Linocutting: Got All The Gear

Ok, so it was a silly title, but it tickled me when I typed it out and realised it sounded just like the hackneyed ventriloguist's test to say 'bottle of beer'. Ahem. :)

In a new series of posts I will chat about the world of printmaking, exploring, over time, different techniques, handy tips, the tools and other pertinent stuff. The first of these looks at the tools and equipment needed for linocutting.

Many people tell me that they were lucky enough to try out linocutting at school - we didn't but our art teacher was an amazing sculptor so I'll cope - and I think one of the wonderful things about linocutting is just how accessible it is for all levels of ability - you can make something striking and appealing with some straight forward cutting and some inking up all on the kitchen table.

The Kitchen Table List:
1. Lino or soft cut/similar
2. Economy linocutting tools (red-handled)
3. Spare nibs for economy cutter
4. Roller (and Ink)
5. Glass chopping board (see, it really is a kitchen list)
6. Vegetable oil....or baby oil
7. Kitchen paper towel/old rags
8. Paper
9.Wooden spoon
10.String and pegs

Right, now for a bit more about all that:

1. Lino v Soft Cut:
I have said lino or soft cut because I know that a lot of people recommend the soft cut to start with (or similar - there are versions available in many art stores) .....I don't. It's not that I hate it. I've used it in the past...but I just find that it's harder to get good clean lines. Easy to carve but wobbly and prone to raggedy tails....might just be me but I honestly think lino is the way to go.

TIP: to soften lino just warm it up a little. Leave it on the radiator/a sunny window sill for half an hour before you start carving. Works a treat. I don't always bother but on cold days I do, cold lino is harder to carve.

2/3. Cutters and Nibs:
Economy cutters are great. One red handle comes with interchangeable nibs. They will do the job just fine for many and most linocutting needs especially if you make sure to change the nibs often so that you are working with sharp blades. Get an assortment of the nibs and just see what you like - a simple guide is that the V gouges give deeply sloped furrows while the U give you a straighter side, good for more detailed work. A shallow gouge will clear unwanted ridges created while carving the main lines.I included my scalpel in the picture because it comes in handy so often that it's earned its place in any list.

4/5 etc Rollers - inking slab:
Again, the basic economy or student rollers are fine. Standard ones are made from a pretty firm black rubber. It takes a little bit of practice to use these to get a nice even coverage of ink, but practice is all it takes. I think it's worth spending the money on good inks - I now choose Caligo Safe Wash for my linocuts but really, it's only one kind of quite a few excellent inks. Roll out inks on a glass slab or similar - I started with a glass chopping board! Preferably painted white underneath to help see ink colour. Vegetable oil (or baby oil) is great for clean up with just a wipe over after...and a drop of very diluted detergent goes a long way on a dampened cloth for a final wipe over.

8/9 Paper Spoon:
If you are hand burnishing (rubbing over/pressing) then thinner lighter paper is MUCH easier - the Japanese papers are ideal...no need to dampen. If you use heavier papers I would recommend dampening if printing without a press. I don't dampen anything except for intaglio plates, but I am using a press these days.

A wooden spoon is held bowl up, press down into the bowl and hey presto you have one of the favourite barens (proper term for tool to press down/rub over the paper) of many printmakers around the world. Also widely available are the sort I have shown in the top photo...one with a handle and one that's a bit like a doorknob with felt. Both great barens for hand burnishing.

10 String and pegs:
Easy and budget friendly drying system. Drill holes in peg tops (or use bull dog clips), hang on length of string suspended in safe place - charming and effective print drying which can accommodate many prints if you have the prints face front to back. Side by side (just peg onto string) also works well but you won't get as many on a line.

TIP: If you go for front to back, then cardboard spacers will stop the prints swinging into each other. Scraps of paper between peg and print also protect the print.

The Studio/Add-Ons List:

1)Individual cutting tools
2)Sharpening stone and honing leather/paste
3)Rollers
4)Ink slab
5)Press
6)Drying racks

1) Tools:
 I love mine. Yes I do still use my economy cutters as well - but not for fine work. Or the clearing. There I've said it. I have palm handled swiss made tools and it's a growing collection. There are different makes and styles...I can't comment on them as I've only used mine. Expensive if bought en masse but it's easy enough to buy one every so often, the great thing about individual tools is that you can switch between tools readily and sharpen them properly - for this you will need...
2) Sharpening stones:
..and honing leather (with honing paste)....I will cover this more at a later date, but it's worth it, a sharp tool is a safer tool - and carving is much easier. Mine is a diamond sharpening card - size of a credit card. Works a treat and it's compact!

3)Rollers:
I have just treated myself to a couple of higher end rollers - durathene (the shiny green style) - and I LOVE THEM. Ink coverage is excellent, rolling out is superb and it's all so much easier on wrist and arm. Can't see me going back now. These are pricey - they just are, but worth saving for if you print a lot.

There are much more expensive rollers out there - and one day I plan to get one of the really large durathene rollers for large linocuts and relief collagraphs, but am as happy as a night elf with my recent acquisitions, so that can wait.

4)Ink slab:
 I have yet to meet a printmaker who hasn't been thrifty here. I've heard of fridge shelves being adapted. Local glaziers being roped in. And then there's the Ikea bunch (me included) ...there is a certain cupboard top that is glass and white underneath and just the perfect size and price. You can see mine in the press and inking shot.

5) Presses:
I have a baby etching press and these can be used for both relief and intaglio printmaking - perfect for me. Presses are expensive and you need to a)get a bargain or b) be sure you really want one before splashing out - although they do hold their price well. Buy as big as you can afford/fit in because I guarantee that you'll be wanting a bigger one before long...:)

Relief presses (the screw down sandwich style) are also wonderful to use - but again, it'll set you back a bit though I have seen more of these on ebay etc than etching presses. If you are the engineering kind then a bit of online research will also throw up plans for making your own and I have seen fantastic examples of both bottle jack presses and mangles converted to etching style presses. Lots of hard work but rewarding.

6) Drying racks:
I have two free standing racks now and can print journal covers to my heart's content and then a bit more. Not pretty, but effective. Pretty studio racks do exist though, and the cream of all these has to be the wooden rack with glass balls...a thing of beauty. Still, mine work and cost a lot less!! ;p

There's more. There is always more. But these are some of my staples. If you have any other essentials you can't linocut without then I'd love to hear them - I love studio talk! I will be looking at all sorts of things over the course of studio chats like this one and some mini-tutorials - inking up, registering a print, sharpening tools - and these are just a few off the tip of my tongue.

Next up will be inking tips!

Blog Island with a Puzzler

No, I said Blog with an 'l' and that's an altogether different kind of puzzler too. Honestly, some people. ;p

There's something of that feeling about writing a blog - being a little island in the middle of the big blue cyber sea. I think part of that feeling comes from not knowing which way to look to get a fix on something and it's very easy to start slowly turning in circles round and around and around. My blog needs a bit of steer to become a boat on the websea again. With this in mind - you know, islands, boats (think rowing or dinghy sailing not ships and yachts), wind direction and are you waving or drowning - I have decided to revamp a little. Am still here for the odd dunk of a good crumbly biscuit with tongue-scaldingly hot cuppas, but I'd also like to set up a few printmaking tutorials. I thought I'd throw in a few 'ouch don't try this at home' moments too - after all, we all make them, so mistakes should be shared to ease the pain!

The Puzzler
Mistakes Made and Lessons to Learn will kick off this weekend with: Got all the Gear. I have chosen this title for a very bizarre reason. Say it out loud to yourself over and over and ask yourself if you're old enough to work out why this title appealed to me - are you brave enough to share it on here or my Facebook page - oh go on?!

PRINTS FOR PRESS: JANUARY'S LINOCUT

PRINTS FOR PRESS

Prints for Press: January Facebook Special Price Nights

(AND GIVE-AWAY!!)

TUESDAY 29^TH JANUARY : 7 – 10pm

THURSDAY 31^ST JANUARY : 7 – 10pm

Every month (for 12 months) I will carve and print a new linocut exclusively for the Prints for Press Project and these will be available over 2 advertised nights on my Facebook shop AT VERY SPECIAL PRICES. After that prints will be available for purchase through my Folksy and Etsy shops at full price.

Why am I doing this? Well, I am saving up for a larger press (more details here, with pics!  http://inkyprintsintheattic.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/its-question-of-lust.html ) so that I can carve and print more bountiful linocuts and collographs.

There will be a running competition, open to those who buy on the night – the first customer to guess the overall theme correctly will receive a give-away linocut print of their choice between: Heart-Strings and Owl by Moonlight (colours subject to availability). If no-one gets it this month, then the give-away will carry over to February’s Special Price Nights. 

Sneaky peek, detail from the January linocut

The first print in the Prints for Press series is a two colour linocut, limited edition of 10 prints only (with a couple of artist’s proofs) 15x15cm, printed on Zerkall paper in light blue and teal-black. Normal full price will be £35. The special price of £20 will only be available for Facebook users on the night.

Studio Plumbing Genius!

I posted a pic of a corner of my studio on Facebook and from the responses it was quickly clear that this little bit of genius was worth sharing in more detail.

Years ago when I moved my studio into the attic I had to sort out the lack of plumbing up there. Printmakers need water for obvious reasons, and plenty of it. Ink is a very messy business. So I came up with something fairly rudimentary involving a water carrier with a tap and a bucket underneath....it was all a bit Carry On Camping but without the innuendos. 

Nonetheless I carried on this way for a while until my dad came up with a wonderful solution for me....tailored specifically to my needs and the space available for the unit. This design could easily be adjusted for any space.

This little beauty has a stainless steel sink with plug and waste pipe leading to a 20 litre waste container. I think the sink was sold as a salad bowl and he cut a hole in it for the waste pipe fitting. The waste container takes precisely the amount of water which can be stored in the 2 storage tanks ( 10litre rigid water carriers) so needs emptying when they're both empty....be warned, never refill your water tanks without emptying the waste. I haven't made that mistake yet, but I like to stay wary! Yuk.

The shower head is ideal, it is moveable so can be directed. It operates very simply from a foot pump. I thought this might be a pain but in reality I don't even register that I'm doing it - it quickly became second nature.

To house the system and keep it cleanable, my dad adapted a painted steel shelving unit (cut a big hole in it) I have the added benefit of a central shelf to store all my cleaning bits and bobs. Note the scanty descriptions of the engineering side of things - I suspect there is a little bit more to it, but that is what is so magical about someone making something for you that you couldn't possibly make yourself. Am pretty sure that he had to change the height of the shelving unit as well - perhaps a welder was involved here as I don't think my dad still has any welding gear.Though I wouldn't put it past him!

All in all, it is an essential piece of equipment which, together with my etching press and drying racks, has been instrumental in turning the attic from a room into my studio.

Thanks Dad. :)

It's a question of lust

I've been doing a lot of dreaming and longing recently...and the object of my heart's desire is not what you might expect, but is something which means a lot to me. So the time has come and instead of dreaming I have come up with a plan of action...it is my 12 step plan for 2013. Starting now.

'Prints for Press' is the working title for this project which will help me get together with a wonderful, gorgeously large and beautifully engineered fabulously heart-stopping Brand New Etching Press. Just so you know what I'm blithering on about, I'm going to run these little beauties by you.

The first up is this honey-pot press from http://www.ironbridgeframing.co.uk/printing-presses-for-sale . It is a Gunning etching press, the studio #2 which comes in at a hefty A2 (still portable? only if you're stronger than me!!!). I love it. I really do. Sigh.

Now you'd be right thinking that etching presses are pricey petals and even my trusty Polymetaal baby etching press will set you back enough to make you blink. These A2 presses, great for home studios, large enough for substantial work but small enough not to need a new extension, are the most price friendly of the bigger presses. A press this size will serve me well enough, alongside my old faithful, for all the years to come - should I ever need a larger press then I would happily head on into the studios at Birmingham Printmakers. No, the A2 is the size I long for. The Gunning press comes in at £1322, and that's without the stand!

Next up is this one from the Dutch company, Polymetaal - available in the U.K. through intaglioprintmaker.com , coming in at £1,400 - again, without the stand. The stands are desirable, but I think a custom wooden stand might be preferable , built with my own shelf needs etc and that's where my lovely husband starts thinking, ok, so that's your birthday sorted!

There is another option (somewhat cheaper), but to be honest I'm really aiming for one of these two. So I'll leave it at that. Now my dreams are revealed - how am I going to achieve them?

Twelve Steps of Prints for Press


It's simple really  - I'm carving a special series of linocuts, in small limited editions,  to raise the money. I will offer these once a month (aha! 12 see?!) at a very special price for a limited period through Facebook (one or two nights), then they will go onto my Folksy shop at full price. All the money raised from this series will be set aside for the press. Prints for Press. Simple. I have started carving the first block of a 2 block print and will launch the project fully in a fortnight. Am excited. It feels good to save up for something special doesn't it. :) I will let people know about the print and the forthcoming special price nights  a few days beforehand through Facebook. If you see it and share it to help get this little plan off the ground, then a big thank you from me. :)

There is a theme to the prints, a loose one, but a theme nonetheless. I think I might do an extra little give-away to the first person to guess correctly once I've launched the project properly on Facebook.  More news soon. Very soon.

Right, am off to finish carving the first one! But not before I've made a large mug of something hot to keep the fingers warm in this cold cold weather. Brrrrr.

New Year's Revisions

That's right, am taking a stand against this whole resolution thing, it always backfires and I don't know about you but my resolutions (shhhhh, not that I have any) are (oops, game up) exactly the same this year as last year!

1) eat less
2) drink more....water ( you thought I'd say wine, but I'm on to you)
3) organise work schedule
4) and stick to it

So far so familiar. So this year I will trot along knowing that this fantastic four will plague my conscience no matter what I do, and I've concentrated on some new revisions:

1) evaluate the year's progress for Inkyprints and make changes accordingly
2) drink up all the pearls of wisdom I can track down - I'm still new to all this, but there are others who can help
3) write coherent business plan
4) and stick to it

So that's me then. Getting everything in order, all lined up and facing the right way.

Everything has been crazy busy already with galleries contacting me about stocking work with them whilst also trying to complete a new set of linocut prints, discussing a new collaborative fine art project, and print more journal covers - urgently. I then came across Handmade Lives by Dixie Nichols who was chatting on Folksy and followed up her offer of a shop appraisal. All very useful and if any of you are in the business of handmade business, please do take a look at her site - fabulous advice with hugely readable tips and quizzes. http://handmadelives.wordpress.com/


It was a fantastic year for me, so thank you to 2012 and all those who supported me at home and online. I am looking forward to this year's journey. Part of the business plan included marketing and networking objectives. One of my revisions (see how I did that, not saying the other word) is to crank up the blog natters from sporadic to weekly. Once a week mind, and you'll have to forgive me if I ramble a lot. Because I do. HAPPY NEW-ISH YEAR TO ONE AND ALL. xxx

Every Picture Tells a Tale

As Christmas approaches I have been kicking back a little - the presents are pretty much sorted. I can get the last couple at the weekend thanks to what is now a family tradition....my husband and I sneak out on our own for a quick Christmas shop and long lunch while the children have a break with the grandparents. In the meantime, I have been having fun cyber browsing book blogs. I could lose hours this way!!

I have always loved illustration as an art form. There are books from my childhood which haunt me still for their beautiful, bold and characterful illustrations. Some of these I have been able to track down and others yet elude me. Gus the friendly ghost is how I remember this one - I was heartbroken to discover that we no longer had it but was delighted to be introduced to the online world of secondhand books in my search for a replacement. It's not quite the same as the real thing and certainly lacks the charm and adventure of a rummage through dusty bookshelves, but I have been reunited with some old friends this way so I'm prepared to go with the flow on this one.

by Jane Thayer, illustrated by Seymour Fleishman

I think I re-found it through AbeBooks but most importantly I have now been lucky enough to share it with my children, along with some others from the same series.

Today's little treasure is this one, 'True Tall Tales of Stormalong: Sailor of the Seven Seas' (by Harold Fenton). Best of all, I was able to order it straight-away and now I can hardly wait to snuggle down under blankets with the children for an adventure on the high seas with these beautiful illustrations, all by Joan Sandin:

Now if anyone can remember/locate a book of children's poems which I think was called 'Happenings' that would be fantastic. There was a poem in it about someone becoming/being a crow, I can't remember it clearly. I do know this, it was an oddly chilling poem which left me anxious every time I read it but I would love to re-read it now to see how I respond as an adult.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. See you on the other side. XXX