tones similar to watercolor washes. By stopping out areas and etching in stages, printmakers can build subtle gradients, deep shadows, and layered atmospheres, making aquatint especially popular for expressive, painterly prints. etching - is an intaglio printmaking process in which an image is created by using acid to bite lines into a metal plate. The plate is first coated with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, and the artist draws through this ground with a needle to expose the metal beneath. When the plate is submerged in acid, the exposed lines are etched into the surface. After the ground is removed, ink is worked into these incised lines, the surface is wiped clean, and dampened paper is pressed onto the plate with a high-pressure press, transferring the inked image. Etching allows for incredibly fine detail, expressive line quality, and a wide range of textures. raku yaki - raku ware is a traditional Japanese pottery style that originated in 16th-century Kyoto and is closely tied to the tea ceremony. Characterized by hand-shaped forms, low-temperature firing, and simple glazes that embody wabi-sabi, it was historically cooled in the open air and produced by the Raku family lineage. In contrast, Western raku refers to a later adaptation in which red-hot pieces are placed into combustible materials to create dramatic crackle and metallic effects, a process distinct from the original Japanese method.  Kyoto Seika University - located in Kyoto, Japan, is a leading private institution specializing in art and design education. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as painting, sculpture, graphic design, and manga. Known for its rigorous curriculum, Kyoto Seika emphasizes both practical skills and creative expression. With a strong tradition of nurturing talented artists and designers, the university fosters a dynamic environment that encourages innovation and artistic growth. ukiyo-e - is a multi colour woodblock print generally associated with the Edo Period (1603-1867) of Japan. What began in the 17th Century as prints of only a few colours, evolved into an elaborate system of production and technique into the Meiji Period (1868-1912). With the advent of photography and other forms of pri