Toru Sugita
Saturday July 11 & Sunday July 12, 2026
10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Bring bagged lunch)
$265 non-members/$250 members
$25 materials fee paid directly to the instructor
Location: Arts Benicia Annex, 991 Tyler St, #116, Benicia
Level: Intermediate
Age minimum: 18
Minimum 5 | Maximum 8
Class description: Reduction print is also known as an elimination print. It is achieved by the gradual cutting away of the wood block following the printing of each color stage. The traditional technique of creating a multi-color woodblock print consists of carving one woodblock for each color. This technique has been used for instance by Japanese artists and artisans since the 18th century. Over the last decades a new technique how to create a multicolor woodblock print has emerged and become widely used by Chinese printmakers. The process is called reduction woodblock printing or sometimes also no-waste printing. All colors are printed just out of one block which is re-carved for each color. Thus, the original block is destroyed during the creation process and further copies beyond the first edition are impossible.
Special Notes: Bag lunch, pencils, color pencils, wood carving knives if you have. Image size 8” x 6” Minimum color layers or tonal value layers of 2 or 3
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Toru Sugita, a printmaker and painter originally from Japan, is actively showing his artwork throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, and Latin America. Toru is known for his black and white intaglio and wood engraving prints with strong architectural elements. His prints can be found in various public collections including the Achenbach Foundation of Graphic Arts in the Fine Art Museum of San Francisco.
Toru spent time traveling extensively throughout Latin America and the Middle East finally establishing a residence in San Francisco, California. Toru received a Master of Fine Arts in printmaking from San Francisco State University and became actively involved in the community as an artist and an art educator for fourteen years. Toru is also known as the illustrator of award-winning book “Floating Lanterns and Golden Shrines.” In 2006 Toru moved to Grand Junction, Colorado for a teaching position at Colorado Mesa University (then Mesa State College), where he focused on teaching in the Art Department and produced collaborative works with Matt Lindstrom, Professor of Dance. In 2009 he returned to the Bay Area as a faculty member at Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill, California. Toru is currently in charge of the printmaking programs at DVC. In 2022 Toru successfully moved Printmaking programs to the new Art Complex.
Toru’s recent sabbatical projects include residencies at Kyoto Seika University, and Kyoto University of the Arts. You can find additional information about Toru and his work by visiting his website: http://www.torusugita.net.