If you have been following me at all over the last 2 years, you will have figured out that I like experimenting. Really though, I love learning new things. So what is the latest thing that has captured my attention? Block printing. I hear you. What is block printing? It involves creating and cutting out a design on a surface, which could be linoleum (lino) or some similar rubbery surface, or on wood, then applying ink to that surface, then pressing it onto paper, or possibly cloth, leaving an imprint of the design. There are many variations to that general process, and in my case (so far!) I will be using the softer “lino” surface and hand-printing with black ink on watercolor paper. Then I will (that’s the plan!) use watercolor to color some of the elements of the design. The first reason I thought of doing lino prints was to make series or editions of Artist Trading Cards (ATCs). Up to now, all the art cards I have made are for sale, so they are called ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) and they are all originals. I feel strongly about originals, but I wanted to also have some art cards available for trading. The trouble with my ACEOs is that, because they are originals, they take as long to create as many of my larger-sized paintings. But I can’t very well expect people to pay large-size prices for tiny-sized art, so I have priced them, in my opinion, very reasonably. By simplifying part of the card’s creation, I could print out many similar cards and then color each individually, making them still originals but quicker, and therefore even less expensive, to produce. So that is how it started. But now I am thinking bigger. I really like the look of a lino print, whether it is just the pure black and white ones, or those with some color applied. It is possible to print in multiple colors, but that is not where I am going. For now anyway. I tried to identify what it is that I like about lino printing. I really like the black and white, and I also like the “finished but unfinished” look of the printed parts. Lines are crisp, but edges aren’t always perfect. Each print is the same, but upon close inspection is different. I really like the idea of continuing to use watercolors in this new exploration. I may try to integrate other mediums such as Sumi-e ink to do the actual printing. I also like the idea that I will be able to use up some of my stock of watercolor paper. I like the fact that I (actually my husband) already had most of the tools, so the need for new supplies is minimal. I like the sculpting aspect of this technique. I like the slow, methodical, almost meditative process. I also like the moment when you "pull" the paper and reveal the newly minted print! There’s a lot to like! So I will be experimenting with this medium for the next little while. I plan on making a few series or limited edition prints that I hope to be able to sell for less than a same-sized watercolor, thus helping me in my mission to get more original art into people’s homes. I already have some ideas for upcoming prints, where the design would be the same but the colors would be unique to each piece. If you have ideas, I would love to hear them. Or leave a comment letting me know what you like about lino prints?
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AuthorMy name is Claire Bureau. Archives
March 2023
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