Part 3 – Inside the Process
Inside the Process of Woodblock Printing

We are pleased to introduce the world of woodblock prints by Tatsuya Nitta, an artist based in Hokkaido.

Nitta spends his days among the mountains of Hokkaido—climbing, descending, and carving woodblock prints inspired by the landscapes around him.

In this third installment, we take a closer look at how he creates his woodblock prints.
Here, we follow him into the mountains, where he begins with sketching in the field.

Sketch

May 2, 2024

Drawn by the clear weather, I went out to sketch in the foothills near my home.

Nirinso (Anemone flaccida)
Enreisou (Trillium)

Pencil (6B), transparent watercolor

Skunk Cabbage

April 16, 2024

Spring flowers — a sketch

All drawn near my home

Pencil, oil-based conte, transparent watercolor, paper (Avalon)

Butterbur Sprouts

April 11, 2024

Today’s featured work

Another butterbur piece—this time, a sketch.

Woodblock Print: Butterbur Sprouts　 (23 × 14 cm)

April 5, 2024

Spring has arrived ?
It’s my favorite season.

The vitality of plants seems to shine even more.

Today’s featured work

About the Artist

Tatsuya Nitta was born on December 4, 1957, in Date City, Hokkaido, Japan.

After graduating from high school, he encountered an exhibition of Shiko Munakata in Sapporo. Deeply moved by the power of Munakata’s work, he immediately purchased carving tools and began creating woodblock prints.

In his early twenties, Nitta moved to Tokyo, where he spent about a decade. During this time, he also began mountaineering—an experience that would later become central to his artistic vision.

In 1990, after a period of profound personal difficulty, he returned to his hometown in Hokkaido. This marked a turning point in his life, leading him to reconsider both his creative path and his relationship with nature.

He later resumed his career in Sapporo, working in the field of architecture while continuing his artistic practice.

Around 1995, he held his first solo exhibition at Shūgakuso, a well-known outdoor specialty store in Hokkaido. Since then, he has continued to exhibit his work, holding a total of thirteen solo exhibitions by 2025.

His work reflects a deeply personal dialogue with mountains, shaped by both lived experience and inner transformation.