Techniques Explained
Linocut, also known as lino print, lino printing or linoleum art, is a printmaking technique, a variant of woodcut in which a sheet of linoleum is used for a 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 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 printing press. I tend to use Japanese vinyl rather than lino these days as I find it easier to carve without slipping or the block crumbling and it is much easier to clean.
Reduction Linocut/ Reduction method is a printmaking technique when a multicolored print is made with the use of a single block. This involves a lot of clever planning in regards to colour choice, the sequence of colours being applied and the sequence of what is carved away. Through a series of progressive cuttings, inkings, and printings, the image slowly emerges while the actual block is destroyed. A reduction print can therefore never be reprinted.
A Monotype is a print, but with one major difference from other printmaking processes: the artist creates exactly one print, instead of multiples (called editions). This is due to the way a monotype is made.
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To make a monotype, the artist applies paint or ink directly onto the plate — which can be metal, glass, plexiglas, or gelatin. I currently use a gelatinous plate. The plate is pressed against the paper to transfer the ink. (So the finished print is a mirror image of what’s on the plate.) The printing can be done with a printing press or by hand.
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It’s a simple process that allows for lots of experimentation and variation. The artist can create layered prints, use objects as masks between plate and paper, or selectively apply pressure to create a trace monotype. After the first print is pulled, there will be some ink left on the plate for a second, fainter ghost print.
