Saper Galleries and Custom Framing is the source for Mikio Watanabe mezzotint engravings

Mikio Watanabe was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1954. After graduating from the Ecole des Beaux Arts of Tokyo in 1977, he was drawn to Paris to perfect his mezzotint technique. Admission to the prestigious Atelier 17 of Stanley William Hayter soon followed and he studied engraving there from 1979 to 1981.

In 1989 Watanabe was awarded at "Salon de la Gravure Originale" in Bayeux, France and in 1992 at "Miniprint International" in Cadaques, Spain. Mikio is a member of the International Academy "Greci-Marino" in Italy. He has dedicated his work to mezzotint since 1981 and after over 50 one-man exhibitions, one can now find his work in public and private collections internationally.

His hand-rocked, copper plate images are Mikio's sensuous, reverent, and intimate homage to the female form, with a fine quality that bespeaks the artist's many years of devotion to his craft.

The quality of his engravings is consistent with the high regard for excellence that is the hallmark of Saper Galleries.

The Mezzotint Medium

Watanabe creates a mezzotint by repeatedly pressing a curved, serrated mezzotint "rocker" over the surface of a copper plate until it makes thousands of tiny indentations. After the entire surface of the plate has been textured, yielding a rich velvety black when inked, scrapers are used to shave down the raised areas to a variety of heights that will produce soft tones from dark gray to white when inked and pressed.

While the mezzotint has a history dating back to the seventeenth century, few contemporary artists have achieved the technical skill and dexterity of a master. In Watanabe’s work, one senses not only his devotion to his craft, but also a more private devotion – his model for many years was his beloved wife, Yuriko.

Watanabe expresses this powerful combination of technical mastery and artistic inspiration when he states, "The moment when the copper, the technique, the tools, and myself become one harmonious whole, the result is breathtaking and speaks to me with eloquence."

Plenitude Numbered 69/90 5 1/8 x 8 3/8" $500	Lueur I Numbered 68/90 8 3/8 x 3 3/8" $500	Lueur II Numbered 68/90 8 3/8 x 3 3/8" Sorry, sold for $500
Modestie Numbered 25/90 2 7/8 x 4 5/8" Sorry, sold for $400	Pudeur Numbered 68/90 2 1/2 x 5 1/4" $400	Voie Lactee Numbered 68/90 6 3/4 x 11 1/2" Sorry, sold for $750
Danse des brumes Numbered 67/90 6 x 7 5/8" $600	Dignite Numbered 70/90 8 x 4 1/8" $500	Jour Numbered 41/90 7 5/8 x 15 1/2" Sorry, sold for $600
Sirene III Numbered 69/90 7 1/2 x 5 1/2" Sorry, sold for $500	Genie Numbered 36/90 5 5/8 x 7 1//2" $500	S'envoler Numbered 26/90 4 3/8 x 8 1/8" $750