LinoRedPrints

=Reduction Printing: Carving & Printing Steps= [| Student Examples] [| MOMA interactive Printmaking Site] You will be making an edition of three-color (plus white) linoleum reduction prints. (An edition is a series of prints in which all prints look as close to the same as possible.) In this project we will be using both color and texture to unify the print. Carefully choose your color to reflect a desired mood or association for your print and/or the subject of your print. You will need three values of color: light, med, and dark. How might your carved lines affect the mood of your print? Before carving, put some thought into looking at carved textures in examples. Carving lines can add movement to your image. They can help describe form. Do you want a variety of carving lines or do you want to think about how to tie together different parts of your print? You might test carving lines/textures by drawing directly onto a copy of your photo. Some artists even draw guidelines directly onto the plate.

Carving & Printing 1. After you have transferred your lines to the linoleum, determine which shapes are white and make some mark on them to remind yourself. (I have seen many students carve away areas by mistake!) Compare it to the “carpenters’ rule” of “measuring twice and cutting once…” 2. Now carve the white and you are ready to print color #1!! 3. Line up your plate on your template. Line up and print your lightest color (double check that there is enough contrast between your three colors…). Print your first time on newsprint to check your carving. Adjust as needed. 4. Print 4-6 copies of your lightest color, re-inking each time. (be sure to mix enough of your color to make all these copies!) 5. Carefully carve out areas you want to stay that lightest color, test on newsprint, and adjust carving as needed. 6. Carefully utilize your template again, and print your medium value color over all your prints. 7. Carefully carve out areas you want to stay the medium color, test on newsprint, and adjust carving as needed. 8. Carefully print your final color. 9. Number and sign prints appropriately.