Linocut

A step-by-step guide on how to create personal and contemporary linocut prints. A linocut is a relief print created by carving a design into a printing block. It is the uncut surface, not the carved away areas, that gives you your image when you roll it with ink, lay paper on top then apply pressure to produce a print. With 18 easy-to-follow projects that can be adapted to suit your own ideas, experienced printmaker Sam Marshall guides you through the whole process - from the drawing to the carving to the inking to the printing - of creating your own beautiful prints and handmade cards whether you are working from your kitchen table or a more advanced studio set-up. By taking inspiration from everyday life, Sam helps you to build your confidence with observational drawing. Featuring step-by-step projects, the book demonstrates a range of skills with low-cost materials to produce simple linocuts, reduction linocuts and colourful multi-block prints. You will also learn more experimental techniques such as combining monoprint, chine collé, jigsaw linocuts and rainbow rolls and pick up handy tips on subjects such as 'noise' and editioning your prints. Beautifully illustrated with photographs of Sam's own drawings and linocuts, and featuring the work of 5 talented printmakers, Linocut is an essential guide to linocut printmaking. Packed with creative and practical advice to guide and encourage you, whether you're just starting out, returning to the craft or looking to expand your printmaking skills.

Sam Marshall is a printmaker living in rural Northamptonshire with her mini dachshund Miss Marple. She trained at the Slade School of Fine Art for her BA and completed the postgraduate level 'Drawing Year' at the Royal Drawing School where she now teaches. She has a print studio in her garden where she makes all her work - linocuts, drawings and etchings. Sam runs online drawing and printmaking workshops that attract students from all over the world.

Introduction About this book 1. What is Linocut? - The History of Linocutting - How Linocutting is Used Today 2. Tools and Materials - Linocut Tools - Lino - Ink - Ink Rollers - Papers - Hand Printing Tools - Small Presses - Inking Slab - Sketchbooks - Other Bits and Bobs 3. Preparing your Workspace - Drawing and Cutting Area - Printing Area - Drying Area - Storage Area for Materials and Prints 4. From Image to Block - Drawing Directly Onto the Block - Tracing Your Drawing the Traditional Way - Tracing Directly from the Drawing - Using Carbon Paper to Transfer Your Drawing An Interview with Cally Conway 5. Mark Marking - Holding Your Tools - Using Your Tools Safely - Mark-making Warm-up 6. Cleaning Up - Cleaning Up Oil-based - Water-soluble Inks 7. Carving Lino - One Image Four Ways An Interview with Harriet Popham 8. Registration - Super-simple Registration - Paper Template Registration - Registration Board - Ternes Burton Clips 9. Simple Linocuts - Black-and-white Print - Adding Colour to Your Simple Linocut 10. Noise - Red Kites 11. Out in the Garden - A Nature Study - Tips on Drawing Outside or In Public 12. Editioning Prints - Edition Size - Pricing - How to Edition - Numbering and Signing - Limited-edition Prints 13. A Weekend Away - Holiday Memory Print An Interview with Izzy Williamson 14. Reduction Linocut - A Practical Object 15. Multi-block Prints - Key Block Method - Four-block Print An Interview with Meg Justice 16. Displaying Multiple Prints - Concertina Book 17. Experimental Printmaking - Combining Monoprint and Linocut - Repurposing Old Blocks - Linocut and Chine Collé - Jigsaw Linocut - Rainbow Roll An Interview with Tristan Sherwood 18. Making Linocut Cards - Single-block Card - Two-block Card 19. Bringing It All Together - A Large Linocut 20. Next Steps in Printmaking - Relief Techniques - Intaglio Printmaking - Other Printing Techniques Conclusion - Practical Tips When Things Aren't Going 'Right' - Setting Up a Regular Practice - Advice for When You Are Lacking in Motivation - Call Yourself an Artist