I can. And I will.

I can. And I will.

Hi there

Thanks for popping in. Woke up this morning and was overcome with the overwhelming desire to do something I have only ever done once many years ago in France – and that time it was rather rushed and a bit rough.

Good grief! I hear you gasp. On a Saturday morning?!? And she wants to share about it on the blog?! My oh my… she definitely needs a holiday….

You know how it is. When the mood is right you have to grab it with both hands.

Hahahahaha. This is getting worse!

Ok settle down, settle down. Back to the top of the page. Woke up this morning and decided today was the day to

master the art of Lino-Cutting!

Well Master may take a little longer than 3 hours, but I’ve got the general idea now – and more importantly, I like what I did enough to want to try again. And again. And again. Let me take you back to 7 this morning, when I climbed the stairs to the SHAC, and settled down to experiment and figure out stuff. Because that is what you have to do. With any craft. And you have to be prepared to crack a few eggs if you want to make an omelette.

Started by trying out the various cutting tools, to see what they did. £1.75 for the grey lino. mmmm…wonders how much she’ll go through before she pulls a print…

Time to consult the internet and watch a few experts methinks…

Draw your design on the lino. Cut around the outside of the image. Turn the lino, not the blade, and keep BOTH hands behind the blade!

In the name of R&D I have let go of the finished piece here, and am just figuring things out. How to hold the tool, how to navigate the blade, how deep to travel, which direction to travel, etc etc etc

I want to see how you get those fabulous random gritty lines in the background. They called this Noise or Chatter. Yes, I want to work out how to chatter well.

There’s only one way to see what’s going on, and that is to pull a print.

I’ve got all the gear and no idea! Even got the right ink! Hope it hasn’t got a shelf life, because it must be 10 years old! Not cheap either! Schmincke. Glass mat and brayer. Of course she’s got glass mats and brayers! Pick a size and pick a hardness! Brayer girls, brayer! Oh dear, there she goes again with the innuendo.

Yikes. Used wayyyyy too much ink on the glass mat here! Keeps going undeterred…this could get messy.

We’ll use copy paper to pull the first print. It’s thin and cheap! And she’s even got a baren – a printmaking tool for burnishing. Back of a spoon works too.

Ready for the big reveal? I love it! This is actually very promising.

I like this. In fact, I am very pleased with it. Very VERY rough, but it has that coarse, bold feel that lino printing conveys. Big learning curve. And since I’ve got wayyy too much ink on the glass mat, let’s pull a few more prints!

Mmmm. I wonder. The area around the seedhead. (Yes. It is a seedhead). It’s very white, isn’t it. I would have liked a little more chatter around that part.

I wonder….

Bingo!! And all I did was use a softer brayer, which got down in the recessed area with the ink. I love it when an idea works.

And so she happily pulled as many prints as there was ink on the glass plate.

Chuffed. Tell you something else which I liked. The printing ink is very gloopy, but it is water-based. I ran the brayer and the glass mat underneath the cold water tap when I was done – and they came back like new with no effort.

I want to design a line of Lino-stamps. That art style really appeals to me. What think you?

And now it’s pottery time! I ordered some Terracotta clay which arrived this week, so I want to see how that works on the wheel. I’ll report back tomorrow!

Stay safe. Stay busy. Go make something! It’s good for you!

Love always

Barb xxx

42 thoughts on “I can. And I will.

  1. Interesting you should do this today. Saw a bit of a programme about Prince Phillip yesterday where they mentioned that on board ship one time they didn’t have certificates for one of the traditional “crossing “ ceremonies so he spent a whole day Lino cutting a certificate which was printed for the whole crew. A gentleman of many talents. I love how your prints this morning have come out

    1. Interesting – I missed that bit …. Found it all very interesting though and learnt a lot more about him.
      X

  2. That took me back a few years when I tried my hands Lino cutting. I no longer have any equipment but I would have been having a go if I had. I remember the knives are very sharp ,!, Have fun

  3. Well done Barbara. What a start. You could also put underglazes on your lino print and put it on your clay, use it like a stamp. I can see many unique designs coming your way. Good luck with the terracotta clay. Xx

  4. I too saw the bit about Prince Philip and his lino cut and thought I should maybe try using a lino cutting kit I’ve had for a few years. Now You have done this so maybe it’s a sign I really should try………

  5. Love it. I’ve never had a go at Lino cutting. Might investigate it as it looks cool but then again I may just wait til you’ve done the hard work and made stamps in that style.
    Enjoy your pottery.
    Love and hugs. Xxxxx

  6. Ah ha, I remember doing this in junior school, if I remember it was for our Christmas cards 1981. I did a candle in a window frame with snow on the window ledge and I remember the teacher warmed the lino which made it more malleable it was red lino, dont know if there is a difference in hardness. Very enjoyable Art I remember it’s unique smell. My pal did a little Eskimo girl in the snow, his was amazing and his cards printed up fabby! It’s a very enjoyable craft, loving your prints Barb, the less ink the more interesting a print is pulled. I suppose its a bit like jelly plate art you never know what you will pull other than the picture you have cut. Enjoy the process and the art and I look forward to seeing more examples. You bought back Happy memories today. Thank you.

  7. That’s great Barb, look good too, I know you have talked about wanting to do line cutting for quite a while. So glad you have got around to doing something for you for a change. Have fun and enjoy your pottery today. xxx

  8. Well done for getting your kit out ! Note out not off !

    I remember doing this at school, it’s not something I’m going to revisit at home, will you it to you to produce some Lino stamps ! Enjoy your day x

  9. Oh Barbara, you always make me smile! Such energy to always be thinking of the next project! Carry on and have fun! XO

  10. Yes I remember Lino cutting at school! I cut a tortoise with patterns all over it! Took quite a while! I enjoyed it!

  11. Great project this lino cutting!
    That was a long time ago that we did this at school and I loved it.
    Cann’t remember where I left it. I think I left it with my parents,but they don’t live anymore.
    Barbara I cann’t find Paul on Hochanda– he was the last few days demonstraties,but didn’t find it.🙈
    Have a great weekend,Trijntje Huppel

  12. Brilliant I loved doing this at school, in the long distant days when we were allowed sharp things and No one worried if you Got mucky……

  13. I think you will enjoy designing a line of Lino-Stamps. You describe the Lino image as having a coarse bold feel. I can see that but think there is a naivety to it, a bit like cave drawings.
    Thank goodness there are people like you around willing, nay enjoying, learning by experimentation. I expect by first go at anything to be perfect and hence but off and off actually doing things.
    Enjoy.

  14. I tried it once but I kept cutting too deep and making holes. I found it easier if the Lino was warm it felt softer. May try again one day. I’ll keep watching how yours comes along. Enjoy x

  15. This time of year I get all my kicks in the green house with my seedlings. Again you experiment and try different combinations and things your told will not work. Something growing from a little seed you’ve planted is pure joy.

  16. I was happy to do it at school but will leave you to it now. Lino printing! Looking forward to the stamps. You can get a lino print effect on a gel press with polystyrene plates, packaging or ceiling tiles scraped so the surface is no longer even. Works best with ink as the dents are so shallow. Don’t overdo it or you will be breathing in bits of plastic…

  17. Oh dear, my mind ran with your innuendos! 😂 I dont need encouraging Barbara! 😂 – I did lino printing at school, in my art class and managed to stick the cutting tool right into my hand, between my thumb and forefinger. What a mess, blood everywhere. I left a trail of blood all along the footpath to the Medical room which seemed like half a mile away. Of course, it wasnt though, it was probably about 100 yards but it always seems a long way when you are a child. I wasnt allowed to do lino printing after that. Now yours looks brilliant and it’s your first attempt! Impressive! – Enjoy your pottery too. Can’t beat the creative urge feeling! Enjoy! X

  18. Lino-cutting is something I’ve been itching to try too, but unlike you I’m not brave enough to just go for it. Add to that a bit of a phobia around sharp gouging tools and you have my recipe for putting off for another day!
    I really like the boldness of lino-cut images and your prints have turned out brilliantly. You deserve to feel chuffed and I think a range of lino-stamp designs will go down a storm.
    I noticed that you bought your printing ink at Saltmarsh: I LOVE that shop. It will be my first port of call when shops open up again. There’s nothing like being in the presence of art supplies – so much better than a candy store 🙂

  19. Looks fab and really interesting never tried it but definitely got my interest going xx enjoy the pottery and any more Lino prints enjoy the weekend you deserve it xx

  20. Lovely! I remember doing Lino printing at school. Those tools were a bit scary. Looking forward to your pottery results x

  21. Lino cutting is not for me but I admire your results. Looks like you had fun. Together with the pottery a day well spent. Nice to see you doing something for you.
    Ray has dabbled with wood and leather carving but his hands are no longer steady enough to handle the sharp tools safely. Still manages his pyrography though.
    I am looking forward to the Pergamano show on Thursday.
    Have a good evening.

  22. Loving the lino print, something I don’t think I have done although having read everyone’s comments I am now wondering whether I did it at school.
    You have a busy crafty day with your prints & pottery – I have been using my surname skills to help OH clad the outside of the sheds in our daughters garden to make one into a Prosecco Shack & the back part into a storage area. We are nearly there just a few hours tomorrow should do it – I hope !!

  23. Loving the lino printing I love that look but I can’t possibly start to learn another craft 🤣 so how’s about you do the designs and turn them into stamps! bingo 😏
    Have a good weekend
    Hugs xxxx

  24. Lino printing – how wonderful. Recall this from way back when my sketched deconstruction of a school type desk was selected to be reproduced in Lino print followed by prints on paper then on to a sizeable length of fabric to be exhibited along a wall. Another similar foray was from a sketch of a cheese plant leaf – wonder what happened to all the printed fabric? Lino printing here I come!

  25. Like many others who have commented, I did this at school, after moving on from potato printing. We did so much more interesting stuff in those days and ‘elf n safety’ seems to have put a stop to so many things now, so youngsters are missing out. Such a shame!
    I am grateful for the many practical lessons I did at school, which left me with a lifelong love of making and doing. I must say though, that I am a bit twitchy about sharp knives and hard Lino these days and will just watch and admire. Hugs. Annette X

  26. I was given a lino print set for my birthday (Oct) but have been procrastinating…….but now I feel all inspired and will have a go, thank you Barbara! x

  27. Hi Barb, what a great way to spend a few hours. I ma fascinated by Lino cutting, but have so much other crafty stuff that the urge will go to the back of my mind for a while. Look forward to seeing what you create with the Terracotta clay. Take care and stay safe everyone. Bx

  28. Just shown your blog to my husband who has been lino cutting for a while. He suggests you try soft Lino which is much easier to cut. Also to take a ‘print’ using paper and a wax crayon to rub over it. That way you can get an idea of what you’ll get with the ink beforehand. Hope that is helpful. Enjoy, I remember when you first mentioned you’d like to try this. Xx

  29. Well done. It’s not as easy as it looks. My husband’s a lino print artist it gets very complicated when you start adding colour and doing reduction prints. Enjoy.
    Kind regards.
    Sue

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