Linocut at Eastgate Studio
Linocut mark making at Eastgate Studio
Ground floor studio: Albion Flatbed Press
First floor studio: Hawthorne Etching Press
Materials:
Lino or vinyl;
Oil based ink;
Flat inking surface;
Roller;
Palette knives.
Printmaking tools at Eastgate Studio
Process
Transfer reverse image to block;
Carve lino;
Roll ink onto inking surface using rubber brayer to a smooth velvety texture with a slight tacky sound;
Transfer ink to plate until same tacky sound can be heard;
Print using the Albion press;
If printing using the Hawthorne press, set the pressure to depth of the plate.
Starter and professional tools at Eastgate Studio
Tools and Materials
A range of cutting tools can be trialled at the studio. Please regularly hone the professional cutting tools during use. Susan will demonstrate on request. Paper, ink or a studio ink session can be purchased from the gallery shop or in advance through Eastgate Studio website click and collect.
V Tools and U Tools
U Tools carve soft lines with a curved end point and an even width.
V Tools can give a variety of line widths with the same tool and accurate edges and corners. Lines cut with V tools will have sharp pointed ends.
Knife and chisel can be used to create a straight line using a ruler.
Linocut mark making using U and V tools, a Japaneese chisel and a straight knife on hessian backed lino.
1 to 3. V tools: Straight cuts made using V Tools. V Tools carve deep lines with pointed ends where the tool has been dug into and pushed out of the lino.
4-6. U tools: U Tools carve lines that are uniform in width and have rounded ends.
7. U tool: Hold a U Tool straight whilst the lino is wobbled from side to side.
8. U Tool: Create circles by rotating the lino as the tool stays still.
9. U tool: Small dots by holding the tool in the same place and rotating the lino.
10. Flat knife and Japanese chisel: Cut a straight line using a knife and ruler then push the Japanese Chisel towards the line and flick off to create sharp edges.
11-12. U and V Tool with snap off. On traditional grey lino you can create edges by flicking the tool upwards to snap off the piece of lino.
13. Clean around a positive shape with U Tools. Carve edge of rectangle with small U.
14. Japanese chisel in a square to get sharp edges then push the tool down and skim off the surface.
15. U tool: Create positive lines by leaving raised lino lines.
16. Shallow U tool: To remove raised lines in lino after cleaning around a positive shape.
17. V tool. to create lines that vary in width with tapered ends.
18. V tool. Arrow shape using short cut and snap off.
19. V tool corners. Corners using two cuts and snap off with the V tool.
20. Small V tool: Cross hatching to carve delicate lines and create tone or texture.