Linocutting is my form of meditation. I love the process from having an idea, preparing the block, cutting it, inking it up, proofing it and printing it. I am enjoying this also because I am still in the process of finding my workflow. I am aiming to document the process of each project. Some of this you will find here. I love the sensory experience in the process through different materials to cut into, the input during the cutting, the sound of the roller and the smell of the ink.
Tuna
A bit about the process: The top right are rubbings of the cut block. This is an easy and non-messy way to find spots that still need to be cut. I did this on rice paper since it is soft and transfers easy. I marked out the parts which needed adjustments and kept cutting until the dry rubbing could show me no more.
The middle right shows a scan of the actual block at that stage and sometimes particular dense areas jump out at you. Again, I marked them and continued cutting.
The bottom right shows one of many proofing prints. Being a bit disorganized that day I did not complete a proofing log but the different quick prints still showed me some things. This one probably being the best out of them all showed that I did not get the inking right and a few other issues.
But the proofs are fun as well and they can always be used as well, if they do not make it into the notebook. They might make it onto the notebook like the one in the left picture.
Herring
Printing plates and the prints. I discovered I like printing in this blue colour. It has a depth and movement which reminds me of the sea. Plus it has a very nice printing ink smell.
I like the creatures of the sea and I find they are great for block printing. I am hoping to present more of this kind.
Jellyfish
The Jellyfish was an earlier attempt and the printing ink was not quite as nice as the blue I found after. However, even this piece captures the rawness I like about the prints.
SILKE HEANEY 