Applying my Maker's Mark to a Finished Project

Just like an artist signs a painting, I carve a mark in to each piece I finish. Let me show you how I do it.

I took the design from an old manga by Hokusai called Ippitsu Gafu, which roughly means "Drawn with a single brush stroke." It is a collection of wildlife and portaits drawn with, you guessed it, a single stroke of an ink brush, then printed in the japanese woodcut style.

First, trace and carve a design.

Apply superglue, gel style works best.

Cover it with a layer of sawdust from a darker wood and press it into the grooves.

Let it dry.

Scrape, plane or sand it level.

I call this method the Cheater's Inlay.

Here is another variation I put on the Leafy Seadragon shoji screen I am making.

Check out the rest of my posts at the #woodworking tag, or post your projects.