LINOCUT REDUCTION SELF-PORTRAITS

Vocabulary
Relief printing A form of printmaking in which only the raised areas of the blocks
are printed.
Plate The surface on which the image is prepared. It can be wood, stone,
linoleum, or a variety of other materials like cardboard.
Gouge The tool used for carving away the negative shape in your design. It
comes with a variety of different blades.
Brayer The rolling device used to spread ink onto the plate and then onto
the block.
Baren A circular tool used to transfer ink onto paper by friction.
Edition The total number of identical prints (or copies) made from one
image.

Safety Concerns
The gouge or linocut tools are sharp. Keep the extra tips inside your tool; do not
leave them lying on the table.
Always keep your plate flush against the top of your bench hook
Always carve away from yourself
Keep your hand holding the plate beneath the carving area, near the bottom of
your plate
Rotate your plate to access different parts
Preparing Your Image and Linoleum Block

OBJECTIVES
Design a self-portrait in 5x7 dimensions, labeled into sections of four values
Use elements of art to create texture and rhythm in your composition
Transfer design to linoleum plate using carbon paper and permanent marker
Use gouging tools to modify and print your image in three distinct layers of ink
Create a limited edition of four signed prints, with one print of edition matted
Complete self-evaluation and reflection
PRINTING PROCESS
Step 1:
Scan your photo into photoshop. Resize the image to 5x7 and convert into
black and white.
Print out two copies of this image.
Color one of these images in a light, medium and dark tone using colored
pencils.

Step 2:
Sketch or outline the colored areas on your image.
 Label the areas that you colored on the other image:
1 - white of the paper
2 - light color
3 - medium color
4 - dark color

Step 3:
Transfer the outline of your numbered image onto your linoleum plate using
carbon paper, taping the image down so that it does not move as you are tracing.
Once transferred, go over this outline in sharpie marker.
Number the areas on the linoleum block so that they correspond with the
numbers on your image.
THIS WILL BE THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU CARVE YOUR BLOCK.

Carving and Printing Your Linoleum Block

Step 1:
Carve the areas marked 1, or the highlights on your plate. This will be the lightest
part of your print, the WHITE OF THE PAPER.

Step 2:
Ink up your plate using the brayer and your LIGHT COLOR chosen.
Print at least six prints for your edition.

Step 3:
Carve the area marked 2, to preserve the light color previously printed.

Step 4:
Ink up your plate using the brayer and your MEDIUM COLOR chosen, and transfer
onto your six prints.
It is important to ALIGN THE PAPER AND PLATE THE SAME WAY EACH TIME. This
process is called registration.

Step 5:
Carve the area marked 3.
Ink up your plate using the brayer and your DARK COLOR chosen, and transfer
onto your six prints. This is the final printing of your plate.

Step 6:
After your prints are dry, choose the best four prints for your edition.
Finishing your Edition
Step 1:
Sign your prints.
Each print is signed in pencil along the bottom
edge under the inked portion. On the left side,
you place the edition number. The first print out
of four will have the fraction 1/4 on the left
side, the second print will have 2/4, etc. In the
center, you place the title of the design, and on
the right-hand side you sign your name. All this
information must start and stop directly
underneath the print and not hang out on
either side.

Step 2:
Choose the best print of your edition, and mat it for display.
Step 3:
Complete your self-evaluation and reflection.

EXAMPLE 1 PLATE AND PRINT

EXAMPLE 2 PLATE AND PRINT