There are many printmaking techniques, and linocut is one of them. Linocut is what it’s saying: cuts created on a sheet of linoleum.
How Linocut Is Made:
- Create your design and draw or print or transfer it to a sheet of linoleum. It’s not difficult, but the fact that the print itself will look mirrored.
- Then, using special cutters and rotary tools image gets engraved. And here is the rule – lines add light, so you are working in “negative” space.
- With a special roller, printing ink will be applied to the carved surface and spread in a fine layer.
- And the last step, using a printing machine, a hand press or just a regular coffee tamper apply the linocut sheet to paper, fabric or other surfaces.
This technique offers great opportunities to all artists, from beginners to advanced. It was introduced in the beginning of the 20th century and spread a lot in Europe in the 1950s after Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse adopted linocut to their works.
I personally love this technique as it combines 3D and 2D art and requires some brainwork carving images mirrored and negative. Sometimes, I’m forgetting about that and scratch lines for shading, the way we usually do in drawing or sketching, so the work is ruined and the process is to be started over.
You can see and buy my lino prints in this online shop, or come to the Ottawa Artisans store at Billing Bridge Mall to choose in person.
Being a sustainable artist, I’m using biodegradable lino sheets and water-based ink (not acrylic) to minimize plastic waste.