Linoleum Block / Printmaking

Please Rate my "Instructable"- Enjoy the World of Printmaking!

"Linocut" is a printmaking technique, a variant of woodcut in which a sheet of linoleum (sometimes mounted on a wooden block) is used for the relief surface. A design is cut into the linoleum surface with a sharp knife, V-shaped chisel or gouge, with the raised (uncarved) areas representing a reversal (mirror image) of the parts to show printed. The cut areas can then be pulled from the backing. The linoleum sheet is inked with a roller or (called a brayer), and then impressed onto paper or fabric. The actual printing can be done by hand or with a press


All images under Copyright.

Step 1: Materials

Materials:

Pen, Marker, Pencil
Linoleum block (linoleum glued to a block of wood)
Wooden boards and screws
Tracing Paper
Transfer Paper
Linoleum-cutting tool
Printers ink
Brayers
Electric Blanket and Towel (Linoleum is easier to cut when warm)
Rubber Gloves
X-acto Knives
Blue Painters Tape
Light Box
MIneral Spirits
Vegetable Oil
Wooden Spoon

http://www.imcclains.com/

http://www.graphicchemical.com/

http://www.printmaking-materials.com/

http://www.dickblick.com/categories/printmaking/

http://www.misterart.com/

Comments

[aprintmaker]

Nice stuff, always fun seeing others work and tips. I am also a paper on top printmaker, and I use my hand as the press after trying many other tools I find that the good old press down finger and slowly swirl outwards method is best for me.

[dcullen2]

Thanks so much for this. The two most useful tips I took from this that I haven't seen elsewhere - keep the block stationary and place the paper on top. I was doing it the other way with much worse results. Also - using the back of a wooden spoon to press the paper down - genius. Works like a charm. Who needs a printing press.

Thanks again.

[Hudson Hill]

Thank you for the kind words glad I could help. If you have an extra moment post a photo so I can see your final product. Good luck, If you really want to get away from the press and get tired of the wooden spoon run the print/block over with your car.

Cheers

ab

[dcullen2]

Haha, I'll bear that in mind. Here's the print. First one since high school! The rest of my work is up here: http://www.spellingmistakescostlives.com

Cheers!

[sonhja]

I have a very hard time using transfer paper Is there any more tip's you can share? Love your how to.

[Preistt]

I usually rub the back of my printout with a large piece of graphite I got at the local arts store. Then, I use the printed sheet as a transfer paper, as the graphite will move to the lino when the image is traced.

[Hudson Hill]

Sorry it kinda took so long to get back to you. As far as know you should make sure you keep it taped down very well this helps the paper from ripping

[Ninzerbean]

There is transfer paper you can run through your printer (!) that can be used over and over - look around this site, it sells it for about $4/pkg. I have not tried it but I know I will.

[Jafafa Hots]

A couple of ideas.
First, for correcting mistakes, try JB Weld. An easy mix epoxy, cheap at any hardware and auto supply store, and can be sanded. Could be used to fill in mistakes.

Second - for transferring images that don't have fine detail, print backwards on a laser printer, place face down on the lino and and use a blender marker from the art store on the back, will transfer the toner to the lino very quickly and easily.

Acetone will also work, may work even better for finer detail, but is messier, more of an outdoor job.

Lastly, for softening for carving, try a heat gun very very very carefully (they get HOT) or a hair dryer (not as hot).

[Hudson Hill]

Thanks for the tips!

[dotbinmo]

WOW! grest pieces!
Your tutorial is great, too.

Story:
(Big difference from when I was in 5th grade...the teacher came in with a stack of ready-made linoleum blocks, a simple v knife , and a very simple, a few lines drawn-on the linoleum pic for us to "carve" with supervision/assistance of her or the aides...then we used a brayer to spread paint on it, turned it on paper, and volia!...prints!
BUT... for a kid it was fun.
They let us keep the print, but collected the blocks)

[Hudson Hill]

http://www.wix.com/anthonybopp/2011

[mj77]

The prints are amazing.. but the blocks are even more beautiful in their own right! Great work and very inspiring!

[mikoto]

Amazing detail! I am very impressed with how clean your prints are. There is definitely a lot of patience in your work. I just love finding new media to work with. You have my vote and piqued my interest in a new project.
Thank for the great Instructable.

[Hudson Hill]

Thanks for your kind words.

Cheers
a.bopp

[nickodemus]

Great 'ible, but what's with the publish date? It says it was published today, but some of the comments are from at least 2009.

[Thousand]

 Great Work! Do you have any prints for sale?

[erronius]

What gorgeous, elaborate work!

In grade school we just threw the linoleum in an oven for a few minutes to heat it up (but your electric blanket innovation sounds friendlier).  A towel or pot holder is a good idea if the linoleum gets too warm to handle.  Note that some linoleum comes already mounted on a wooden block.  If the block is particle board, it may give off nasty fumes, like formaldehyde, when heated; so either work in a well-ventilated area or stick to unmounted linoleum.

thanks for all of the good, detailed information and memory joggers!

keep doing such great work!

[gotclaws19]

Very good Guide. However on the clean up, Simple Green is very bad for you.

[DIYDragon]

I remember doing these a long time ago in elementary school. but we only did single color prints. Would be interested in seeing your tips for multi-colored work. I might make something nifty with that. : D

[static]

I boogied on over to you tube to look for any demos that might be there, there isn't anything worth being called a demo pleas consider video recording some demos. thanks...

[Speedmite]

These are cool. Made a small one in like the 3rd grade. It sucked but it was fun. Gifted and talented art has a few good twists. I forgot if I cut my finger a little or if my friend did.....(mind straining)............I think it was me. Well I dont remeber for sure but i remember somone getting a minor cut. Oh well.......

[benz_z]

urs are amazing this stuff hurts i have scars from when i did one of bob marley just last semester person in my class had to go to the hospital and get stiches but that was cause the tools were dull and our school thought it was better to get a press instead of betting decent curved knifes

[Father Christmas]

well, my school thought it better to remodel half of it than to buy computers capable of loading google.com faster than three minutes.

[benz_z]

lol

[rgsquared]

wow-beautiful work! Thanks for taking it through step-by-step. I love doing lino work, and have never taken a class on it. Your clue of the contact paper was key to my success in my current lino block stuff. I'll upload pics when I get them done. Again, Thanks! This art form is very beautiful to me. Rachel [e-mail]

[jtobako]

Sharpening gouges?

[Sooz]

It's the type of cutting tool from which the action of gouging is derived. :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouge

[jtobako]

Sharpening (v), as in 'how to' as it's an important part of the instructable that is missing.

[bethmwl]

Fantastic artwork, you should do an instructable for the skeleton face!

[skachati]

you are very good master... thanks

[kyannik]

I've always wanted to give this a try. Your work is beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

[locofocos]

Nice instructable! I did this in art class a few years ago. I will go ahead and say that doing a multiple color linoleum block print is rather difficult during the cutting and during the printing process.

[robbs]

WOW..great job! It looks labor intensive. Is there a youtube tutorial? I don't quite understand the tracing procedures. Sad, to say, this instructable is a bit much for me. Thanks for sharing!!!

[jeoncs]

this is really cool

[mtjohnson6]

WOW!!! Don't take this the wrong way...but, to me...it is VERY Ed Hardy on speed!!! And I REALLY do LOVE it!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your work!! Would you consider selling me one of your blocks???

[justin_the_jack]

I love your artwork! Especially the spiralling rays stuff. Good instructable, too! Can't wait for the multiple colors one.

[klynslis]

Great tut and great work! I hope that you cover your inking processes (with the multiple colors on a single pass) in subsequent tutorials. ::applause::

[DragonRampant]

really nice work. did you do the prints on t-shirts or did you have them printed for you. if you did them, how did you print them, and how did you prepare your artwork to be printed?

[Chaz-imus]

Soy based cleaners work really well too.