Welcome to my linocut printmaking blog. I’ve been writing since 2011 so if you’d like to browse or keyword search my archives you can take a look…thanks!
Ink | Paper | Press | Shirts (Fabric) | Tools
I’m working on a couple multicolor linocuts of desert landscapes. This one highlights a lot of desert plant patterns and details.
The image below was drawn directly on the 16”x22” linoleum block.
Carving details in the linoleum block with a u-gouge
I came up with a geometric pattern for the sky and carved it with v-gouge tools.
Geometric linocut pattern used for the desert sky
Here are some Instagram videos of me inking up the desert plants and sky with printmaking ink for test prints.
I’ve been working on a lot of linocut projects this year, most of which feature patterning, abstractions, line work or geometric forms. Here’s a small selection of some linocut designs from over the last few months.
They’re all carved in battleship gray linoleum blocks with v- and u-gouge carving tools. A couple of the lino prints are finished and available on Etsy.
Line pattern carved in a linoleum block.
Geometric design carved in linoleum. The final print is available on Etsy.
Linocutting a design with a carving tool.
Carved lino block with v-gouge tool. This final lino print is available on Etsy.
I recently finished a large lino print using my Conrad monotype press. It was the first big linocut I made on it. The linoleum cut print was made using the jigsaw method - a great way to make multi-color prints. Essentially, with this technique you cut your linoleum block into pieces, which are then inked separately, and put back together (like a jigsaw) before printing.
First layer of an assembled jigsaw linocut.
Here are some tips that I’ve learned when making jigsaw lino prints with unmounted linoleum:
Starting with a whole piece of linoleum, I usually first deeply carve the outline of the jigsaw pieces with a v-gouge.
If I’m not trying to be too exact, I might use some good sissors to cut out the shapes. If I want more precise cuts, I use a wood carving or X-Acto knife.
Trim any stray bits of burlap that overhang the edges.
Ink the lino pieces separately before assembling them into a whole.
Draw an outline of the assembled jigsaw on a piece of newsprint. In other words, if it’s a 11”x14” print, I’d draw an 11”x14” rectangle on newsprint. This gets placed underneath the inked jigsaw pieces so when you go to place the inked blocks down to print, you know they all need to fit within this outline.
On the pink section of my new 30”x 24” linocut print in the photo, I did a reduction and printed a second pattern on top. This is the final linoleum cut print.
Finished jigsaw linocut print
Made some of these Lake Tahoe linocut prints today...good to be back at the press after too long.
A video posted by Boarding All Rows (@boardingallrows) on Jan 26, 2016 at 1:11pm PST
Last month, I took the same block and printed a long-sleeve t-shirt for myself.
Lake Tahoe Block Printed T-Shirt
For something different, I've been experimenting with block printing on fabric this year - trying all sorts of ink, fabric and heat setting methods. I did a ridiculous number of printing tests so I'm tempted to accumulate my findings into a blog post. In the meantime, here are two kids cotton T-shirts I printed using linocut blocks and Speedball Fabric Block Printing Ink on my etching press.
T-shirts printed with linoleum blocks
