what is a linocut?
Handmade and Original
A linocut print is a form of printmaking where an artist creates a design by carving into a sheet of linoleum. This technique is a type of relief printing.
Each linocut print is handmade and original. Since the process involves manual carving and hand-printing, no two prints are exactly the same. Even within a limited edition, slight variations make each piece unique. This hands-on approach gives linocut prints a distinctive character and authenticity that mass-produced prints can't replicate.
Here's how it works:
Design Transfer: The artist sketches a design onto the linoleum block.
Carving: Using specialized tools, the artist carefully carves away the areas that are not part of the image. The carved-out areas will remain white in the final print.
Inking: Ink is rolled onto the raised (uncarved) surfaces of the linoleum block.
Printing: Paper is placed over the inked linoleum block and pressed, either by hand or with a printing press, transferring the inked image onto the paper.
Why Linocut Prints?
By choosing a linocut print from Isle and Ink, you're not just purchasing a piece of art—you're acquiring a handmade original that embodies the natural beauty of the Isle of Mull and the dedicated craftsmanship of traditional printmaking.
