How I make my prints
Hi. I'm Yves. I'm 7. I make linocut prints. Here's how I do it.
What linocut is
You take a flat block of lino. It looks a bit like rubber but it's harder. You cut shapes into it with a sharp tool. The bits you don't cut get printed. The bits you cut stay white on the paper.
That's it. No big machine. No computer.
My kit
This is what I use. UK and US links are coming soon. If you want the exact products now, the French version of this post has them all linked.
They're green and a bit soft. Four come in the pack: two big A4 ones and two small A6 ones. I do my tests on the small ones first. UK / US link coming
They're really sharp. They've got plastic handles. I have a Japanese set, so each gouge has its own handle. With other sets you have to swap blades in and out of one holder, and that's the moment you can slip and cut yourself. These ones keep their edge for ages too. UK / US link coming
It's a bit of plastic that goes between my fingers and the blade. If the tool slips, the guard stops it. I never carve without it. UK / US link coming
Bright blue. It comes in a tube. It's water-based, so when I'm done I just wash my hands with soap. The tube is small but it lasts forever. UK / US link coming
It's red and a bit squishy. I roll the ink onto a piece of aluminium until it's smooth. Then I roll it across the lino. The ink only goes on the bits that are still high. UK / US link coming
I do my tests on watercolour postcards. They're thick so they don't go floppy. For the real prints in the shop I use bigger paper. UK / US link coming
How I do a print
- Draw it. I draw the design on paper first. Just black and white. No grey.
- Flip it. I copy the drawing onto the lino backwards. The print comes out the other way around, so I have to flip everything. I often stick my drawing on the window to see the mirror image. But that only really matters for letters.
- Carve it. I cut out everything I want to be white. The safety guard stays in front of my hand the whole time.
- Ink it. I squeeze a tiny bit of ink onto a piece of aluminium. I roll it until it's smooth. Then I roll it onto the lino.
- Press it. I lay paper on top. I press carefully all over with my fingers.
- Peek. I lift one corner. If it looks good I keep going. If a line is too thick I carve a bit more.
- Dry. The prints sit flat overnight.
Why I sell them
No two are exactly the same. I sign the back and number them. There are six designs in the shop right now.
If you want one, go to the shop.
UK and US affiliate links coming soon. The French version of this post already has Amazon affiliate links: if you buy through them, a small commission goes to Yves at no extra cost to you.
← Back to blog