Before you can create the print itself you must first design the print on paper. Draw only the line work of the image. Do not add shading. This is because the print must be carved later, and complex shading done with a pencil will not translate to the print. Nature was a dominant theme in Japanese prints. Cherry blossoms, known as "sakura" in Japan were featured heavily in Japanese prints. Create the image of a cherry blossom by first drawing the limbs of the tree. Draw several diagonal lines that move across the page. Each line should bend and warp slightly to give the branches a realistic look. Add a line under each branch that follows the same pattern, but tapers toward the line the further it extends. This will create the impression of a branch thinning at the tip. Add the blossoms with tiny circles near the ends of each branch. Place five small circles around each circle to create petals.
Place a sheet of graphite paper between the paper illustration and the woodblock. A suitable plank of carving wood can be found at any local craft store, such as Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Trace the illustration to press the graphite onto the wood. This will leave behind your line work on the wood.
Carve the wood using wood gouges. Use a large gouge for the wide-open areas and a smaller gouge for the details. Keep in mind that what you carve away will appear as white space on the print. Many Japanese prints left behind a lot of wood for the branches. This will ensure that the branches are dark and bold on the print, which will contrast nicely with the flowers.
Use an ink roller to spread an even coat of black ink across your print. Another method you can use is creating a small pouch of fabric, dipping this in ink and then padding the pouch over the print. Place your paper over the print and press the paper onto the print firmly. You can use traditional rice paper or simple watercolor paper. Carefully remove the print. The line work should be completely transferred to your paper. Let the ink dry and paint the print using watercolors. Use light red and pinks for the blossoms. Create the background with browns and blues. Add a light amount of blue to the top of the print to create the appearance of the sky in the background.