Printing

Like most things, linocut printing is harder than it looks. This is the latest attempt, and there have been a few in between....yes, it's really, really hard! First, there's the carving out of the lino: I started off by trying to draw a picture into the lino using fine lines, but of course that isn't how it works. You need to find a design that works in relief. The carving is tricky, making small marks (flower stalks) was not an easy thing for me to do, sometimes the lino crumbles a bit so you don't get a clean line and then you need to start working on it again. 

Then there is the actual printing, and getting the ink just right, evenly applied, with no splodges...well I didn't crack that one either....in fact, I seem to have ink spots just about everywhere, hands, hair, jeans...

But, I really LOVED doing this. It is a very methodical thing to do, requires total absorption, and is the perfect activity for a rain-lashed weekend like the one that has just passed. I can't wait to have another try and I am also now scouring the area for details of a course that I might be able to do. 
I have two print heroes/heroines. The first is Eric Ravilious. He was a genius, tragically killed in the Second World War at the age of 39. My Dad introduced me to his work years ago, and I have lots of books about him, my latest is this one on his woodcuts.

  
These are wood engravings, so of course they are very fine and precise. But just look at this:

My print heroine is Angie Lewin, who is a contemporary artist. 

This is from her book Plants and Places, which is beautiful, and highly recommended.

Anyway, I am definitely going to carry on going, conquer the splodges and learn to control those lino cutters.