The third phase is to remove the remaiing wood from the areas not to be printed by use of a u-gouge.Phase one and two are generally done in tandem. Traditionally, no v-gouge was used in cutting the wood block so that all lines and edges remain crisp. This can be done with a v-gouge tool, but a v-gouge tool will generally not leave a smooth cut across the grain of the wood and also not allow for as much flexibility in movement or detail. The second phase is to remove the wood from the first cut by cutting along the same course as the previous cut but at the opposite angle as to remove the wood leaving a v-shaped groove.Do not grip the knife with the handle in the palm.Cuts are made by drawing the knife towards you with the knife slightly inclined towards your body and the point of the knife angled so that the cut is away from the image being carved. A pencil grip may be used in certain instances which require very little strength. This way as you flex your fingers and hand the knife can turn in a smooth rolling motion while maintaining a strong grip. The proper way of holding the knife in our hand is in the first set of knuckles closest to your palm with your fingers curled around the handle of the knife and your thumb on top.

If the angled side of the knife were to face the drawing it would push into your drawing causing the edge to dent and soften. The angled side of the knife pushes away the wood to the outside of your drawing. Also, the blade should be used at an angle (about 5 to 10 degrees off verticle) so that the angle is away from what you are carving.

It is preferable to have theflat edge against the line or shape to be carved. The blade of the carving knife has two sides flat and angled.

The first phase is cutting the edges of the image (lines and/or shapes) that are to be printed (remain raised).

Carving the block happens in four phases. The act of carving seems to slow my mind and creative process to a more manageable pace.Д¬arving is the process of removing area of the woodblock that you donвЂ™t want to be printed (or part of the final image).

Moku hanga carving tools