Sunday, August 19, 2012

Peace! - Linocut Artwork

I saw a picture of a man on my desk this evening. I was just wondering whose drawing was that. Then I asked my little brother but he didn't know. Instead, he passed over me and went to sleep (geez!!). After a while, my younger sister came to my room and asked where 'the picture' is. So, I gave it to her and asked how to make one. She explained that the artist used a linocut technique to make the artwork.


Linocut is a printmaking technique, a variant of woodcut in which a sheet of linoleum (sometimes mounted on a wooden block) is used for the relief surface. A design is cut into the linoleum surface with a sharp knife, V-shaped chisel or gouge, with the raised (uncarved) areas representing a reversal (mirror image) of the parts to show printed. The cut areas can then be pulled from the backing. The linoleum sheet is inked with a roller (called a brayer), and then impressed onto paper or fabric. The actual printing can be done by hand or with a press.

As the material being carved has no particular direction to its grain and does not tend to split, it is easier to obtain certain artistic effects than with most woods, although the resultant prints lack the wood character of wood block printing. Linoleum is also much easier to cut than wood, which must be carved away, but the pressure of the printing process degrades the plate faster. It is also difficult to create larger works due to the material's fragility. (source: wikipedia)
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