A guide to linocuts.
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A linocut is an "original print" - and there are no digital or photographic processes involved. - - Unlike giclee and reproduction prints used in other media, such as magazines, but also including all the Van Gogh 'Sunflowers ' that adorn peoples'walls,.- or the popular modern work of artists like Jack Vettriano - these are reproductions, and NOT original prints. Some artists have reproductions of their paintings for sale at very cheap prices. They are able to sell them like this because they are cheaply made reproductions; but NEVER originals!
A design is transfered by hand onto each piece of lino, and successive amounts of lino are carved away physically using 'v' or 'u' shaped gouges (not unlike woodcarving or woodcutting tools) and the remaining surface of the lino is inked up with a rubber roller.
Paper is then placed over the inked lino and the whole then rolled thru a press (usually looking like an old-fashioned mangle - my first press was a converted mangle!)
Each colour on a linocut print represents another piece of lino, or the same piece with elements of the previous colour carved away(the reduction method.)
Each colour, made with ink similar to oil paint, has to be completely dry before the next colour is applied.
Small 'editions' are made - each individual piece of paper is registered and re-registered for every colour used.
My linocuts usually have no more than14-16 in an edition, (maximums of 30 on occasion) so a print is numbered ie 1/16 2/16 and so on.....there can be slight colour variations and differences-- ---but each print is printed on its own, and is therefore 'an original'.Click on this text to edit it.
