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When I first started linocut, I wouldn't call myself an expert...
In fact, I was quite inexperienced and even became frustrated when I tried to pick up the tools to start. So, how did I get to this point, where I can finally get lost in the art of linocut?
If you haven't kept up to date with my Instagram and what I've been working on, check out these three prints I've made below. In chronological order, first is my 'Fruity Pomegranate Print', second is the 'Paisley Coffehouse' print, and last is my 'Redchurch Cafe' print!
For those who are interested, you can purchase any of these lovelies at the bottom of this post :)
Back to it...
As I've been spending more time refining my knowledge and learning what kinds of tools work well for the projects I envision, I really understood the lack of practice I started off with. I think this is what scared me the most... doing something new and potentially failing miserably.
At first, I did what some people wouldn't, but I literally just picked up some basic tools (ones that granted, were not right for the project lol) and tried to carve into some lino block I purchased on impulse. I probably got a little too confident because I started by drawing on the lino block in some sort of pen, and within the hour, I was already picking away at my block.
There I was, carving, and not knowing what I was really supposed to be doing. Later, as I found out, I was supposed to be using a handle with the linocut tip but had not done this at all. The result – my hands were a mess and I was getting microcuts left and right in my fingers. A mess.
I know you probably want to see pictures, so please enjoy this one here. I was scraping at the lino block, not really carving, and was making a mess out of it too... for some reason, I was quite surprised after all of that, that my end result was not as crisp as I was expecting.
Proof of the crime scene above.
How did I overcome my fear of lino?
Since my unfortunate series of events, I challenged myself to learn more about what printmaking and linocut involve. This meant, yes, learning how to be a beginner. It meant I had to give myself more grace to the learning process and not expect results immediately.
I bought a book that gave me some really good tips, and I invited my younger sister over to show me her go-to techniques for a crisp print. These were both the catalysts in re-learning my skills and I eventually got to working on a mini-print which turned out to be my Pomegranate Print!
This print was the first one I was really like, 'Yes! I'm proud of this one and it speaks to my brand as an artist' which made me happy. I picked up that linocut nib in addition to the handle and I got to work on a new design, but this time, I traced my handmade design on parchment before transferring it onto the block. GAMECHANGER, I tell you. This made my design a lot easier to see when I was carving and was harder to rub off through friction while I was working around it in the carving process.
With a new perspective and new tools (along with the technique) I've now been able to make 3 prints that I'm so proud of. I'm going to keep at it, but I thought I'd share where I'm at with linocut, and I'd say we're a lot closer as friends than previously 😁
Take care, everyone! Don't forget to comment on any questions if you have them for me, and like this blog post if you enjoyed reading it.
xx Jade 🌱
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