One great advantage of working with linoprints, or any kind of hand printing technique for that matter, is that you can experiment with different colors and different supports with the same linocut plates.
I recently carved lino plates for a forest triptych that would have several layers : One for the shape of the trees, one for patterns and one for the sky. So 3 times 3 plates, that was 9 plates in total to carve!
Each plate was 24 x 24 inches
I started with a drawing using sharpie markers on the lino, then I carved out the sky leaving only the tree shapes.
This is a video of me carving the first plates, you can see why I find carving lino very relaxing :):
The next step was to transfer each design on the two other plates. I used a sheet of Dura-Lar paper to do that and a Ternes- Burton registration system.
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Safe for overlaying artwork, layouts and covering color separations, and transparencies. Consistent in color and clarity, won’t discolor. Archival quality, lays flat, dimensionally stable. Sheets, pads, and rolls.
Once I had the design transferred onto 2 more plates, I could carve one plate for the sky and one plate for the patterns.
I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.
Speedball Linoleum Cutters are made of the finest quality steel with long lasting cutting edges. They are made of quality steel for long lasting cutting edges.
This is a video of the patterns carving:
Then I tried 4 variations of the same print:
Variation 1: Color layering on paper mounted on board
This version has been printed on paper, separating the yellow, blue and red layers and then the patterns in black. Once all the layers were printed I mounted the paper on board and varnished it.
The first version: Multi layered print on paper mounted on board
Variation 2 : Color layering on canvas
For the second version, I also separated the colors in layers of yellow, blue, red and black patterns but this time printed on canvas fabric that I stretched later on.
Stretching canvas with Tunres-Burton registration system
Stretching canvas with Tunres-Burton registration system
Yellow layer
Red layer
Red layer
Red layer
Blue layer
Blue layer
Stretching the canvas on boards
Stretching the canvas on boards
Varnishing the prints
I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.
A hard synthetic rubber roller (80 durometer) makes these brayers ideal for light carving or gluing applications, and excellent for rolling down print surfaces. – Deluxe Brayers
The second version, printed on stretched canvas
Variation 3 : Black and white patterns on paper mounted on board
This time I printed only the pattern plates on paper and then mounted the paper on board.
Black and white patterns printed on paper
mounting paper on board
varnishing
The third version Black and white print on paper mounted on board
Variation 4: Patterns printed on Kraft paper mounted on canvas
This time I printed only the patterns on Kraft paper in black, added a few pastels accents and mounted the prints on canvas.
Adding a few accents with pastels
Adding a few accents with pastels
Adding a few accents with pastels
Drying
Drying
Mounting the paper on canvas
Mounting the paper on canvas
Trimming the sides
Painting the sides
MountinPainting the sides g the paper on canvas
Varnishing
The 4th version: On Kraft paper with mixed media mounted on canvas
As usual, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to ask questions in the comments or to share your own experiments with printing different versions of the same linoprint.
Originally from France, I have been living in North Vancouver, Canada for the past 20 years.
My work has been collected and exhibited extensively in Canada and internationally. I am also part of the Art Rentals and sales program of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Many of my paintings have been published in Art books and magazines (Artist Magazine, Watercolor Artist Magazine, Acrylic Magazine, International Artist Magazine). I wrote 2 art instruction books with North Light/F+W Books.
I have been writing for the last 5 years for my blog: paintingdemos.com, that has a mailing list of about 10 000 subscribers and about 20 000 visitors per month.
I am an active member in the community, as a co-founder of the North Shore Art crawl, a co-founder of a weekly life drawing group, a board member of the North Vancouver Arts Council, and have been invited as a juror for public art, art grants and juried exhibitions. You can read more about my collaborations here.
Hi Sandrine –
I LOVE your linocut prints! I want to skip the learning to draw and go straight to making prints. Ha! You are so, so generous with your work. Thank you!!!!
Comments (2)
RaNeK Plissken
Looks interesting. I did not know even that it was possible to create pictures. Usually I use pencils like these https://wowpencils.com/best-mechanical-pencils/ when drawing.
Laura Scavone
Hi Sandrine –
I LOVE your linocut prints! I want to skip the learning to draw and go straight to making prints. Ha! You are so, so generous with your work. Thank you!!!!