Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
starting linoleum block this week
Linocut is a printmaking technique, a variant of woodcut in which a sheet of linoleum (sometimes mounted on a wooden block) is used for the relief surface. A design is cut into the linoleum surface with a sharp knife, V-shaped chisel or gouge, with the raised (uncarved) areas representing a reversal (mirror image) of the parts to show printed. The cut areas can then be pulled from the backing. The linoleum sheet is inked with a roller (called a brayer), and then impressed onto paper or fabric. The actual printing can be done by hand or with a press.
As the material being carved has no particular direction to its grain and does not tend to split, it is easier to obtain certain artistic effects than with most woods, although the resultant prints lack the wood character of wood block printing. Linoleum is also much easier to cut than wood, which must be carved away, but the pressure of the printing process degrades the plate faster. It is also difficult to create larger works due to the material's fragility.
Although linoleum as a floor covering dates to the 1860s, the linocut was invented by the artists of Die Brücke in Germany between 1905-13. At first they described their prints as woodcuts, which sounded more respectable.
Colour linocuts can be made by using a different block for each colour, as in woodcut. But, as Pablo Picasso demonstrated quite effectively, such prints can also be achieved using a single piece of linoleum in what is called the 'reductive' print method. Essentially, after each successive colour is imprinted onto the paper, the artist then cleans the lino plate and goes back into the linoleum, cutting away what will not be imprinted for the subsequently applied colour.[1]
Due to ease of use, linocut is widely used in schools to introduce children to the art of printmaking; similarly, non-professional artists often use linocut rather than woodcut. But, as Picasso and Henri Matisse helped to establish, linoleum is also a respected medium used for printmaking by professional artists. The first large colour linocuts made by an American artist were those of Walter Inglis Anderson, ca. 1943-1945, which were exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum in 1949.
take a look at this video of former Arcadia University printmaking instructor Bill McRight as he works on a new block.
also check out Cannonball press to see some great relief printing.
As the material being carved has no particular direction to its grain and does not tend to split, it is easier to obtain certain artistic effects than with most woods, although the resultant prints lack the wood character of wood block printing. Linoleum is also much easier to cut than wood, which must be carved away, but the pressure of the printing process degrades the plate faster. It is also difficult to create larger works due to the material's fragility.
Although linoleum as a floor covering dates to the 1860s, the linocut was invented by the artists of Die Brücke in Germany between 1905-13. At first they described their prints as woodcuts, which sounded more respectable.
Colour linocuts can be made by using a different block for each colour, as in woodcut. But, as Pablo Picasso demonstrated quite effectively, such prints can also be achieved using a single piece of linoleum in what is called the 'reductive' print method. Essentially, after each successive colour is imprinted onto the paper, the artist then cleans the lino plate and goes back into the linoleum, cutting away what will not be imprinted for the subsequently applied colour.[1]
Due to ease of use, linocut is widely used in schools to introduce children to the art of printmaking; similarly, non-professional artists often use linocut rather than woodcut. But, as Picasso and Henri Matisse helped to establish, linoleum is also a respected medium used for printmaking by professional artists. The first large colour linocuts made by an American artist were those of Walter Inglis Anderson, ca. 1943-1945, which were exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum in 1949.
take a look at this video of former Arcadia University printmaking instructor Bill McRight as he works on a new block.
also check out Cannonball press to see some great relief printing.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
a new year of printmaking...
I've added a lot to the studio this year; new drying racks, computers and exposure units... Classes start tomorrow so i'll be posting more pictures then.
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