Linocut
A linocut is created from lino, a flooring material made from cork and linseed oil. When warmed, it is soft and malleable allowing smooth flowing cutting lines.
Once the image is cut into the lino a thin film of ink is rolled over the surface and paper pressed against the lino to release the ink from the lino onto the printing paper. This can be done by hand using a baren, the back of a spoon or the lino block can put through a printing press. Any lino removed from the block, or incisions made, will result in this area not being printed, revealing the paper below on the printed image.
Once the image is cut into the lino a thin film of ink is rolled over the surface and paper pressed against the lino to release the ink from the lino onto the printing paper. This can be done by hand using a baren, the back of a spoon or the lino block can put through a printing press. Any lino removed from the block, or incisions made, will result in this area not being printed, revealing the paper below on the printed image.
Colour linocut prints can be made using a different block for each colour. Alternatively, the ‘reduction’ method can be used using only one piece of lino. Part of the design is cut into the lino and printed, and then successive layers are also cut away and printed, each layer representing a different colour. Each colour is printed on top of the previous, thereby building up the image in layers of colour.
Linocuts first started appearing around 1900 as illustrations for book and magazines. Lino is a cheap material and as a relatively low-tech relief printing technique, it ideal for beginners.
The Castle Gallery, Inverness, is renowned for its extensive collection of handmade prints from artists who are amongst the leading exponents of original prints in the UK, including many who have been elected to the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers. We promote original handmade prints because we believe in their superb craftsmanship, aesthetic value and integrity.
Linocuts first started appearing around 1900 as illustrations for book and magazines. Lino is a cheap material and as a relatively low-tech relief printing technique, it ideal for beginners.
The Castle Gallery, Inverness, is renowned for its extensive collection of handmade prints from artists who are amongst the leading exponents of original prints in the UK, including many who have been elected to the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers. We promote original handmade prints because we believe in their superb craftsmanship, aesthetic value and integrity.