Lino cut / Linolschnitt
Mai 11th, 2008
The anglosaxon Frederick Walton invented linoleum in 1860.
A mixture of cork- or saw-dust, oxidiced linseed or soya-bean oil, colophony , lead or manganeseoxid pressed on thick fabric.
Linoleum is very interesting as a material to make art prints.
Its easy to cut and the surface without pores makes it possible to get a very high saturation of the colors.
You need only a few but really good quality knifes.
The better the knife, the better the cut !!!
The linoleumplates are available in artmaterialshops, but only in a limited variaty of size.
To cut the real big ones I arrange several plates together, or I take the linoleum usually put on the floor. This one isn´t that thick , because of that you have to be careful bringing up the printer`s ink and not to sparkle it all over the place. ( Little splashes of ink always gets on the wrong places )
I cover these “accidents” with paper to avoid having them on my print.
( but don´t forget to remove them IMMEDIATELY after printing they stick like glue )
There are two methods of printing.
You lay the plate on the table / floor and press the paper on it or vice versa.
Printing my big linocuts, I always lay the plate on the floor and roll the paper or the canvas over it. To increase the pressure I use a large metalroller and walk all over the print again and again. (
Yes sometimes I am dancing and jumping ).
But the best thing is to roll off the paper / canvas.
I really like this wet, sucking noise and I am allways a little nervous seeing now my idea has been printed the right direction and not mirrored like the cut.
I put this print on the floor for drying off.
At this point it´s wet, shinning black and I am a little sorry to watch this gloss slowly dissapear.
But when its dry, a wonderful deep, powderlike velvet black takes place.
I think Linocuts are a good possibillity to create a work of art in a limited edition, independend and free. Every step is performend and controlled by yourself.
You don`t need expencive material or machines. You only have to investigate time to get an idea and bring it to life with physical strength ( cut for several hours and you know what I mean )
But take care, a good knife has to be sharp. REAL SHARP
DREI ENGEL / THREE ANGELS
be-him / Designer of VAN TRIBE CUSTOM SHIRTS
