Linocut

Linocut is probably the easiest and most "do-able at home" kind of printmaking technique, it's just like making a stamp by carving a huge piece of fat eraser.

This is a linocut piece done for my printmaking elective. The most difficult part for this assignment was you have to print it by hand, which means you cannot use the press. Also, you have to produce 5 exact same editions with accuracy of 99.7%. So basically I printed no less than 30 copies and each copy took me about 30min to print.. the tough part was really getting the whole image inked evenly.. no white spots and no extra ink, and because you can only check the result after you think you are done with the printing, you will only notice the flaws in the print after you spend 30min painstakingly rubbing the paper against the inked lino block.. well nevertheless.. I'm done with it! Yay! ^^

 On the right is my lino block and on the left is a failed print which I used to wrap my lino block.

Due to the repeated action of rubbing, my rubberish lino block is turning shinny, like a piece of metal. At this point it's also getting harder to ink as the lino block is not as soft as it used to be.

These are all you need for printing, probably I shall make some self-printed cards for Christmas this time :)

 So this was what I meant by 'only print by hand'. After you laid the paper onto your already inked lino block, you can only use a wooden spoon like this and slowly rub the paper against the lino block to get the ink transfer over.

This is actually an image of my bunny which is now under the care of my friend, and I was hoping I could give this lino print to her as a gift :)