Linocut & printmaking 101 – Artful Chica
Welcome to linocut & printmaking 101. Printmaking is such a basic artwork kind and it’s a lot simpler than you assume.
This linocut & printmaking 101 is ideal for newcomers.
I shared this craft a number of years again in the past (right here), however pulled out all my provides once more final weekend. This undertaking by no means disappoints! Sure, it takes a little bit of persistence and there’s a little studying curve, however that isthe leisure of all of it.
I made a wide range of stamps whereas watching Santa Clarita Eating regimen on Netflix, I can’t say I beloved the goofy-meets-gory mother zombie collection, but it surely did maintain me in my chair all day whereas I labored on these, I by no means modified the channel.
RELATED: Extra printmaking!
Here’s a video tutorial for you!
SUPPLIES:
These are the provides I used and you may get them on the craft retailer, or on amazon (affiliate hyperlinks listed):
I exploit this linocutter as a result of it has the additional blades contained in the deal with and works nice on the pink chopping block.
There are various kinds of blocks to carve, this pink one is my favourite. The white one is simply too comfortable, and the brown one is simply too onerous. The pink one is excellent!
Ink. I recommend utilizing ink meant for block printing. I used craft cloth paint on considered one of mine and it hardened the floor. TIP: Use child wipes to scrub your stamps instantly after printing to stop this.
There are many printing inks, and a number of colours. I solely have black proper now, however plan to purchase a set of coloured inks subsequent!
And also you’ll want a brayer…
When you print, you may get fancy and use a Speedball Baren for Block Printing to burnish the stamp onto the floor
You’ll additionally want a pencil, eraser and tracing paper. Black marker.
Steps:
Draw your design on the tracing paper, be certain it’ll match on the scale of the block. When you’ve drawn it, press it face down on the block and use the spoon to burnish the picture on the floor. Take away the paper, then use the marker to paint in the place you DO NOT WANT TO CUT. That is vital as a result of one slip up can wreck your complete design.
OK, time to chop. The blades come in U shapes and V shapes. “U” are excellent for taking out huge areas, and the “V” is nice for finer element.
TIP: At all times lower away from you so that you don’t lower your self. That is additionally the explanation I exploit the pink block, it’s comfortable sufficient so I don’t dig in an excessive amount of.
I exploit the V to stipulate throughout the black traces, then I exploit the U to take away the remainder.
As soon as it’s all lower, apply a small dollop of ink on a really flat non-porous floor.
Roll the brayer again and again on the paint to get a skinny, even coat on the brayer. You don’t need an excessive amount of paint as a result of it’ll blot your design and fill your cuts with globs of paint. Bear in mind, only a skinny layer will do. Then place the stamp on the floor, should you don’t have a baren, use a sheet of switch paper on high and the spoon to burnish all of the areas. Here’s a mini video!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQExaabgWuV/?taken-by=craftychica
Follow on paper till you get the grasp of it, then make increasingly more and extra!
I used these wooden bins to print on, they had been a little bit tough because of the form, however they nonetheless got here out tremendous candy!
I made a bunch of greeting playing cards too. I listed these on Etsy and sold them!
TIP: Should you write phrases, be certain to attract them backwards, as a result of it’ll print reverse. 
So what do you assume? Are you able to attempt it? I simply ordered extra chopping blocks, I’m addicted. That’s one other factor I like about this craft, the provides are small and straightforward to journey with, and upon getting them, all you want are gadgets to chop. You need to use them on potatoes, erasers, candles, cleaning soap, greenware clay, that’s all I can consider proper now!
