Thursday - Print Makings

The utensils I use when lino cutting. The utensils are sharp and should be approached with caution as it's very easy to cut through the lino with them therefore it's definitely easy to go through your fingers with them. The sharp parts inside of the handle are detachable and you're able to detach and re-attach them so you don't have to have multiple handles with each little sharp part. The sharp parts are (I'm unable to find a technical name) all different shapes and sizes therefore making it very easy to create the shapes you want. The wooden block on the left is what you place on the table and snuggly fits onto the table, therefore you can trap the lino and it doesn't move when you're cutting it.

 This is my little design that I tested the lino with. I wanted something simple yet for it to fit nicely into the subject in hand; nature. Therefore, my decision was a hare (influenced by Keaton Hensons album "dear"). They worked well, but I figured you need a lot of paint on the shape for it to press well. The design isn't overly accurate, but it was just a tester. The smaller amount of spacings between the edges, traps the paint and can easily wreck the design; but it's not too much of a problem if you press it down very carefully. The other designs didn't really work - the mushrooms were printed with ink which I had to paint onto the lino.

This is the little mushy design I did initially. I didn't really think it through - I literally just went to town on this lino cutting. the design isn't necciserily terrible but wouldn't be one I'd repeat again. This is because the design doesn't allow a large section to be printed; only the bits that I paint, paint or ink on. The leaves are very automatic and the mushroom looks nice in the left but on the right it didnt imprint the detail (which is sad, really.) I don't think it particularly works if you don't use a rolled; however the roller isn't going to work very well if there isn't a boarder because it would've done the entire background which I didn't want (plus, I tried and rolling ink doesn't work out.)

This was my set up. I put the paint in a lid to make it easier for myself at the end of the day. The rolled couldn't fit that well, though so I had to use a much smaller version. In future I would definitely use a bit pallet and a lot more paint.