process.
How I make relief prints
Usually I design or draw on tracing paper, then transfer the pencil onto my linoleum block
With planning I identify which spaces will be white (no ink) and carve that out with a set of carving knives in a variety of sizes. I test print to see if any cavities aren't deep enough.
Some prints use only one block in one color, and some will have multiple colors made from multiple blocks or via reduction carving method. Here's an example of two blocks for one piece. Waves are in one block, clouds in another.
Most of my prints use water soluble printing ink. I mix original colors and even love to plan out color gradients to make single-block prints more interesting.
Ensuring an even amount and consistency of ink is distributed on a smooth plexiglass surface, I roll a brayer with my ink mixtures.
Onto a clean linocut block I roll the brayer to spread my mixed ink. There may be some cavities that get color but that is what makes each hand-pressed print individual.
Taking measurements in advance I lay a printmaking paper onto the inked block and press it with a baren or any hard instrument. Peeling back the paper to reveal the transferred image is my favorite part of printing.
If a second color is used, I repeat the mixing and inking process once the first color has dried. I again make sure to align using registration method.
Finished print! Each one is unique and no two will be the same when I mix everything custom and press by hand.
