I began this project slightly unsure, freshly back from my holidays I didn’t know what I wanted to approach as my medium of iteration. I was torn between forms and artists I wanted to follow. With the help of my tutors and colleagues I finally decided I would take up lino printing. I had often marvelled at such projects and it seemed very satisfying to carve away at a block.
For my referential step of this project, I decided to recreate a piece by Andrea Lauren (@inkprintrepeat on IG) of a printed greek vase. I was fortunate that Andrea Lauren also authored an instructional book on lino printing, which gave me a starting point in understanding supplies and the process.
For my own iterations I wanted to create a piece that would be created out of separate pieces of lino which gave me the opportunity to switch the pieces.
After drying I have compiled the pieces in a GIF to be better seen. I have experimented with several materials and methods of printing. I used fabric, tracing paper, cardstock and crocheted pieces which created an interesting texture. Using the fabric I also tried a method of blotting the block with the material insead of printing it on facing up, which created a ghostly shadow print. I also tried overinking my block and staping that on which created thick outlines and undefined lines. I also stamped my block in the ink, creating an impression in the ink.
Working on draft three I decided to change my approach to printing. Instead of carefully creating a template for myself to crave I decided to carve directly on the lino trying my best to mirror words and write backwards. I printed this on both tracing and cardstock as well as replicatingg my previous method of stamping my block within a thick ink layer.
At the feedback of my colleagues I decided that my final draft will be printed on fabric using an overinking technique and layered with some graphic elements similar to my original print.
Following the advice of my tutor and peers, I bound the pieces into an A4 book sitched together in a Japanese Stab Stitch.
Lauren, Andrea. Block Print: Everything You Need to Know for Printing with Lino Blocks, Rubber Blocks, Foam Sheets, and Stamp Sets (New York: Watson-Guptill, 2016).
Marshall, Sam. Linocut: A Creative Guide to Making Beautiful Prints (London: Pavilion Books, 2022).
Crawhall, Joseph. Quaint Cuts in the Chapbook Style (New York: Dover Publications, 1974).
Queneau, Raymond. Exercises in Style. Translated by Barbara Wright. 1947. London: Peter Owen Publishers, 1990.
Bawden, Edward. A Book of Cuts. 1978. London: Studio Vista.