Printmaking: Intro to Lincocut
You'll learn to carve an image into a block of linoleum, roll ink onto it, and press it onto paper. No art background needed. If you can hold a pencil, you can do this.
This is a hands-on class. There's a short demo at the start, then most of the time is spent carving and printing at your own table, with help coming round as you go.
The goal is to experiment, not to make a masterpiece. Linocut has one big idea that takes a while to sink in: whatever you carve away stays white, and whatever you leave behind prints in ink. Everything we do is built to get that idea into your hands.
Expect to get a bit inky, to print things that surprise you, and to leave with a small stack of your own prints.
You'll pick one simple shape (a pear, a cup, a leaf, your thumb) and carve it four different ways on four small blocks. Seeing the same shape come out four ways is the quickest way to learn how carving decisions change a print.
Warm up. Draw your shape ten times, fast, no erasing. Then try a few practice marks on scrap lino.
Transfer. Draw your shape onto all three blocks in Sharpie. Black means keep.
Carve. Work through blocks one to three with your own lino tools.
Print. Roll the ink thin, lay paper on, rub with a spoon or baren, and peek at a corner before you pull it.
Look. Line your three prints up side by side and talk about which one surprised you.
• Lino blocks (about 3×3")
• Bench hooks
• Ink, brayers and glass slabs
• Spoons or barens
• Newsprint and good paper
Wear clothes you don't mind getting ink on, or bring an apron.
Location
TinkerMill MakerSpace's Printmaking + Darkroom, 80501