Lino Printing

Lino printing, also called linocut, is a way of making prints by carving a design into a block of linoleum, rolling ink over it and pressing it onto paper or fabric. The parts you carve away stay blank and the raised surface prints. It's a type of relief printing, a close cousin of the woodcut.

Picasso and Matisse both made linocuts, and today it's loved by illustrators, printmakers and anyone who likes making things by hand. The best bit? One carved block prints again and again, so you can make a whole run of your own art.

The block comes first. Traditional lino is firm and backed with hessian, and gives crisp, clean lines. Soft-cut lino is smoother and more forgiving to carve, which makes it a good place to start.

Lino cutters, also called gouges, do the carving. A V-shaped blade cuts fine lines and detail, and a wider U-shaped blade clears bigger areas.

A brayer is a small rubber roller that spreads block printing ink thinly and evenly. Fabric ink is used for tea towels and tote bags. To press by hand, printmakers rub the back of the paper with a baren, or the back of a wooden spoon. Old school, still works.

Sketch your design and transfer it onto the block. Remember that the print comes out as a mirror image, so any letters need carving backwards. Then carve away everything you don't want to print, always pushing the blade away from you.

Next, roll the ink out on a flat surface until it looks smooth and velvety, then roll it over the block. Lay your paper or fabric on top, press firmly all over and peel it back slowly. That first reveal is the moment you'll want a photo of.

A single-colour print is the classic: one block, one ink, bold contrast. For more colours, you can carve a separate block for each one and print them on top of each other, lining them up carefully. This is called registration.

The reduction method uses just one block. You print the lightest colour, carve a little more away, then print the next colour over the top, and so on. There's no going back, which keeps things exciting.

Good news: you don't need to be able to draw. Simple, bold shapes often print best, and a wobbly line just looks handmade. Your Activity Leader will show you how to hold the cutter and carve safely, and many people find the carving surprisingly calming. Bring a design or pick one on the day, and walk away with something you actually made. Gift or keep. We won't judge.

You might also like Screen Printing, Shibori Tie Dye and Pyrography.

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