The Making of a Rainy Afternoon | Linocut Block Printmaking Process | ✨ Cozy Bookworm Vibes ✨, by TheDiggingestGirl on YouTube. 10 min 13 s.
- Video length
- 10 min 13 s
- Time to do it
- 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Draw your design on plain paper at the exact size of your block. Keep the shapes bold and simple, because everything you carve away will stay the colour of the paper.
Shade the back of the sketch with a soft pencil, tape it face down on the block and rub it with a bone folder to transfer the lines.
Warm the linoleum if it feels stiff. A few minutes in sunlight or near a radiator makes it softer and much easier to cut.
Carve the outline with the fine V gouge. Cut away from your body and keep your holding hand behind the blade, never in front of it.
Clear the large open areas with the wider U gouge. Work in shallow passes instead of one deep cut so the tool does not slip.
Squeeze a little ink onto glass or an acrylic sheet and roll it out with the brayer until the layer is thin and slightly tacky.
Roll the ink onto the block in several directions until the raised surface is evenly covered. Avoid pressing hard, which pushes ink into the cut lines.
Lay the paper on the block and rub the back with a baren, bone folder or wooden spoon, or run it through a press with light pressure.
Peel the print slowly from one corner. Re-ink the block and pull more prints, then clean the block with water or solvent before the ink dries.
Tips and common mistakes
Remember the print comes out mirrored, so draw any lettering backwards on the block.
Carve less than you think you need. You can always cut more lino away, but you cannot put it back.
Ink thinly and evenly. Too much ink fills the fine lines and makes the print look muddy.
Store carved blocks flat and dry, and keep gouges capped so the edges stay sharp.
Questions
Do I need a printing press to make a linocut?
No. A baren, bone folder or the back of a wooden spoon rubbed firmly over the paper works well for small blocks. A press gives more even pressure and sharper detail on larger prints.
Which ink is best for a beginner?
Water-washable relief ink is the easiest to clean up and dries fairly quickly. Oil-based ink such as Caligo Safewash holds finer detail but needs more drying time.
How many prints can I pull from one block?
A well-carved linoleum block lasts for dozens of prints if you clean it after each session and store it flat. Edges soften over time, so the earliest prints are usually the sharpest.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
