Ancient craft of block printing

The wood carvers of India, sit on the floor, or on their low chair, and they chisel away the blocks or stamps, later to be used for stamping. 

The Elderly man, sits by the side of the road, and carves away in his wood.

Woodblock printing is an ancient craft, used in China as early as the year 220 AC, and it has been widely used throughout Asia.

The wood block is carefully prepared as a relief pattern, which means the areas to show 'white' are cut away with a knife, chisel, or sandpaper leaving the characters or image to show in 'black' at the original surface level. The block was cut along the grain of the wood. It is necessary only to ink the block and bring it into firm and even contact with the paper or cloth to achieve an acceptable print. The content would of course print "in reverse" or mirror-image. 

For color printing, multiple blocks are used, each for one color. 

This beautiful Video by the Victoria & Albert museum Shows how the wood carvers make their block stamps. This was filmed in India - Jaipur Rajasthan where there is a specialty in fabric printing in this ancient craft.

Later when the stamp is done, another man's job is to print the yards of fabric, measuring only by eye, or with a small stick. This creates unique patterns, sometimes minor flaws in the pattern may be visible but this is what makes it authentic and unique.

Here are some Wood Blocks to start experimenting with...