Printing

My husband, Thom bought me a basic lino cut kit for xmas, containing a small linocut block, a pot of ink, lino cut handle and a few different blades plus a soft rubber brayer to roll the ink onto the lino. I really love the expressive tonal quality of woodcuts and lino cuts so was really excited to try this out. It is a process that requires planning and forethought. Once a mark is made, it is there forever, so I found it a little intimidating getting started. I would like to explore this process further.  

One of my favourite artists is German artist, Kathe Kollwitz who worked in Germany during the early part of the 20th century.  She is known for her powerfully graphic and expressive studies of the less fortunate.  The devastated, sad and skeletal faces in her prints are emphasised by the strong graphic qualities of black and white.  My subject matter fo rthis purpose (a simple oak leaf) is not a confronting subject but it is interesting to see how this medium gives the oak leaf a kind of presence.

Lino Cut of an Oak Leaf