This week my studio has been transformed into a lino print room as I turn my hand to a skill I lasted used at art school some 16 years ago. It was time again to do a lino print. I wanted to create an image that would be relevant as a Christmas card but also to stand up on its own as a print.
The Sketch
The first stage was to sketch out the image for my lino print and then refine it to something that would be workable on the lino that I would be using to create a printing block.
Transferring the Image
This image was then in turn, transferred onto the lino ready for cutting. Using a piece of carbon paper and tracing over your original drawing is a quick way to do this. If you don’t have any carbon paper, you can just trace your image on the underside of your original drawing. You then draw over the original which will transfer the traced line on the underside, onto the lino.
Get a Second Opinion
My cat Iha was happy to oversee my progress.
Making the Print
Then the printing began. I rolled the mixed ink onto the lino with a rubber brayer, carefully placed the card or paper onto the lino, covered and applied pressure with a baren. Normally you would use a large printing press that acts just like a mangle, squeezing the paper against the lino but the baren is cheaper, saves space and keeps your arms in shape!
Second Colour
Once the first run was complete, I cut into the lino more, repeating the rest of the process for the second colour.
Drying
And there we have it, hung out to dry! The prints and cards will soon be available to buy online but in the meantime if you are interested in picking one (or some!) up, send me an email, I’d love to hear from you!
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing your process, it’s something I want to try but haven’t done before – this gives me an idea of how to go about it :-). Well done on your IF crunchy pic, it’s great!
These absolutely beautiful prints and cards are now for sale in TIMBER, 65 Hanbury St, London E1 5JP. Come and see Matt’s work in the flesh! You won’t be disappointed, and they are limited edition and would make the prefect Xmas gift for someone (or yourself…)
Beautiful, thak you for sharing your experience with prints of lino!!! I’m from Venezuela, Maracaibo, and I want to make a print : ) BEAUTIFUL!! and INSPIRING!!!