Linocut Tuturial! {featuring Ruby}

Hey blog people! I've recently been getting lots of questions about my linocut / block print process. During one of my most recent printing projects I took a bunch of photos to share.... hope this helps to spark some block-printing creativity out there!

Here are the materials I use for block printing. Carving tools (I have small, medium-V and large-U gauges) brayers, and inks. Although there are some really nice high-end inks out there for printing, I'm pretty happy with water-soluable Speedball inks. Their clear ink extender is also great for helping thin down the inks for smoother printing.




This is my starting point: the sketch I drew of Ruby, ready to move on to become a linocut!




...I then traced over that drawing on tracing paper. I find that transferring my sketch to the block is much easier from tracing paper rather than sketchbook paper.




The traced sketch is placed over my block (I call it a block, but it's actually Speedy-Carve material from Speedball-- similar to a rubber stamp.) Once I've got it positioned just where I want it, I take the end of a (capped!) Sharpie or pen and rub the drawing to transfer the graphite to the block.




Here's how the transfer looks.




Start carving! I usually begin with the smallest details first, then work my way into larger areas with a larger gauge carving tool. This will only be a one-color print, so whatever I'm carving away will be the color of the paper, and what is left behind will be inked in black.




Carving out the feet!




Here's the block after I'm finished carving. Carving out lettering in reverse always feels strange, but I just have to trust those guidelines!




Inking up the block with a brayer! Ink up the block as evenly as possible and carefully lay down a piece of paper on top.




I print my linocuts at home (without the use of a letterpress), so a good way to get an even amount of pressure over the entire block is to rub the back of your paper with a spoon & a little elbow grease.



Lifting up my first print!





Here's the initial print of this Ruby block (AKA: the Artist's Proof.) From this point, I can now see areas in the block I'd like to carve out a little further.




Once I have a print that I'm happy with and it's dry (the water-based inks I use take about 20 minutes to dry under a warm lamp... oil-based inks can take days.) I like to add some color details with acrylic paint or paint markers.




(I referenced this photo often for Ruby's color details.)



Here's my final Ruby portrait! There's only going to be this one printed portrait out in the world, so I simply signed and dated it-- no edition # required.

I hope this helps some block printers out there.
Happy printing!

Finished Wedding Invites!

I'm finally allowed to blog about these! Finished up this little printing project last week and I'm excited to share these. My sister is getting married in 2 months and she asked me to illustrate and print her invites... so much fun!



Here's her concept sketch she sent me for inspiration... (The bride and groom have three little boys between them, and this wedding will officially bring this family together. We thought it would be a great idea to include them on the invite, too!)



I was doodling some ideas with Paper by FiftyThree (love, love, love that app!) and sent her this rough idea...



...which turned into a cleaned-up sketch...



...and then a carved stamp! (I no longer carve linoleum blocks like I learned in school-- I much prefer the ease of Speedball Speedy-Carve.)



This is round one of printing sitting out to dry.



Good thing my ink is gluten-free? Ha! Still wouldn't want to taste it.



Here are all the finished invites ready to ship!



More prints I've done recently....



...this was last year's Christmas card. I think I have the printing bug again :~)

Edgar Allan Poe Progress!

We're getting somewhere! This is about 7 hours of sculpting. (...and a terrible snapshot!)

Edgar Allan Poe.

A personal piece in the making! (inspired by my most recent trip to SC.)

...two pages of brainstorming in my sketchbook. I want to show Poe writing 'the Gold-Bug' on Sullivan's Island.





Here's a more finalized sketch. Still a few things to tweak here & there, but I think I'm ready to begin with clay....

Polymer Space.

Here's what my desk looks like tonight:


I'd like to blog my polymer life more often than I have been, so it looks like you'll be getting more 'in progress' views!
This is the start of an outer space scene. Nothing like a deadline to get me moving! ;~)

Right-hand corner: my trusty-rusty pasta machine.

Spaceman Progress....

About an hour.5 of progress...............

the Start of a Spaceman...

Here's the start of a book cover illo!

Welcome, Little Peanuts!

Just finished this piece for a friend of mine. She had twin boys, and their nursery is all decked out in elephants (...only with their trunks UP--that's good luck, she says.)
PS: I hope you're not checking my blog, Vanessa! You don't get this until Thursday.

If you know me, you know I love making EPIC blog posts showing my creative process! Enjoy.....


Here's the basic sketch I settled on. I got really frustrated just sketching new layouts, so I cut out each of the elements I wanted to work with & taped them into new positions on the page until I was happy with it all.


My collection of wool roving. I wish they'd sell more colors. (This is 100% wool, basically right off the sheep...cleaned & dyed.)


This is where it all starts! Poking the wool with that barbed needle forms it into sturdy shapes. ( Similar idea to dreadlocks?) I poked my fingertips way too many times doing this >:~o


Connecting shapes together....


...creates a basic elephant.


Next day! Here's my Mama elephant.


Seeing how they will look inside their frame. I've added more colors of wool & beads for eyes.


Sculpting little peanuts from polymer clay! I originally wanted to use real peanuts, but couldn't find any for sale with shells. ???


Placing all the elements together.


Starting to cut my banner.


Gluing down letters. (Not fun!)


The finished banner.


Cut baby names. Should I leave them in the negative or back them with another color?


Gluing foam-core and cardboard to the backs of those hearts so they'll have a tiny bit of dimension.


The finished piece! (Sadly, I made the sculpt too thick to fit behind the frame's glass. Oh well, skip the glass. Just the frame.)


A close up.


Close up of the Airedale!


.....and now I get to clean up my messy desk.

Hope you enjoyed the process!
~Paula P.