Supporting Heritage Crafts
The art of block printing
Hand block printing is an art, and this traditional expertise is often handed down from father to son - many of the printers at the Jaipur studio Pukka Print works with are third or fourth generation.
The process begins with Jools’ designs, which are redrawn by the studio in preparation for the block carver. Each block, called a 'bunta', is carved by hand from well-seasoned sisam wood. Sisam is durable and dense, and holds intricate carvings beautifully. It doesn’t crack or warp easily when exposed to moisture and ink, which makes it perfect for producing high quality printed designs.
The pieces of sisam are planed to a smooth finish, then whitened before the design is traced and carved using traditional tools. The finest lines in Pukka Print designs require brass as well as wooden blocks, which ensures the quality of print and the longevity of the blocks.
The highest standards of craftsmanship in Rajasthan
Block printing requires immense skill, experience and patience. Each block is very carefully and slowly printed onto the cloth by hand whilst the registration (knowing how to line the block up) is all done by eye. First the ‘gudh’ background block is printed, followed by the ‘rekh’ outline block to give definition, then the ‘data’ filling blocks. Block printing is a true handicraft.
Every colour within each pattern has its own block, so by using more colours and layers in the pattern, Pukka Print achieves a sophisticated and luxurious effect. All of our blocks are unique to Pukka Print.