Multi block lino

For the multi-block lino prints, first I decided on an image I liked which happened to be a Japanese block print. I wanted to keep the image simple for my first try.

I sketched the flower myself by looking at the image as I wanted to size it up a bit from the original. I then traced around my hand drawn image so that I could reverse it and copy onto the lino.

I divided the image as the original was with background space and flower centre all in the same colour (block 1) and the flower petals in another colours (block 2). The third colour was created by using a coloured card to print onto - this was the negative space of the flower stem and outside of the petals.

I painted the ink on with a large paintbrush because of the previous failed attempts with the roller. The petals came out alright but I'm not happy with the rest of it. The trouble is keeping the ink out of the carved out space. I have a few ideas to try for the next lot.

Linoblock

Ok, so I finally get to do something exciting with this printmaking course. I didn't particularly enjoy doing the mask making - it was too simple but somehow made complicated with the instructions. From the outset I had expected to be making prints with carved blocks like this.
So, sticking with trees I chose an image from my new book on Japanese seasons. I wanted the image to be simple and bold for my first linoblock and this was perfect for it.
I traced the image and marked it out in reverse on the lino.
I decided to do this one in 'negative' first so that once printed the image left would be the white space and the ink imprinted would be background.
The lino was so easy to cut - I enjoyed working with this very much and I was very pleased with the outcome.
Next I will show the images printed with this.