author
F. Morley (Frank Morley) Fletcher
1866–1949
Best known for helping bring Japanese color woodblock printing to Western artists, this English-born painter, printmaker, and teacher also wrote one of the early practical guides to the craft. His work and teaching linked fine art, design, and hands-on technique in a way that still feels fresh.
1 Audiobook
Wood-Block Printing A Description of the Craft of Woodcutting and Colour Printing Based on the Japanese Practice
by F. Morley (Frank Morley) Fletcher
About the author
Born in 1866 in England, Frank Morley Fletcher was trained as a painter before becoming one of the key figures in the spread of Japanese-style color woodblock printing in Britain and the United States. He is often referred to as F. Morley Fletcher, and his reputation rests not only on his own prints and paintings but also on his gift for teaching.
Fletcher taught at several art schools and became especially influential through his efforts to introduce Japanese methods of relief printmaking to Western students. His 1916 book Wood-Block Printing helped explain the process clearly for artists and makers, and it remained an important reference for many years.
Later in life he worked in California as well as in Britain, continuing to paint, print, and teach. Today he is remembered as both an artist and a bridge between traditions: someone who helped transform admiration for Japanese printmaking into practical knowledge that other artists could actually use.