Linocut PRINT

Our columnist LAURA BOSWELL guides you through this simple home printmaking project, teaching you how to plan and create a three-colour reduction linocut

- LAURA BOSWELL

AIM

This project is an introduction to making a reduction linocut. It includes instructions for a simple jig you can make yourself to keep the linocut’s colour layers neatly aligned while you print.

SUBJECT

Linocut printing is a relief print process: it is the surface of the lino that prints and any cuts you make into the lino will not print.

A reduction linocut is made using a single piece of lino. The lino is gradually cut away and printed. In this project, the print has three colours so you will be cutting and printing your piece of lino three times in all.

You will need to print all the prints you want to make from the start as you will be cutting away the block as you go. You cannot print more prints later from a reduction print.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

By making a reduction linocut with multiple layers of colour, you are forced to think clearly in advance about how you want each one to look.

If you have a painting background, it will teach you to think differently and more methodically about colour, while learning to plan out a design more thoroughly.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

For this project I recommend using traditional artist’s grey lino, the type with hessian backing. The suppliers listed on the right can supply lino and the other tools and materials mentioned in the image below.

For a good result, you will need to use printing inks. There are three types of printing inks: water-based, oil-based, and oil-based that can be washed in water. The latter are often called “safe wash” inks. The oil-based inks are slower to dry than water-based inks but are easier to use and there is less chance of your drawing marks transferring to the finished print. If in doubt, check with one of the suppliers listed for advice.