White-Line Woodblock Prints:
A Provincetown Tradition
The tradition of white-line woodblock printmaking was developed by Edith Lake Wilkinson and the Provincetown Printers around 1914.
It is said to be the first American method of printmaking, and holds a respected legacy in the world of American art. Prior to its invention, woodblock printing was done by carving multiple blocks of wood for a single print. The Provincetown innovation called for carving a single block of wood and painting/pressing the various sections of the print in succession.
In making the leap from digital black and white to living color, it felt a foregone conclusion to proceed in this definitively Provincetown style. Exploring this laborious technique has further deepened my connection to the town and its artistic legacy.
The Provincetown Tarot white-line woodblock prints (15” x 22”) are watercolor and gouache, hand-painted and hand-pressed on BFK Rives paper from laser-cut birch panels. Each print takes between 2 and 5 hours to complete.
These prints and birch panels used to make them were shown at the Treadwell Gallery (Provincetown) in 2024.
These prints and birch panels used to make them were shown at the Treadwell Gallery (Provincetown) in 2024
