The longer you create mokuhanga, the more your individual tastes reveal themselves in your own work, your style, your ideas, and your unique way of seeing the world. These are the qualities that make a mokuhanga artist or craftsperson shine, and they represent the place many practitioners aspire to reach.
On this episode of The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast, I speak with someone who has spent decades refining his style, developing his ideas, and defining his relationship with mokuhanga at the same time exploring a variety of printmaking mediums. Daniel Kelly lives and works in Kyoto, Japan, and for many years his work has been exhibited in galleries all around the world. It can also be found in private collections and in some of the world's most important museums.
We discuss Daniel's studies under Tomikichiro Tokuriki and the lasting influence Tokuriki has had on his work. Daniel explains his preference for papers from outside Japan and why he generally avoids using Japanese washi. He also details his creative process, discusses his use of multiple printmaking mediums alongside mokuhanga, and he reflects on the advantages each brings to his practice.
We also talk about galleries, selling work, and Daniel's views on tradition—and how, in some cases, it can hold artists back.
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.
Daniel Kelly - website
Children's Parade (2025) [16" x 28") Lithograph on kozo
Typhoon (2002) Lithograph, woodblock, and platinum on Nepalese paper.
Tomikichirō Tokuriki (1902-2000) - was a Kyoto based mokuhanga printmaker and teacher. His work touched on many themes and styles. From "creative prints" or sōsaku hanga in Japanese, and his publisher/printer prints, or shin hanga prints of traditional Japanese landscapes.
Spring Night at Hirasawa Pond (1970's)
deshi (弟子) - is an apprentice under a teacher in Japanese culture. It can be found across many disciplines such as martial arts, fine arts and sport.
Citty Lights Bookstore - City Lights Bookstore is a famous independent bookstore in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood, founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919-2021).
Clifton Karhu (1927-2007) - was a mokuhanga printmaker based in Japan. Karhu lived in Japan for most of his life after studying with Tetsuo Yamada and Stanton Macdonald-Wright. HIs themes were of his home city of Kyoto, Japan. More information can be found, here.
Shijo River Bank - Famous Places of Kyoto (18.5" x 15.2")
Honoré Daumier (1808–1879) was a French printmaker, painter, and sculptor best known for his sharp social and political satire. Working primarily in lithography, he created thousands of prints that critiqued politicians, the legal system, and everyday life in nineteenth-century France. Daumier's ability to combine technical mastery with keen observation of human character made him one of the most influential printmakers in Western art history, and his work continues to inspire artists today.
Les Plaisirs de l'Hiver (1836) Colour Lithograph [7" x 8.3"]
Ted Coyler - is a Canadian printmaker originally from Nova Scotia, Canada. He studied under Toshi Yoshida and makes mokuhanga with mixed media as well as CEAHD lithography. More info, here.
Tsumago (20" x 14")
CWAJ (College Women's Association of Japan) Print Show - is one of Japan's most respected exhibitions of contemporary printmaking. Established in 1956, the annual exhibition showcases both emerging and established artists working across a variety of printmaking techniques. Organized by the College Women's Association of Japan, the show has played an important role in promoting contemporary Japanese prints to international audiences while supporting educational scholarships and programs. For many artists, inclusion in the exhibition is a significant mark of recognition within the printmaking community.
Maurice Sanchez - is a New York–based master printmaker specializing in lithography and collaborative fine art printing. Working through his workshop Derrière L'Étoile Studios, he has collaborated with many major contemporary artists, helping translate drawings and ideas into technically precise and visually rich prints. More info, here.
Untitled (1988) by Maurice Sánchez, Barbara Kruger & James Miller - photo offset lithograph on Rives BFK wove paper
Tatyana Grosman (1904–1982) - was a Russian-American print publisher and founder of Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE) on Long Island, one of the most influential print workshops in postwar American art. Working closely with artists in a highly collaborative studio environment, she encouraged experimentation with lithography and other print techniques, helping to redefine printmaking as a primary artistic medium rather than reproduction. Through ULAE, she supported landmark collaborations with artists such as Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Helen Frankenthaler, and Cy Twombly, playing a central role in the resurgence of American printmaking in the 1960s.
Nihonteki (日本的) - is a Japanese word meaning Japanese-style. And is often used to describe a thing thsat reflects qualities that are associated with Japan. It's often used to describe something that reflects qualities associated with Japan such as aesthetics, behavior, design, or cultural approach.
Tamarind Institute - was originally founded in Los Angeles in 1960 by June Wayne, and is a world renowned center for fine art lithography. Established to revive and sustain the art of lithography, which was in decline in the United States, Tamarind quickly became a leader in the education and promotion of lithographic techniques. In 1970, the institute moved to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where it continues to thrive as a key institution in the printmaking world. Dedicated to advancing the lithographic arts through rigorous education, collaborative projects, and the production of high-quality prints, the Tamarind Institute's influence extends globally, contributing significantly to the development and appreciation of lithography as a vibrant art form. More info, here.
Michael Verne - is a gallerist based in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Michael specializes in contemporary Japanese prints and paintings. Michael's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here.
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.
White Spread (2026) - poured washi [23.75″ x 36.25″]
Ren Brown Collection - is gallery in Bodega Bay, California featuring contemporary Japanese prints, handmade ceramics and jewelry, Japanese antiques, and works by California artists and sculptors. Each piece reflects a dedication to quality, cultural heritage, and creative expression. More info, here.
Mayumi Oda - is a Buddhist teacher and artist based in Hawai'i. Her artwork has gained international recognition, having traveled worldwide. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Mayumi is an environmental activist and resides and works at Ginger Hill Farm, an eco-retreat on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Explore more about Mayumi Oda's work, here.
Majushri - on a bicycle (1980) [20" x 29"] seriagraph
Kremer Pigemente - is a European based seller of various types of pigments for the world market.Kremer sells different pigment powders, binders, tools, and specialty chemicals tailored for fine art painting, restoration, monument preservation, and specialized handcrafts. More info can be found, here.
Fauvist Colour Theory - is an approach to colour developed by the Fauves in early 20th-century France, including artists like Henri Matisse (1869-1954) and André Derain (1880-1854). Instead of using colour to describe reality, they used it expressively—often applying pure, unmixed pigments directly from the tube to create intense, non-naturalistic effects. Colour became independent from form and light, used to convey emotion, rhythm, and visual impact rather than accurate representation. This liberated approach to colour was short-lived as a movement but had a lasting influence on modern and contemporary art.
Kathy Caraccio - is a master printer, artist, curator, professor, and collector who has collaborated with hundreds of artists from around the world. Through her studio, she has fostered a vibrant, supportive community rooted in shared creativity and craft. More info can be found, here.
Offering (1973) viscosity etching [11"x11")
