Linicuts Made Simple
Linicuts Made Simple
Linocuts Made Simple
You don't need to be able to draw. You don't even need a finished picture in mind. All you need is curiosity about what a blade can do.
Linocut has a reputation for precision and patience — careful lines, a clear image, hours of careful cutting. This workshop takes a different route in. Instead of starting with a picture, you'll start with the tools themselves: two V-blades, two scoop blades, and one wildcard, each capable of a completely different mark. Play with them long enough, and you'll discover a whole vocabulary of pattern and texture you can call on whenever you need it — at home, in your own work, at your own pace.
Format
This runs as a two-day workshop, giving you time to move from mark-making into blind embossing and colour inking. If a day is all you can spare, that's fine — a one-day session focuses on mark-making alone, and I'll happily arrange it that way.
Choose your dates
There are no fixed dates for this workshop — it runs when there's enough interest, shaped around the people coming. If it sounds like something you'd enjoy, get in touch and let me know:
Would you prefer a one-day or two-day workshop?
Would you rather it ran over a weekend or during the week?
Do you have a few dates in mind? A short list is helpful.
Will you be coming on your own, or bringing a friend (or friends)?
I'll use this to shape the next available session — so the sooner you get in touch, the more say you have in when it happens.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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A hands-on introduction to linocut, built around exploration rather than a finished image. You'll try each blade in your set and see what marks, textures and patterns it naturally makes. From there, you can either keep exploring pattern for its own sake, or start bringing those marks together into a more traditional, recognisable image — whichever direction interests you.
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As well as cutting into a single block, you'll try making shaped plates — small cut-out forms you can use as stamps and over-print onto patterned backgrounds. It's a quick way to build up layered, textured compositions without needing to carve a large, detailed block.
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We work with Japanese vinyl rather than traditional lino. It's easier on the hands — a real benefit if you have arthritis or find hand-burnishing uncomfortable — while still taking a crisp, clean cut. You'll also get the chance to try your prints on the etching press, so you can compare hand-burnished and press-printed results side by side.
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Day one is focused on mark-making with your linocut blades. On day two, you'll move on to blind embossing — printing without ink, so the paper itself carries the texture — and try different ways of inking up in colour.
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This workshop is a foundation, not a ceiling. If linocut floats your boat a follow-up workshop or adding extra days, allows you to explore:
Collage, combining printed and cut papers into layered compositions
Reduction linocut — a technique where you cut, print, then cut away more of the same block and print again in a different colour, repeating the process so each layer builds on the last. It's a way of creating multi-coloured prints from a single piece of lino, and a natural next step once you're comfortable with the blades.
Multi-plate printing
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One-to-one or small groups of up to 4 maximum, so there's plenty of individual attention and space to experiment.
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All cutting tools, vinyl, ink and paper are provided — just bring yourself and an openness to play.
At the end of the workshop, there will be an opportunity to purchase more Japanese Vinyl, and cutting tools if you wish to continue on at home. If you already have your own tools do bring them with you and if you have an use soft cut or traditional lino you can bring some with you to discuss and compare the differences.
