This Japanese artist creates intricate artworks using only rubber stamps
If you have tried making rubber stamps, you would know it is a tedious process. From drawing to carving the rubber painstakingly, it is no easy feat. Yet, Japanese artist Natsuko Taguchi has gone past the level of making a one-layer stamp and produced this “Yukata and Morning Glory” masterpiece.
浴衣と朝顔の消しゴムはんこを押しているところです。
34版と、いつもよりパーツが少し多いので、速さもちょっと速くなっています。#消しゴムはんこ #押し動画 #田口奈津子 pic.twitter.com/9oVRoHd6FZ— 田口奈津子*消しゴムはんこ (@naco_hinata) September 21, 2019
Perhaps enhanced by the colour gradation, it is simply intriguing to just watch the process. The masterpiece slowly came to life as she carefully placed the stamps in position and pressed them down, revealing the artwork little by little. Taguchi’s style is reminiscent of traditional Japanese woodblock print, Ukiyo-e.
Starting with the outline of a lady in a yukata, the artist proceeded to stamp the background with morning glory flowers, not forgetting intricate details like the vine, pinwheel and mosquito coil. Thereafter, she even went so far as to colour the lady’s face, hand and feet, followed by the prints and creases on the yukata! All in all, this amazing artist used a total of 36 stamps and 28 colours to create this ukiyo-e-like stamp.
Her masterpiece has since garnered 2.1 million views and 172,000 likes. It was even reported on the news on Japanese television:
わ!+。:.゚٩(๑>◡<๑)۶:.。+゚
ちょっと放送していただけました!#消しゴムはんこ #あさチャン pic.twitter.com/ezHEwzKrO0— 田口奈津子*消しゴムはんこ (@naco_hinata) September 24, 2019
Apparently, this is not her first time creating artworks like this. She has also made a colourful temari ball artwork using 17 stamps and 30 colours:
手毬の消しゴムはんこを押しているところです。
(動画、もうちょっと上達できるよう頑張ります!)#消しゴムはんこ #押し動画 #田口奈津子 #手毬 pic.twitter.com/3Txb1ohpqW— 田口奈津子*消しゴムはんこ (@naco_hinata) January 22, 2019
And this spring-filled sakura artwork with 15 stamps and 20 colours:
桜の消しゴムはんこを
押しているところです。#消しゴムはんこ #押し動画 #田口奈津子 #桜 #お花見 pic.twitter.com/027iVjaJxf— 田口奈津子*消しゴムはんこ (@naco_hinata) March 14, 2019
Just look at the beauty and the details in this mid-autumn-themed stamp!
ついつい籠りがちでごめんなさい。8月は大きなプロジェクトに関わらせてもらっていました。私史上最大に熱かった夏も、ようやく乗り切れた予感。またぼちぼちと製作していけたらと思いますよろしくお願いいたします
気が早いですが、お月見のはんこ。#消しゴムはんこ #はんけしくん #バーサクラフト pic.twitter.com/5S1WSRjaJj— 田口奈津子*消しゴムはんこ (@naco_hinata) August 29, 2019
One cannot help but be in awe at this artist. If you wish to see more of her works, check out her vibrant Instagram!