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Sunberst> Linoleum Print Tutorial
Linoleum Print Tutorial
Hello! I created this tutorial as an aid for my found: in japan print exchange project. I am not suggesting that this is the text book way to do a linoleum print. This is simply the way that I generally do them & I hope that you find the following helpful.
Supplies:
linoleum mounted on particle board, cutter, block print ink, brayer, baren & paper
Step 1: Transfer your sketch
A terrific way to transfer is to use carbon paper. I did not have any handy for this demonstration, so went the long way and used chalk. You can try rubbing graphite on the back to transfer it that way, but it never works for me.
Step 2: Carve out the positive (white) space
Take a minute to look at your drawing and decide which areas you want to leave and which areas you want to carve away. Remember that the raised areas will be what shows up in the ink. My biggest mistake when I first started, was trying to carve too deep into the linoleum. You really don't have to carve deep at all, just along the surface. The tools are sharp, and you can cut yourself so use with caution.
Step 3: Ink your block
Squeeze a small amount of ink onto a smooth, flat, washable surface (i use a piece of glass). Take your brayer and roll the ink out into a smooth, thin layer. Then careful roll the inked brayer onto the surface of your block. All of the raised areas will accept the ink.
Step 4: Pulling your print
Center a piece of paper on top of the inked block. Using a baren, rub the paper with even pressure. This "pulls" the ink from the block onto the paper. Carefully peel the paper from the block & allow it to dry. While a baren is traditionally used, you may also use a wooden spoon or even a clean brayer to make your print. I use a homemade device that works for me. Try different things and find something that you like.
Photo Tutorial
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the supplies & a rick bayless margarita (recipe to follow) |
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taking a piece of tracing paper, i traced over a sketch i had in my sketch book (this is the same bird that i watercolored for my beeswax project last month). |
next, took a piece of chalk and drew over the lines. |
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then, i placed the chalked tracing paper face side down onto the linoleum block. the tracing paper is great because you can see through it to center your art on the block & also see your lines. all i did then was to again trace over those lines to transfer the chalk onto the block. |
here is how the chalked block looks. but chalk rubs off easily, so... |
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...i took a waterproof pen and drew over the chalk so that i have permanent lines to work with. |
after that, it is time to get to work! start carving away at your block. go outside and sit in the grass and get some fresh air to fuel your creativity. i usually use a box lid to carve in so that it can sit on my lap and collect the linoleum shavings. |
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once you are done carving, squeeze some ink onto a clean, smooth surface. here i use an old glass cabinet shelf. take your brayer, roll the ink out in a very thin, smooth layer. today i'm using basic black water soluble block print ink. next, simply take your inked brayer and roll it across the surface of your block to ink the raised parts. |
next, place a piece of paper on top of your inked block. using a baren, or other rubbing device, burnish the back of the paper to pull the ink from the block onto the paper. this is where the term "hand pulled" comes into play. you are not stamping the block, you are rubbing the paper to pull the ink onto it. this funny looking thing you see is a sleeve of an old boy scout's uniform, stuffed with poly fill and closed off with rubber bands & duct tape. chad made this for me since i didn't have a baren. works fine. it just has to be something smooth that will burnish evenly. i even used a wooden paddle hair brush. :) |
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then carefully peel the paper from the block. i used a paper with a lot of tooth, so this first pull did not take the ink evenly. experiment with different papers, different pressures of the baren. using a printing press would be really helpful in this case because it would really press the ink into all those natural paper crevices. but alas i do not have a printing press. someday. |
try out different colors & types of paper. i used some rough card stock as well as some thin, smooth origami paper. |
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here is a close up of a pull i did on origami paper. you can see that it took the ink really well & looks exactly like my block. |
this was done on a cold press paper with a lot of tooth. it did not take the ink as smoothly, but left some interesting textures. |
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Experiment & have fun with linoleum! And for a little after-project fun, try this margarita recipe. (Using sharp tools with alcohol is not advised. Sunberst is not to be held responsible for loss of fingers while making art.)
Rick Bayless Margarita
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup agave tequila
1/4 cup cointreau
1/2 cup ice
Shake everything for 10 seconds and strain into glasses.
After you've had this, you'll never go back to those nasty "mix" margaritas again. Go ahead and splurge- get the best tequila you can afford. This is good stuff.
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