Linoprinting multiple colours
This video and blog post is an introduction to linoprinting multiple colours, for beginners. I normally use the reduction print method, where I carve and print multiple layers of colour from one block of lino, and I start this video by showing how I plan layers of colour for my print, and transfer the image onto lino using tracing paper. I show two layers of ink being printed and three layers of carving.
I start multicolour linoprints by planning out the layers and general colour scheme of inks I will use, I begin with either a sketch or one of my photos, and list out each layer that I plan to carve and print. When I print I generally work from light to dark, as I personally prefer to build up colour with water based inks. Next I use tracing paper to capture basic lines and positions of objects, one of the key things to remember is to flip your tracing paper over when you transfer the images onto the lino, as your design will carve and print in reverse, always use the mirror image on the actual lino.
The first objects I carve out is the ones I want to remain white, as I am printing onto white paper. For the design in this video I plan on having some white flowers in the foreground so I am carving them first. I pre-mix my first colours which will be yellow sand for the beach, and work the ink with a soft japanese brayer before transferring the ink onto the lino.
Next, the lino goes into my handmade registration device, the paper is clipped on top, face down, to ensure accurate print registration every time I add a new colour. Once I have applied pressure to the paper and lino, it will reveal the first layer of colour.
I use the reduction print method which means I carve away my design from one block of lino, re-ink and press repeatedly, until there is almost nothing of the block left. In the video you can see me carving out the next layer, I want the yellow and white to show through now, so I carve out the beach and parts of flowers. You can see how much I eventually carve away before I mix and add blue ink to the lino for the sky. The process it repeated again to carve and print the blue for the sea. Hopefully this has been helpful to briefly explain how the reduction method works and how I personally start planning and carving a print. Thank you for reading and watching my video blog below. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel for future episodes in this series, or follow my blog on this website.