Linocut Printmaking Workshop

Linocut Printmaking Workshop

Welcome to the Linocut Printmaking workshop! This videos series is broken into 10 segments, with each one covering a different aspect of linocut printmaking.  

I made it with beginners in mind, and I tried to keep the pace of the videos slow and describe everything I'm doing. If you already have experience printmaking, you've likely seen some of the things I'm covering, but you might pick up something new as well! I also encourage you to leave any tips or tricks in the video comments on YouTube to help others. 

As always, please share this series if you think someone might enjoy it!

Tools and materials used can be found at the bottom of this post.

Happy printing!

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• Part 1: Tools & Materials (Video link)

  • In this video I cover all the tools and materials needed to make a linocut. You can spend a ton of money on high end tools, or use the most basic set available at the art supply store, and you'll be able to make fantastic prints with both! I'd recommend starting with a basic set, and then as you get more experience, and find what you like best, invest in those particular tools. In the tools and materials section down below, I've listed a few options.

• Part 2: Drawing & Transferring your image (Video link)

  • This video is all about drawing and transferring your image (well...duh!). I've come across countless ways to accomplish this over the years. Obviously the easiest is to simply draw your image right onto your block, and start carving. I like a little more planning though, so I use carbon paper to transfer my sketch onto the block. You can explore toner transfers, ink-jet transfers, and many more! Different methods might work better or worse on different types of linoleum as well!

• Part 3: Bench Hook & Registration (video link)

  • Let's make some simple bench hooks and registration jigs. These will let us safely carve our blocks without stabbing our fingers, as well as let us line up our paper in the same spot each time! The examples I make in the video are fairly crude, so feel free to make them as fancy as you want!

• Part 4: Carving your block (Video Link)

  • In part 4 we finally get down to business and start carving our block! We put to use the bench hook we made in the previous video, and also look at how I keep the tools sharp during carving. As far as the actual carving goes, the style is totally up to you, keep it clean, leave lots of tool marks, whatever! 

• Part 5: Printmaking Paper (video link)

  • In this video we are going to talk about printmaking paper, how to choose it, and how to prepare it for printing. This video is just an introduction into the word of printmaking paper.  As I mention in the video, and as with everything in this series, try out different papers, and find the ones you enjoy the best! This is just a small sample of what's out there. 

• Part 6: Printing your image (video link)

  • In part 6, we finally print our image for the first time. We go through how to print by hand, using a spoon, and then we run a print with an etching press. In addition to running a print, we also make a counterproof. This is the process of transferring the print to another, fresh block, which we will carve and use in the next video.

• Part 7: Second block (video link)

  • In this video we are going to use the second block we transferred our image on last time. First we're going to carve our the background of the block, and then print it onto a test sheet, to check the registration.

• Part 8: Printing your edition (video link)

  • This is the final video in regard to actually printing the images. We print the full edition, clean them up, and sign them!

• Part 9: Adding Watercolor (video link)

  • Taking two of the extra prints, lets add a touch of watercolor!

• Part 10: Mixed media (video link)

  • In the final video of the series, we add some copper paint, and also talk about a few books!

Below is a list of some of the tools and materials to get you started, but I encourage you to experiment and try lots of different things, to see what you like best!

Tools & Materials:

• Speedball linocut tools: http://amzn.to/2pK65m3
• Speedball - Relief Ink: http://amzn.to/2pJvpbS
• Gamblin Relief Ink: http://amzn.to/2qeHZTj
• Akua Ink: http://amzn.to/2qhzHZ0
• McClains Printmaking Tools: http://www.imcclains.com/catalog/woodblocktools/namisei.html
• Carving tools similar to Dockyard Microtool (Dockyard are unavailable): http://amzn.to/2re907x
• Ink Brayer: http://amzn.to/2r52jau
• Ink Pallet: http://amzn.to/2pK87Td
• Unmounted Lino: http://amzn.to/2r5f98H
• Mounted Lino: http://amzn.to/2qEDFho
• Richeson Lino: http://amzn.to/2pJyfO4
• Clear Lino: http://amzn.to/2pKbE3L
• Barrier Cream: https://goo.gl/QXVP3n
• Wax Free Transfer Paper: http://amzn.to/2stZCxr
• Cutting Triangle with cutting edge: http://amzn.to/2teNy6b
• Self Healing cutting mat: http://amzn.to/2tgDSsg
• Staple Gun: http://amzn.to/2ubtfDE
• Rives BFK - Lightweight printmaking paper: http://amzn.to/2uE0n7i
• Center Finding Ruler: http://amzn.to/2tDxXxn
• Color Wheel: http://amzn.to/2f2Dnfx
• Watercolor Paint: http://amzn.to/2eYBX2p
• Rubber Mat for Press: https://www.mcmaster.com/#1370n56/=1bm7k72

(Some of these are amazon affiliate links, they cost you nothing extra to use, but help keep the ink stocked in the printshop!)

Feel free to use this image as a starting point if you're stuck for ideas!