If you are new to linocut or maybe you have attended a workshop with me you might find these videos useful reminders of tips or techniques that we covered.
Transferring a sketch onto a lino block.
It is easy to forget that our linocut block will print as a mirror image. Sometimes this isn’t a problems as many images will work in reverse. This isn’t the case if you have text in your image or a specific landmark though!
If you either sketch your image onto tracing paper, or trace your sketch if you prefer, you can turn the image over and transfer it to your block. Hey presto, your image is flipped and when you print your image will be the right way round.
*!* A pencil 2B or softer gives the best results.
Transferring a linocut onto additional blocks.
You are planning a print with more than one layer. How do you make sure that the different blocks will line up perfectly with each other?
One way is to print one block onto the others so you know that you are using exactly the same image across all of the blocks. I am using Schmincke cyan here as it stains beautifully and is water based so the excess ink easily wipes off once it has had time to stain the lino. Their process red also works well which is useful when transferring a design onto lino which is already blue such as Easy Carve. There are bound to be other inks/paints that work for this process, it’s worth experimenting with what you have to hand.
More videos relating to the prints that I make and the processes that I use can be found on my Instagram @artylisab
