Summer came and went and here we are again, feeling the crisp autumn air in the mornings paired with some drizzly afternoons that the Pacific Northwest is famous for. We hope you and yours are well. If you are interested in sharing your work consider contributing to McClain’s galleries! Through December 1st we are accepting submissions for the 2026 McClain’s Catalog and Online Gallery. It is free to submit, one print per person please. As always, we look forward to seeing your work.
Another Round of Shina
Demand is up and so is our supply! We received a second shipment of Shina plywood this year just in time for fall. Part of the Linden family, this fine-grained plywood milled in Hokkaido, the northern-most island of Japan, is a favorite among printmakers. Shina is harvested selectively and sustainably. The plywood is very high quality, free of voids, knots or blemishes. It is already sanded smooth to an even thickness, ready for immediate cutting and printing. If you have not yet carved Shina we offer a free sample to those residing in the US. Send us your request at info@imcclains.com.
McClain’s Visits Gamblin Artists’ Colors
The Portland metro area is home to many industry leaders. For painters and printmakers one of the greats is Gamblin Artists’ Colors, a color house known for their luscious oil paints and beautiful lines of traditional etching and relief inks. McClain’s carries Gambin’s relief ink line, along with Gamblin’s Textile Ink and Tom Huck’s Outlaw Black. The McClain’s crew took a factory tour over the summer and it was fascinating to see the manufacturing process of Gamblin’s inks and oil paints from the raw materials to the finished, packaged product. A special thank you to our tour guide Devin for geeking out with us and sharing his extensive knowledge. Follow @gamblincolors for glimpses of the Gamblin factory, product info and more.
WorkSharp WS3000 Discontinued
For those who invested in the WorkSharp WS3000 this sharpener has been discontinued by the manufacturer. We will continue to supply WorkSharp WS3000 accessories until we run out. Currently in stock are Leather Honing Kit, Tempered Glass Wheel, Micro Mesh Honing Abrasive Kit, Course Abrasive Kit and the Edge-Vision Slotted Wheel. We are on the search for another motorized sharpener so stay tuned.
It Pays to Check Out the Sale Page
It is always a good idea to check out the McClain’s sale page as this is the place where we list any discounted stock, slow sellers or limited time supplies. Right now we have a limited supply of large 24mm Josei Maru To (u-gouge) in stock, a size that is typically a custom order from Japan taking up to six months to arrive. These clearing gouges are an absolute workhorse of a tool when it comes to removing large sections of a woodblock.
Skip the wait time for a special-order tool and grab one of these beauties while they last!