Linocut Weekend workshop: Principles of linocut design and printing with Jennifer De Goursat

Day 1 – Design & Carving

Saturday 9 May

Focus

Learning how to design for lino and carve safely and confidently.

What we’ll cover

• Types of lino Battleship grey, soft-cut, and vinyl alternatives. Pros and cons for detail, texture, and ease of cutting.

• Tools and setup V and U gouges, handles, safety cutters, bench hooks (what they are and how to use them), and basic sharpening principles.

• Designing for lino Simplifying images, working with contrast and negative space, using bold shapes and texture.

• Image transfer Tracing paper, carbon paper, direct drawing, mirror reversal, and planning composition.

• Cutting techniques Direction of cut, pressure control, line variation, cross-hatching for tone, and safe tool handling.

Practical

Participants design and carve a small lino block ready for printing on Day 2.

Day 2 – Printing & Creative Applications

Sunday 10 May

Morning: Printing Techniques

• Ink types Water-based vs oil-based inks, drying times, cleanup, and print quality.

• Printing tools Brayers, barens, wooden spoons, glass plates, palette knives, and press options.

• Papers and surfaces Japanese papers, cartridge, recycled paper, newsprint for proofs, and fabric options.

• Inking and printing Rolling ink evenly, adjusting viscosity, pressure control, layering, and simple registration for repeat prints.

Practical

Printing lino blocks on paper, experimenting with single-colour and layered prints.

Afternoon: Beyond the Print

• Refining your block Second cuts, overprinting, and adding texture.

• Creative applications

• Card  making and small editions

• Framed prints and presentation

• Fabric printing using textile inks

• Collage and mixed-media combinations

• Finishing and care Signing and numbering editions, mounting, storage, and tool      care.

Practical

Participants create a small series of prints exploring colour, surface, and format.

Outcome Participants leave with practical lino printing skills, a carved block, finished prints, and confidence to continue printing at home or integrate lino into other creative work.

Equipment required:

1. Carving tools (some available but if you would like your own set Jen suggest      ESSDEE 71040105 LINO Cutters & Handle PK 5 Lino Cutters https://amzn.asia/d/fbtJw4B Or https://www.artshedonline.com.au/japanese-carving-set-3pc).

2. Brayer(s)

3. Tray for ink (8 inch x 6 inch)

4. Basic cooking paper for line tray

5. Barren for ink spreading (wooden spoon/spoon)

6. Paper for printing, any A4 white paper/tracing paper

7. Image (student can bring own or I will supply), 5 inch x 5 inch maximum

8. Tracing paper

9. Lead/ graphite pencils

10. Ink for staining block before carving (any colour ink for staining Indian ink or watercolour if no ink)

Equipment and Materials Jennifer will provide(if any):

Jen will provide: design templates

Brayer x 2 (to share)

2 sets of carving tools (to share)

Dervan Block Ink (Black) for printing

Soft cut lino x1 double sided per student (*This depends though on how many students) 5inch x 5inch.

This means that each student will have to opportunity to create two pieces during the workshops.

Jen will also provided cheat sheets, examples and resource informat