Pattern & Print: Gelli-plate Meets Linocut
Pattern & Print: Gelli-plate Meets Linocut
You don't need to be able to draw.
Two techniques, two days, one growing pile of pattern to play with. This workshop brings gelli plate printing and linocut together, so each one feeds the other — and by the end, you'll have a body of work that's entirely your own to build on.
Rather than aiming for a single finished piece, you'll spend two days building up a stock of prints, marks and textures — then start combining them in ways you might not expect. It's playful, hands-on, and a great way to see how far a small set of simple techniques can stretch.
Format
This runs as a two-day workshop, structured to move you from mark-making through to combining techniques:
Day one, morning: Gelli plate printing — building up a series of prints to work with
Day one, afternoon: Linocut carving — exploring marks and patterns with the blades
Day two, morning: Collage using your gelli plate prints, with blind embossing
Day two, afternoon: Over-printing, layering linocut onto your collaged and embossed work
Because the two days build on each other, this workshop is run over two full days rather than as a shorter session.
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 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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
One-to-one or small groups of up to 4 maximum, so there's plenty of individual attention and space to experiment.
-
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.
