Japanese washi papers are suitable for mokuhanga, relief, letterpress and screenprinting. (Some can be used for monoprinting and etching as well, but you’d need to experiment first.)

Japanese washi papers which are handmade are usually unsized.
Machine-made washi may be sized or unsized. Sizing is noted where known. (But for the most part, it is best to assume these papers are unsized because many Mokuhanga artists size their own washi according to their needs and climate.)

Mokuhanga printing needs sized paper that is neither too thick nor too thin.

Paper that is too thick cannot be hand printed with a baren, but is good for printing in a press with Western techniques. Paper that is too thin will not hold much ink. The papers below are suitable for both baren and press printing.

Colours of papers are consistent within batches (packs of 25), but may vary a little between batches/packs.

• Awagami Okawara editioning paper 43x52cm, 51gsm, warm natural colour, with a subtle surface texture. Manufactured from 75% alpha cellulose and 25% Kozo fibre, acid-free with a pH level of 6-7. Unsized. Available as single sheets or in packs of 25.

• Awagami Shiramine editioning paper 43x52cm, 110gsm. Unsized. Available as single sheets or in packs of 25.

• Awagami Hakuho editioning paper 43x52cm, 220gsm. Manufactured from 45% Kozo and 55% cotton fibre, acid-free with a pH level of 7-8. Its strong and resilient surface lends unique textural depth to art works created upon it. Unsized. Available as single sheets or in packs of 25.

• Awagami Bamboo editioning paper 43x52cm, 250gsm. It’s soft surface makes it ideal for intaglio, letterpress and block printing. Manufactured from 70% bamboo with 30% recycled Kozo fibre it is acid-free with a pH level of 5-6. Unsized. Available as single sheets or in packs of 25.

• Awagami Hosho Select editioning 43x52cm, 80gsm. Long recognised by printmakers as one of the most versatile of Japanese washi papers. Particularly suitable for lino and wood block prints. Manufactured from 100% alpha cellulose unsized fibre. Unsized. Available as single sheets or in packs of 25.

• Awagami Kitakata editioning paper, 43x52cm, 36gsm, comes in a creamy off-white colour (natural) and green, silky texture. Oftenused in restoration and bookbinding because of its strength. Also suitable for all printmaking including block printing and sumi ink. Handmade from 90% gampi fibre with 10% alpha cellulose, acid free, 4 deckle edges. It has a subtle gloss, nice density and soft surface finish. Unsized. Available as single sheets or in packs of 25.

• Awagami Kitakata editioning 43x52cm, 90gsm comes in a *natural* colour. Unsized. Silky texture. Oftenused in restoration and bookbinding because of its strength. Also suitable for all printmaking including block printing and sumi ink. Handmade from 90% gampi fibre with 10% alpha cellulose, acid free, 4 deckle edges. It has a subtle gloss, nice density and soft surface finish. Unsized. Available as single sheets or in packs of 25.

• Awagami Bunkoshi Select editioning 43x52cm, 70gsm *natural cream* colour. Deep natural cream colour with a smooth surface. Its texture is classically Japanese with no additional sizing making it an excellent paper both for printmaking and calligraphy. Manufactured from 70% alpha cellulose with 30% Kozo fibre. Acid-free. Unsized. Available as single sheets or in packs of 25.

• Awagami Masa printmaking paper 53x79cm, 88gsm. Often referred to as Hosho. A fine art paper that can be used as an inexpensive muli-media drawing and printmaking paper. Masa is a soft, white paper with the traditional absorbency and feel of handmade Japanese papers. Machine-made of cellulose fibre it is internally and surface-sized, bright white and acid-free and 88gsm in weight. Masa is very smooth on one side with more texture to the other side and features good "wet-strength" making it ideal for use with waterbased inks block and mono-printing, digital imaging, silkscreen, woodcut, linocut, etching, offset and letterpress printing. Available as single sheets or in packs of 100.

• Awagami Kinwashi 64x97cm, 55gsm, translucent with stiff, fibrous texture. Comes in beige, mustard, light green, purple and blue. (Beige currently in stock; can order in other colours.) Machine-made from 100% hemp fibres and hand-dyed producing a sheet that is smooth on one side and textured on the other with straw-like vegetable fibres. Acid-free. Usually used for decorative purposes. Particularly interesting when backlit (or freely hanging from a wall or ceiling). Not suitable for etching/intaglio processes, waterless lithography of mokuhanga printing. Suitable for careful western relief printing (avoid high press pressure which could permanently emboss your plate). Suitable for screenprinting. Unsized. Available as single sheets.

• Awagami Unryu thick white, 64x97cm, 42gsm, creamy coloured, soft texture. Classic Japanese paper aesthetic with subtle cloud-like inclusions of long kozo (mulberry) fibers. Particularly interesting when backlit (or freely hanging from a wall or ceiling). Excellent for letterpress and western relief printing. Unsized. Available as single sheets or in packs of 25.

• Awagami Kozo Natural Select editioning paper, 43x52cm, 46gsm, warm-white with flecking, silky texture. Exceptionally strong and pliable. Suitable for all printmaking including block printing. Crafted from 80% long-fibred Kozo and 20% alpha cellulose, acid-free (pH 6-7), 4 deckle edges. Unsized. Available as single sheets or in packs of 25.

• Awagami Bamboo, 56x76cm, 110gsm, creamy off-white in colour, texture similar to silk while softer than cotton. Excellent for letterpress and relief printing. 70% bamboo fibre plus 30% mixed recycled fibre, acid free, no fluorescent bleaching, 2 deckle edges. Unsized. Available as single sheets or in packs of 25.

• Awagami Editioning pack of papers, size 21x26cm, 2 x 10 different washi papers - Kitakata 36gsm, Kitakata Green 36gsm, Kitakata Select 90gsm, Hosho Select 80gsm, Bamboo Select 170gsm, Shiramine Select 110gsm, Kozo Natural Select 46gsm, Okawara Select 51gsm, Hakuho Select 220gsm and Bunkoshi Select 70gsm. (These papers are normally only available in 43x52cm size sheets in packs of 25.) Bamboo Select 170gsm and Hakuho Select 220gsm may be sized (although water absorption could just be inhibited by thickness). All other papers are unsized.

• Awagami Creative Washi pack (large 500g). One of Awagami's international best sellers. Contains a generous assortment of decorative and fine art papers, sized small up to A4. Can be used for collage, origami and craft. Packaged in a clear plastic bag. Each pack is different.

• Wettable cartridge paper for proofing, A3, 125gsm, bright white. Stronger than usual cartridge. Internally sized. (Suitable as is as a proofing paper for Mokuhanga, western relief printing and cardboard drypoint etching.)

Rolls of paper:

• Awagami Kitakata*natural* 36gsm 97cm x 10 metre roll. Unsized.

• Awagami Kozo Thick *natural* 42gsm 97cm x 10 metre roll. Unsized.

• Awagami Kozo Thick *white* 42gsm 97cm x 10 metre roll. Unsized.

• Awagami Okawara Washi 70gsm 97cm x 10 metre roll. Unsized.

Mokuhanga printing needs sized paper. Many Mokuhanga artists size their own washi according to their personal needs - in terms of their process, the kinds of prints they are making, climate and seasonal changes in humidity and temperature.

It can be very difficult to find sized washi papers in Australia and many Japanese washi paper suppliers are unable to post to Australia at the moment. For this reason you might like to purchase unsized washi and size it yourself. For user-friendly instructions, please refer to pages 58-59 and 88-89 of Laura Boswell’s book Making Japanese Woodblock Prints.

Sizing is not necessary for western relief processes using oil-based inks.

Many of the above papers may also be suitable for intaglio printing, but you’d need to experiment first to be sure.

Special orders are available - including new orders of Out of Stock items and bulk orders. Please text Simone on 0407 079 604 to enquire.

Postage by Australia Post Parcel Post, up to 5kg, within Australia, with tracking, 2+ business days delivery (actual time may vary according to Australia Post’s delivery conditions).
- Postage small items, small-medium post pack (up to 5kg in total), parcel post, $15.
- Postage packs of paper rolled in an A1 Australia Post tube, (up to 5kg in total), express post, $30.
- Bulk purchases & paper purchases always by pre-arrangement, text 0407 079 604. (Delivery costs are dependant upon size/weight of package.)

Alternatively, collection from Adelaide (SA) inner city for no charge.

Collection times must coincide with Simone’s teaching/studio schedule - mostly Saturdays during the day (Stepney), most Sundays during the day (Hindmarsh), Monday/Tuesday evenings (Hindmarsh) and Wednesday afternoons (Stepney).

No drop ins please.
(Artists work across many venues, so studio visits are always by appointment, thank you.)

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Note: sized papers used in class for Mokuhanga (available elsewhere)

• Kitaro Kozoshi. Japanese washi paper, 87gsm, 100% kozo, 96x66cm. Sized. Colours natural and white. Good for Mokuhanga, western relief printing, letterpress and some intaglio processes. Best purchased direct from Japan www.washi-kitaro.com/english-1/product-lineup/.

• Zerkall laid white. German western paper, 120gsm, 100% cotton rag, 76x53cm. Sized.  Creamy white colour. Good for Mokuhanga, western relief printing, letterpress, book binding and some intaglio processes. Best purchased from Melbourne Etching Supplies during their twice-yearly sales.