Information about Linocuts and Woodcuts

My linocuts are original prints. I print the linocuts and woodcuts directly from the carved plates on an old cast iron Harrild Press in my studio in Arncroach using Lawrence oil based high quality inks and acid free Zerkall printmaking paper. Because the inking and pressing of the plates is done by hand, every single print differs slightly from the others of that edition. I usually print in editions of 35 or 50. All prints are signed and have an edition number.

Multiple colour prints can be made in various ways. The quickest one is to ink one block in different colours at the same time but this method has its limitations. More possibilities offer single-block or multiple-block printing. For single-block printing one block is printed in one colour, then areas of this block are cut away before printing the next colour(s) with the same block. For multiple-block printing a separate block is cut for each different colour layer.

Below are the stages of the printmaking process of a combined linocut and woodcut “Orange Farm near Valencia’. I am using a linoleum plate for the first orange layer because linocutting allows more detail and a woodcut on Japanese plywood for the second black layer, which has a rougher feel to it and adds a grainy pattern to the image.

“Linocutting and woodcutting are my preferred printmaking technique as they are direct and hands on. Whereas relief printing offers possibilities for very refined and multicoloured designs I keep it simple and enjoy the task of designing with reduced elements and only a few colours. I like a slight roughness of the cut line and enjoy working rather spontaneously than carefully when carving the block. The resulting ‘mistakes’ can either add to the design or need to be carefully touched up on each print during the printing process. Working through the stages from first sketch to printing the edition is an interesting journey.“