This woodcut was based on a detail from Pieter Bruegel the Elder's drawing from 1556 titled "Big Fish Eat Little Fish" . The style of border I used was appropriated from woodcuts by a 16th century artist named Hans Doring. The fishy people were inspired by similar human-fish creatures in the central panel of Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights" triptych. The printing block was carved in Poplar (this was my first woodcut, I do not recommend poplar as fine details can chip easily, fruit woods such pear or apple work very well), the ink is oil based. Some pictures of the woodcut printing block are shown below.